SAMOA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 136, 8 May 1880, Page 2

SAMOA.

a uKviHw of tiik situation Til KRK. Captain J. J. Winanl of the Oai-oltnp-Medau, t!* days from Apia, Samoan Inlands, gives u'« the following' itii-'i-estintr :iecounl of affairs in that island kingili > 111 : EwToits At.TA. — I suppose the war in . Samoa, the cruel interference of the Ciormnns, the overturning of I lie Government, the setting up of a new Iving, with anew Hag, etc., are all matters that have been represented to tho puhlic through the Press, a ul while it is not likely 1 can . mill anything new to this list of impor- , tanl event*.yet t imagine that nearly all , of the statements th.it have Veil given . are by interested parties: ami, therefore, tho views of one who has just visiteil . Samoa, ami was a mere looker-on, witli , no prejudice nr interest, may possibly throw move light on the matter. Having conversed freely with partio* ■ in Apia, representing every interest. 1 . feci confident I can give the facts, and , the pnhlie can judge whether or notfwy . conclusions are correct. In tho first place 1 may say (hat as my . remarks must reflect somewhat on the com^i-and conduct of the American Con- ■ sul. I have no desire to misrepresent that gentleman or place him in a false position. I was received kindly and treated courteously hy him. and it, would be migrate- , fnl and nngcittlomanly mi my part (•> i ropny such treatment with misroproscn- • tation or unkind assertions. He claims to have acted for the best interests nf Samoa, and that his efforts have been to establish peace and good order, liul the facts, as they appear, would seem I" indicate that ho has made a mistake, and the end Flo is aiming at —if it should bo attained—would bo at the expense of light and justice. One fact, to start with, is apparent and indisputable, viz: that one year ago a Government did exist in Samoa. With this Government the United States made a treaty, The German Government followed, alsn making a treats' with this s:tui" Government, called the Taiutuii and Fitipiilf. Those two tretltic* uleiM'l.V establish tho fact Unit llioro was then in - Samoa a fixed] and permanent Governmeiit, and as such, it could not I"' vl i aside except by a popular vote, or by i aimed force.; and yet it was sot aside in a most strange and novel manner. It appears Unit, in the early part of It-iT:*, a certain district around and ill- • eluding Apia, eallisl the became dissatisfied and rebellious, That they were urged on hy certain foreign influence, may bo made apparent before 1 get through, The tiovernmont of tin* Tainmn and Faipnlo were slow to imw i harsh measures in putting down till* rebellion, which they certainly could have done if no outside partial int'Wfcred. And now. what followed is the strangest part of nil. Oil the SMOUiI ■ day of .Inly, before hostilities liuil COM* nicucod, or a single shot had bjwi fired*

WUTJ' ' ■' ' ' "" '"I'" 1 ■ '- the' three Consuls, representing the United States, Great Britain, and Germany, mot together and declared that no Government existed in Samoa. A little illustration may show how ridiculous this proposition may appear. Suppose on tho breaking out of our Rebellion, when the several Southern States had passed their Ordinance, oi Secession, tho representatives of the

leading foreign Governments had met together at Washington R»'J declared that no Government existed in t! United States. This would '•• a pal lei ease and no comment is nec< •:•:. The Tuamasaca or Rebel Part, put lip Malietoa as King, and the Government resorted to arms to put down the rebellion. There is no doubt they would aire succeeded in doing so and maintaining tho Government, but for outside interference. This interference was

limply the landing of an armed force from the. German man-of-war Bismarck, who compelled the Government party to surrender and give up their arms and canoes, also three principal chiefs as hostages, who were there induced or compelled to sign papers consenting to the overthrow of their Government and acknowledging Malietoa King. A new ilag was arranged, hoisted, and duly saluted, and it was given out to the world that peace was again established in Samoa. Now this was all done without opposition from the American Consul but actually with his consent and co-operation. And now, having shown what was done, let us see if we can discover reasons for it.

