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〃You must let me see my brother and the other old men〃 … a term of
courtesy。 Knappe； who seems always to have been good…natured；
revised his orders； and consented not only to an interview； but to
allow Moli to continue to accompany the king。 So these two were
carried to the man…of…war； and sailed many a day； still supposing
themselves bound for Samoa； and lo！ she came to a country the like
of which they had never dreamed of； and cast anchor in the great
lagoon of Jaluit； and upon that narrow land the exiles were set on
shore。 This was the part of his captivity on which he looked back
with the most bitterness。 It was the last； for one thing； and he
was worn down with the long suspense； and terror； and deception。
He could not bear the brackish water； and though 〃the Germans were
still good to him； and gave him beef and biscuit and tea；〃 he
suffered from the lack of vegetable food。
Such is the narrative of this simple exile。 I have not sought to
correct it by extraneous testimony。 It is not so much the facts
that are historical； as the man's attitude。 No one could hear this
tale as he originally told it in my hearing … I think none can read
it as here condensed and unadorned … without admiring the fairness
and simplicity of the Samoan； and wondering at the want of heart …
or want of humour … in so many successive civilised Germans； that
they should have continued to surround this infant with the secrecy
of state。
CHAPTER IV … BRANDEIS
SEPTEMBER '87 TO AUGUST '88
SO Tamasese was on the throne； and Brandeis behind it； and I have
now to deal with their brief and luckless reign。 That it was the
reign of Brandeis needs not to be argued： the policy is throughout
that of an able； over…hasty white； with eyes and ideas。 But it
should be borne in mind that he had a double task； and must first
lead his sovereign； before he could begin to drive their common
subjects。 Meanwhile； he himself was exposed （if all tales be true）
to much dictation and interference； and to some 〃cumbrous aid；〃
from the consulate and the firm。 And to one of these aids； the
suppression of the municipality； I am inclined to attribute his
ultimate failure。
The white enemies of the new regimen were of two classes。 In the
first stood Moors and the employes of MacArthur； the two chief
rivals of the firm； who saw with jealousy a clerk （or a so…called
clerk） of their competitors advanced to the chief power。 The
second class； that of the officials； numbered at first exactly one。
Wilson； the English acting consul； is understood to have held
strict orders to help Germany。 Commander Leary； of the ADAMS； the
American captain； when he arrived； on the 16th October； and for
some time after； seemed devoted to the German interest； and spent
his days with a German officer； Captain Von Widersheim； who was
deservedly beloved by all who knew him。 There remains the American
consul…general； Harold Marsh Sewall； a young man of high spirit and
a generous disposition。 He had obeyed the orders of his government
with a grudge； and looked back on his past action with regret
almost to be called repentance。 From the moment of the declaration
of war against Laupepa； we find him standing forth in bold；
consistent； and sometimes rather captious opposition； stirring up
his government at home with clear and forcible despatches； and on
the spot grasping at every opportunity to thrust a stick into the
German wheels。 For some while； he and Moors fought their difficult
battle in conjunction； in the course of which； first one； and then
the other； paid a visit home to reason with the authorities at
Washington； and during the consul's absence； there was found an
American clerk in Apia； William Blacklock； to perform the duties of
the office with remarkable ability and courage。 The three names
just brought together； Sewall； Moors； and Blacklock； make the head
and front of the opposition； if Tamasese fell； if Brandeis was
driven forth； if the treaty of Berlin was signed； theirs is the
blame or the credit。
To understand the feelings of self…reproach and bitterness with
which Sewall took the field； the reader must see Laupepa's letter
of farewell to the consuls of England and America。 It is singular
that this far from brilliant or dignified monarch； writing in the
forest； in heaviness of spirit and under pressure for time； should
have left behind him not only one； but two remarkable and most
effective documents。 The farewell to his people was touching； the
farewell to the consuls； for a man of the character of Sewall； must
have cut like a whip。 〃When the chief Tamasese and others first
moved the present troubles；〃 he wrote； 〃it was my wish to punish
them and put an end to the rebellion； but I yielded to the advice
of the British and American consuls。 Assistance and protection was
repeatedly promised to me and my government； if I abstained from
bringing war upon my country。 Relying upon these promises； I did
not put down the rebellion。 Now I find that war has been made upon
me by the Emperor of Germany； and Tamasese has been proclaimed king
of Samoa。 I desire to remind you of the promises so frequently
made by your government； and trust that you will so far redeem them
as to cause the lives and liberties of my chiefs and people to be
respected。〃
Sewall's immediate adversary was； of course； Becker。 I have formed
an opinion of this gentleman； largely from his printed despatches；
which I am at a loss to put in words。 Astute； ingenious； capable；
at moments almost witty with a kind of glacial wit in action； he
displayed in the course of this affair every description of
capacity but that which is alone useful and which springs from a
knowledge of men's natures。 It chanced that one of Sewall's early
moves played into his hands； and he was swift to seize and to
improve the advantage。 The neutral territory and the tripartite
municipality of Apia were eyesores to the German consulate and
Brandeis。 By landing Tamasese's two or three hundred warriors at
Mulinuu； as Becker himself owns； they had infringed the treaties；
and Sewall entered protest twice。 There were two ways of escaping
this dilemma： one was to withdraw the warriors； the other； by some
hocus…pocus； to abrogate the neutrality。 And the second had
subsidiary advantages： it would restore the taxes of the richest
district in the islands to the Samoan king； and it would enable
them to substitute over the royal seat the flag of Germany for the
new flag of Tamasese。 It is true （and it was the subject of much
remark） that these two could hardly be distinguished by the naked
eye； but their effects were different。 To seat the puppet king on
German land and under German colours； so that any rebellion was
constructive war on Germany； was a trick apparently invented by
Becker； and whic