The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-09
MATTERS ARE
NOT SETTLED
Trouble is Brewing in the Sa-
AFFAIRS ARE NOW QUIET
But Mataafa's FoIl.S $ Are Be-
coming DIS fled.
-Sk
THE GOvERNM, : 3 LOT A SUCCESS
eN.~
.
Capt. Stugee o, me Cruiser Porpoise
Offended by the Natives.
EFFORTS TO INSULT CHAMBERS
But the Commander of the British Man
of-War Demanded That the Chief
Justice Be Treated With
pect.
Capt. Stugee o, me Cruiser Porpoise
Offended by the Natives.
EFFORTS TO INSULT CHAMBERS

Apia, February %, Via San Francisco,
March 8-Four weeks have elapsed since
the last mail dispatches left here for San
Francisco concerning the outbreak of civil
war between the adherents of Malietoa and
those of Mataafa. During this time Samoa
has been free from any active warfare.
The provincial government under Mataafa
has not been success; 1t has estranged
the feelings of many of its own supporters
by the deportation of Maletoa chiefs.
Malietoa's adherents who were not de-
ported have been fined. and inoffensive ma
tives, the servants of whites, who had been
in no way connected with the fight have
been arrested. A sharp remonstrance from
British Consul Maxse, who now has two
men-of-war supporting him. has prevented
a recurrence of this annoyance
The natives of Tutuila have declared in
favor of Tanus, and the deposed chiefs
are having pleasant picnic among friends.
Malietoa seems to be gaining strength
every day, and several of Mataafa's chief
adherents have gone over to his side. There
are not much more than one-half of the
people on Mataafa's side, and it is doubt
full If more than one-third are his active
supporters.
Must Stand by Tanus
Among the British and Americans here
1t is not seen now the powers can act in
any other way than to stand by Tanus as
king 1t is argued If they do not, they de-
hberately break the Berlin treaty and cast
slight upon their nominee, the chief JUS
tice and in the case of Great Britain and
the United States they go back on their
consular representatives here, who have
acknowledged Tanus as king. Mataafa and
the chiefs know all this, and are most
anxious to keep their followers concill-
ated and prevent them from doing any
thing at present whereby Mataafa's
chances of being king may be endangered.
Mataafa himself is perplexed and uneasy.
The German consul has received cable
from Germany directing him to recognize
the authority of Chief Justice Chambers
and to withdraw from the stand he and
Mr.. Raffel have taken In regard to the
supreme court. This news has discouraged
Mataafa, and, in addition, the United
States consul has written him to the Ell
feet that Notwithstanding rumors around
Apia the United States has not recognized
Mataafa as king and that the consul has
nothing in the matter from his government
and Is awaiting dispatches.
Trouble With the Porpoiss
In addition to these disquieting facts,
Mataafa has had little trouble with tho
British warship Porpoise.
The Porpoise, after matters had settled
DOWN III Apld, went LOT d cruiSS drouua
the group. When she returned Captain
Stugee found that no natives came near the
ship, and that a taboo had been declared
against the vessel He at once sent a note
to the provincial government demanding
an apology and a withdrawal OF the boy
cott DIR. Raffel replied that the boycott
was not against the men-of-war, but
against the chief justice who was on board.
still sharper note was sent by Captain
Stugee that he would take decisive action
at once, and the boycott was removed. Her
majestys ship Royalist is now here also.
The chief justice although recognized by
the German consul under instructions from
Germany, Is still being thwarted in every
way possible by the Germans. DR.. Raffel
was cited by the chief justice for con-
tempt, but he declined to come to court,
and placed himself under the protection of
the German consul. He was arrested by
the marshal of the court, but on his re-
fusal to go no attempt was made to force
him. The chief justice rested content with
having brought the matter to this issue.
Cited for Contempt
Herr Won Buelow was also cited for con-
tempt, and Disputed the Jurisdiction of the
court on the same ground as DR.. Raffel
The German consul intcrposed his protest,
but Won Bueow has nevertheless been
summoned to appear In two weeks.
The Associated Press correspondent,
shortly after the seizure or the Samoan
government by Mataafa, had an interview
with tho noted chief Mataafa, when asked
why he had been proclaimed king, said
that Matieola Tapulek being dead, the
Samoans had a right to elect a new king,
and he was chosen. According to Mataafas
view, this was not In violation of the Ber-
lin treaty, and in the version of the treaty
printed in Samoa there is no stipulation
made Sby Count Bismarck that Mataafa
should never be king. Mataafa admitted.
however, that he had been warned that
there was stipulation against his being
king, and said he had approached the Ger
man consul about the matter. who said the
German government had forgotten the past.
and now had no objection to his becoming
king. The protocol. which contains tho
stipulation against Mataafa. was not at
tached to the treaty printed for the 6a-