On the part of the German?, (lion, if, has licen before stated tlint their interests in these islands aro greater than any other people, and a very large portion tit' their interests consists of land claimed to have been purchased from the natives. They found that the old Government would not pass upon (heir titles without i.ill anil complete examination of the same. This would not do for them, for doubtless many of their titles would hnve

bien found 1" bo worthless. The new Government, being a creature of their own, would be more obliging in this respect, and pass all the titles they might desire. This, then, clearly shows a motive ipi.'.- sufficient to account for the action of the Germans. They naturally oppose any Government they cannot control. The next- party to consider is that, of tha Knglisb Consul, who also acted in the interesi of the Maliefoa Government. Jt appears, that at a nesting of the three Consuls (whom we might, style the Triumvirate'), Sir Arthur Gordon stated, or showed a letter. (<■ Ihe effect that. Maljetoa had offered to cede the islands to Great Britain. 'This offer fell like a bombshell upou the American and German Consuls, but strange lo say, they did-not in any manner resist this act of ingratitude mi the part nf .Malietoa, for, inasmuch its they wore, both assisting in making him

King, it wan the meanest kind of treachery on his part to make such an offer to Sir -Arthur G-irdmi. But this ad would readilv account for the friculiv fcJings of the' English toward the 11.-.'.h ■'• i.- •.-..:.}. So Sir Arthur Gordon,on taiviiij- Samoa, announced hi.s willingness to sanction such steps as tliii British Consul might think best to take toward bringing about a peaee. knowing full well that the old Liovernmont party, if they ever iU;nin came into power, would fuel somewhat bitter again*! the < lerinan.-; for tiieir in-

terference, and the English would simply in using the Germans as a cat's-paw In pull their chestnuts out of the lire, for ii i- unite clear lh:it the English have an ui't.i the hn i pi e ■ )' thiH group, lis tlioy already have the I'ijix; or else there is a tacit understanding that England will take in the Tonga groun and lot the Germans! have Samoa. When! the Amerieau's share comes in does not appear. Kilt, having now found n motive fur the. action of this English ami German Consuls, we come naturally to the American; and her.' we become puzzle.!, for. as

it appears that, the two former acted in the interest of theirown people, we would naturally expect to tind the American Consul possessed with American ideas, and with an eye to American interests. But nothing of this sort appears in 1.1 = actions. On the contrary, he has assisted the English and German Consuls in putting down a Government that, was purely and legitimately established, and villi which our Government has just c.m-ehi-'ed a treaty, lie assisted in, making i i ..in king who had openly expressed a willingness and desire to annex the Islands to Great Britain, lie has assisted in establishing a so-called .Municipal Government for Apia, whose sole aim and tendency is to crowd out American trtders,'arid throw the entire trade into tin; lmnd« of the German Company, who already have nearly a monopoly of it. lie has not, only used all his Consular powers to bring'ahout this condition of affairs, but, t" the minds of many, greatly exceeded them.

Ho'issued l)is warrant Mill had .111 American citisscn, General Bartlclt, <lmgecd More him on n cliarga of inciting cue portion <>f tho pooplu against anothor. If Gunoral Dartlett was guilty of anything it war, simply urging tho Government of Samoa to maintain and defond itself ngaimtt a cnuscloHS and unjust robollion. In this Go'neral Bartlettwas only acting out of tho ehurnetor established by him in America, and for which all true AmorieaiiH accord him praise. And Genera! Hnrtlctt only cacaped punishment, or Ining sent away in disgrace, by tho f'nnsul being in doubt aa to his powers in the tnattor. Now, those being tho facts, how shall *• account fur his action t A mint one 'jM his birthright for » " mess of potto'go,"

but even the mesa of pott, gedoes not appear here, although ninny ot' tho people about Apia do not hesitate to intimate that German gold is tho great motive power that have prompted and controlled all his actions. It is onlj justice, however, to tho gentleman to state that lit denies tliw, and decides that he ha* I received Ho pay. To sum the whole matter up, American interests in .Samoa arc in jeopardy, and a little neglect or carelessness on the part of the A •'■■■'.•' people or Government may resuii . . the -..:'..:: ii exclusion ■■•■ Americans V -i ;; ■ trade of this ' important group. And it particularly belongs to the people of San Fnmeuco

to see that such an event does not happen. for California, with a little forosight and energy, can COlilr ■' the trade of iiot only this g; p, hut nearly nil of the Pacific Islands. Our lumber, which is a great staple of trade, is one important item in the list, and, although the Colonics have got the start in other articles, yet San Francisco has decidedly the advantage in breadstuff's and many other articles of food. _ As to the effect of the present political situation in Samoa, I can say it is no mere opinion of mine, but is borno out by actual faefs. Mr, 1). S. Parker, an American who has been interested in Apia for about eighteen years, and who has been the principal, and, 1 may say the only, American importer, has' now left the Islands in disgust and returned to Sau Francisco, where he may bo seen at present. He declares he has no wish lo return until ho can do so with all the rights and privileges enjoyed by the people of other nations, lie proposes to await the action of our Oovernni nt, and j see if it sustains our ('nasal in tin- course | he has taken.—Alia California.