The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-11-23

community was I'LL c1CNduuS tl1u AZ
filming one. 1t was good to find that
we had such worthy representatives,
and that America was evidently start
ing out to rule this distant possession
in fashion which would be a worthy
example to the other nations of the
world. l went among the natives, and
all seemed peaceful and contented,
leading their quiet lives much in the
fashion Of their forefathers, save that
the missionaries have long since Chris
tanned all the people, and wars and
rumors of wars seem now to be ended.
But after l became better acquaint-
ed with the people, both white and
Samoan, the veil was lifted, and I saw
misery and shame. Slowly the dread
full story was revealed, piece by piece,
now from the lips of Il Samoan and
then confirmed by q white man. Day
by day added fresh testimony to the
case, and 1 learned to my shame and
sorrow that American rule in Samoa
has been thus far curse rather than
a blessing. No one had dared to tell
the story.
The American papers have been
filled with false reports and mislead>
ing articles. Our benefcent rule in
Samoa is sham and disgrace, and
the man who is held responsible for
it is the commander (row captain) Of
the Abarenda, now on Il three months
leave of absence in America. The
American government has made this
man supreme ruler of our new posses
sion. He has made the laws and exc
cuted them. He has vested in himself
the legislative. executive and judicial
branches Of the government. he is
the supreme judge, as we'll as supreme
lawmakcr. From his decisions there
is no visible mode of appeal.
1t may be argued by some persons
that such an anomalous state of Of
fairs, so abhorrent to both the letter
and the spirit of republicanism, Is a
necessary evil in the taking over of a
new country before congress has pro-
vided a suitable form Of government
Those who advance this excuse, how
ever, will be forced to add that such
an autocratic rule would be extremely
dangerous unless intrusted to a man
Of high character, Of unquestioned mo-
rails, and Of firmness and justice In
dealing with his subjects. In such a
system of government gross and con-
tinucd debauchery would be an intol-
cradle evil, when countcnanced by the
ruler. 1t is only too we'll known that
the native races are swept as by pes
thence when corrupted by the vices of
civilization.
/ SAW with indignation the natives
Of Tahiti Systematically debauched by
the French naval officers. I saw the
boats of the big French cruiser, the
Protc, carrying off loads of native
women to take part in Il drunken revel
. IVl liz ClltCl VI ulC SolllIo-
dorr. was in Tahiti when the Prote
went OIL Il cruise around the island,
stopping at village after village and
holding Bacchnnalan orgies. And in
my foolish pride, said that no officer
in the American navy could be guilty
! OF such shameless conducr. When ihe
/ Of va
lated to me by ono person after an.
| other. when the sickening details were
! confirmed by every person with whom
I talked ON the subject. was forced
to admit that the commodore of the
Prote had Il rival.
When I heard of his drunken revcls
! in Apin, of his riding intoxicated
through the streets of the town with Il
notorious native woman sitting astride
the same horse. of his carouses ii
pango Pango, of the corruption, not OF
one or two. but of many native girls
in the little community over which ht
ruled, I concluded that, as an 4Amerl
can citizen with some respect ant
pride in the official conduct of it's rep
resentatives, my silence would be COW
arlly and unworthy.
When these reports first came to me
was incrcdulous. "Surely the Ameri
can consul at Apia must know Of this
If it be true.' exclaimed.
at is known to every child on thu
Apia and Pango Pango beach," was
the reply.
"rhcn why does not the consul re
port it to the authorities ut Washing
ton?" l asked.
"Hc is a friend of the commander,
was the reply. "and, besides, You know
the consul's son was the commanders
guest when the Abarcnda last went tc
Auckland"
'"rhcn why has not some one re
ported the matter from pango Pan
:so:" | persisted.
because no one would dare to dc
So was the reply.
| Again looking over the laws Of TIL
tuiln ! could readily understand that
no resident of Pango Pango would
dare to make this exposure. 1t is evil
dent that no one could live under such
a dictator as this and be sure of life,
| liberty and the pursuit of happiness,
| after having told the truth nhont on