The San Francisco call., 1899-04-12
THE SAMOAN SITUATION.

C AMOA has caused trouble and discussion in the
world out of proportion to its size and mpor
- tance The natives among the finest OF the
Polynesan people, ranking with the Maories and
Kanakas in physical presence and power and in in
telect The natural tropical productions OF the
islands supplied their wants without labor and instead
of the diseases OF civilization keeping their population
within the bounds OF this natural food supply the peo
pie accomplished the same end by restricting their
meat diet to the consumption OF enemies killed or
captured in war.
Christian civilization found them out at last, and
by prompt introduction of the loathsome diseases,
which are among its gifts to aborigines everywhere
put an end to cannibalism only by reducing the
population through sickness, but also by making the
survivors non-edble
Alter this part OF the white mans burden had been
assumed and the Samoan soul had been put in the way
OF salvation, there desire to occupy, possess
and own the Samoans lands. During Grants ad-
minstration an ambitious American special Consul
taught our people pet names for the islands and
sure the republic could not survive unless they
annexed. However, manifest destiny was not al
Turing then as now and the natives left alone
tc the exerminatng influences of the pestilences
had bestowed upon them.
During Mr. Cevelands first administration the
Samoan consushp given to San Franciscan,
who found it slow business watching copra dry in the
and brought on fight between Mataafa and
Malietoa rivals for the kingship His description
OF leading his king and taking him by his she'll
collar and gee string, while the German Consul did
the by the king favored OF Germany, and knock
ing the two royal persons together to get them to
fight is one OF the most amusing things in our
sular history.
This Consul thereafter up the flag the
royal palace in Apia and proclaimed American
protectorate. But as he neglected to mail the flag
to the island it was hauled down and he was called
home
During the Harrison administration this country
invited England and Germany assist it in the super
national task OF bestowing good government upon
Samoa the difficulties being such that only the three
strongest nations in the world could meet them.
Ever since then Samoa has had probably the worst
government ever known. The rights of the natives
have been trampled under foot. The foreign resi-
dents have tangled and backbitten each other, and
the old cannbal days have seemed like dream of
peace compared to the turmoil and tension resulting
om three little governing afflicted people for
three big nations
Out OF this partnership of folly may issue trouble
with Germany. 1t is claimed that England and the
United States have violated the treaty of Berlin in
which the partnership OF the three nations ar
ranged 1t is rather remarkable that England en-
couraged Admiral Kautz to lombard the bamboo
shacks of the natives and disregard the protests of
the representative OF Germany. But, though we may
have been pulling international chestnuts out OF the
fire for Great Britain, we must go ahead and fight
our German partner if we have to- 1t is part of the
white mans burden. The entire Samoan group and
all that grows there is not worth enough to pay de-
cent interest the damage to American commerce
that would follow declaration Of against Ger
many and would fall before blow has been struck
Yet now face to face with the possibility of
such war, and it may be noticed that England is in
position to stay at peace and let fight it out, with
more serious contribution to welfare than her
highly valued and veteran moral support"