A Crisis in Samoa.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 7, 10 November 1888, Page 3

A Crisis in Samoa.

(From the San Frtuwueo CArom'eU.) The proclamation of a new King by tho natives of Samoa seems to foroshadow the speedy end of German rule in the islands. When the adventurer Brandeis, who eoems to be a worthy successor of Stoinberger, first assumed power, he justified the deposition of Molintoa by the claim that most of the important chiefs were iu favor of Tumasose. It was true that tlt.se chiefs were dragooned by throats into giving nllogiancn to the puppet King for fear of the white man s vengoanco. Now, after many months of tyrannical rule and sevoro taxes, they have revolted, and 6000 have sworn fo-ilty to tho new iluiiutoa. Tho battle that ended the pretensions of Premier Braudeis was marked by btnall loss on either side, hut it was none tho less decisive. The command - or ot tho jerniau gun-boat disgusted tho savages by his attack on defenceless women and children in the native villages, and his conduct should demand an investigation. Captain Leary of the United ."States steamer Adams protested against it, but uuder the instructions of the hend of our Statu Department neither Consul nor naval officer* dare exercise any authority iu such an emergency. It was the duU[ of the American Consul in Samoa months ago, (6 check German aggression ; but instead he takes a trip to Washington to i convince Secretary Bayard that wo aro playing a pusillanimous part in these islands.

No American desiresto see this country neodlessly eutunglod in a foreign war, but the national honor and dignity ought uot to be compromised iu Apia nuy more than in London or Paris. Our Consul to Samoa, bus »uffemd humiliations aud our citizens on ibo islands have had their lives and property placed in jeopardy.