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Mataafa was no sooner set down with the embassy than he was
summoned and ordered on board by two German officers。 The step is
one of those triumphs of temper which can only be admired。 Mataafa
is entertaining the plenipotentiary of a sovereign power in treaty
with his own king； and the captain of a German corvette orders him
to quit his guests。
But there was worse to come。 I gather that Tamasese was at the
time in the sulks。 He had doubtless been promised prompt aid and a
prompt success； he had seen himself surreptitiously helped；
privately ordered about； and publicly disowned； and he was still
the king of nothing more than his own province； and already the
second in command of Captain Brandeis。 With the adhesion of some
part of his native cabinet； and behind the back of his white
minister； he found means to communicate with the Hawaiians。 A
passage on the KAIMILOA； a pension； and a home in Honolulu were the
bribes proposed； and he seems to have been tempted。 A day was set
for a secret interview。 Poor； the Hawaiian secretary； and J。 D。
Strong； an American painter attached to the embassy in the
surprising quality of 〃Government Artist；〃 landed with a Samoan
boat's…crew in Aana； and while the secretary hid himself； according
to agreement； in the outlying home of an English settler； the
artist （ostensibly bent on photography） entered the headquarters of
the rebel king。 It was a great day in Leulumoenga； three hundred
recruits had come in； a feast was cooking； and the photographer； in
view of the native love of being photographed； was made entirely
welcome。 But beneath the friendly surface all were on the alert。
The secret had leaked out： Weber beheld his plans threatened in
the root； Brandeis trembled for the possession of his slave and
sovereign； and the German vice…consul； Mr。 Sonnenschein； had been
sent or summoned to the scene of danger。
It was after dark； prayers had been said and the hymns sung through
all the village； and Strong and the German sat together on the mats
in the house of Tamasese； when the events began。 Strong speaks
German freely； a fact which he had not disclosed； and he was scarce
more amused than embarrassed to be able to follow all the evening
the dissension and the changing counsels of his neighbours。 First
the king himself was missing； and there was a false alarm that he
had escaped and was already closeted with Poor。 Next came certain
intelligence that some of the ministry had run the blockade； and
were on their way to the house of the English settler。 Thereupon；
in spite of some protests from Tamasese； who tried to defend the
independence of his cabinet； Brandeis gathered a posse of warriors；
marched out of the village； brought back the fugitives； and clapped
them in the corrugated iron shanty which served as gaol。 Along
with these he seems to have seized Billy Coe； interpreter to the
Hawaiians； and Poor； seeing his conspiracy public； burst with his
boat's…crew into the town； made his way to the house of the native
prime minister； and demanded Coe's release。 Brandeis hastened to
the spot； with Strong at his heels； and the two principals being
both incensed； and Strong seriously alarmed for his friend's
safety； there began among them a scene of great intemperance。 At
one point； when Strong suddenly disclosed his acquaintance with
German； it attained a high style of comedy； at another； when a
pistol was most foolishly drawn； it bordered on drama； and it may
be said to have ended in a mixed genus； when Poor was finally
packed into the corrugated iron gaol along with the forfeited
ministers。 Meanwhile the captain of his boat； Siteoni； of whom I
shall have to tell again； had cleverly withdrawn the boat's…crew at
an early stage of the quarrel。 Among the population beyond
Tamasese's marches； he collected a body of armed men； returned
before dawn to Leulumoenga； demolished the corrugated iron gaol；
and liberated the Hawaiian secretary and the rump of the rebel
cabinet。 No opposition was shown； and doubtless the rescue was
connived at by Brandeis； who had gained his point。 Poor had the
face to complain the next day to Becker； but to compete with Becker
in effrontery was labour lost。 〃You have been repeatedly warned；
Mr。 Poor； not to expose yourself among these savages；〃 said he。
Not long after； the presence of the KAIMILOA was made A CASUS BELLI
by the Germans； and the rough…and…tumble embassy withdrew； on
borrowed money； to find their own government in hot water to the
neck。
THE EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY。 It is possible； and it is alleged； that
the Germans entered into the conference with hope。 But it is
certain they were resolved to remain prepared for either fate。 And
I take the liberty of believing that Laupepa was not forgiven his
duplicity； that； during this interval； he stood marked like a tree
for felling； and that his conduct was daily scrutinised for further
pretexts of offence。 On the evening of the Emperor's birthday；
March 22nd； 1887； certain Germans were congregated in a public bar。
The season and the place considered； it is scarce cynical to assume
they had been drinking； nor； so much being granted； can it be
thought exorbitant to suppose them possibly in fault for the
squabble that took place。 A squabble； I say； but I am willing to
call it a riot。 And this was the new fault of Laupepa； this it is
that was described by a German commodore as 〃the trampling upon by
Malietoa of the German Emperor。〃 I pass the rhetoric by to examine
the point of liability。 Four natives were brought to trial for
this horrid fact： not before a native judge； but before the German
magistrate of the tripartite municipality of Apia。 One was
acquitted； one condemned for theft； and two for assault。 On
appeal； not to Malietoa； but to the three consuls； the case was by
a majority of two to one returned to the magistrate and （as far as
I can learn） was then allowed to drop。 Consul Becker himself laid
the chief blame on one of the policemen of the municipality； a
half…white of the name of Scanlon。 Him he sought to have
discharged； but was again baffled by his brother consuls。 Where；
in all this； are we to find a corner of responsibility for the king
of Samoa？ Scanlon； the alleged author of the outrage； was a half…
white； as Becker was to learn to his cost； he claimed to be an
American subject； and he was not even in the king's employment。
Apia； the scene of the outrage； was outside the king's jurisdiction
by treaty； by the choice of Germany； he was not so much as allowed
to fly his flag there。 And the denial of justice （if justice were
denied） rested with the consuls of Britain and the States。
But when a dog is to be beaten； any stick will serve。 In the
meanwhile； on the proposition of Mr。 Bayard； the Washington
conference on Samoan affairs was adjourned till a