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Stuebel returned to the islands under the prejudice of an
unfortunate record。 To the minds of the Samoans his name
represented the beginning of their sorrows； and in his first term
of office he had unquestionably driven hard。 The greater his merit
in the surprising success of the second。 So long as he stayed； the
current of affairs moved smoothly； he left behind him on his
departure all men at peace； and whether by fortune； or for the want
of that wise hand of guidance； he was scarce gone before the clouds
began to gather once more on our horizon。
Before the first convention； Germany and the States hauled down
their flags。 It was so done again before the second； and Germany；
by a still more emphatic step of retrogression； returned the exile
Laupepa to his native shores。 For two years the unfortunate man
had trembled and suffered in the Cameroons； in Germany； in the
rainy Marshalls。 When he left （September 1887） Tamasese was king；
served by five iron war…ships； his right to rule （like a dogma of
the Church） was placed outside dispute； the Germans were still； as
they were called at that last tearful interview in the house by the
river； 〃the invincible strangers〃； the thought of resistance； far
less the hope of success； had not yet dawned on the Samoan mind。
He returned （November 1889） to a changed world。 The Tupua party
was reduced to sue for peace； Brandeis was withdrawn； Tamasese was
dying obscurely of a broken heart； the German flag no longer waved
over the capital； and over all the islands one figure stood
supreme。 During Laupepa's absence this man had succeeded him in
all his honours and titles； in tenfold more than all his power and
popularity。 He was the idol of the whole nation but the rump of
the Tamaseses； and of these he was already the secret admiration。
In his position there was but one weak point； … that he had even
been tacitly excluded by the Germans。 Becker； indeed； once
coquetted with the thought of patronising him； but the project had
no sequel； and it stands alone。 In every other juncture of history
the German attitude has been the same。 Choose whom you will to be
king； when he has failed； choose whom you please to succeed him；
when the second fails also； replace the first： upon the one
condition； that Mataafa be excluded。 〃POURVU QU'IL SACHE SIGNER！〃
… an official is said to have thus summed up the qualifications
necessary in a Samoan king。 And it was perhaps feared that Mataafa
could do no more and might not always do so much。 But this
original diffidence was heightened by late events to something
verging upon animosity。 Fangalii was unavenged： the arms of
Mataafa were
NONDUM INEXPIATIS UNCTA CRUORIBUS；
Still soiled with the unexpiated blood
of German sailors； and though the chief was not present in the
field； nor could have heard of the affair till it was over； he had
reaped from it credit with his countrymen and dislike from the
Germans。
I may not say that trouble was hoped。 I must say … if it were not
feared； the practice of diplomacy must teach a very hopeful view of
human nature。 Mataafa and Laupepa； by the sudden repatriation of
the last； found themselves face to face in conditions of
exasperating rivalry。 The one returned from the dead of exile to
find himself replaced and excelled。 The other； at the end of a
long； anxious； and successful struggle； beheld his only possible
competitor resuscitated from the grave。 The qualities of both； in
this difficult moment； shone out nobly。 I feel I seem always less
than partial to the lovable Laupepa； his virtues are perhaps not
those which chiefly please me； and are certainly not royal； but he
found on his return an opportunity to display the admirable
sweetness of his nature。 The two entered into a competition of
generosity； for which I can recall no parallel in history； each
waiving the throne for himself； each pressing it upon his rival；
and they embraced at last a compromise the terms of which seem to
have been always obscure and are now disputed。 Laupepa at least
resumed his style of King of Samoa； Mataafa retained much of the
conduct of affairs； and continued to receive much of the attendance
and respect befitting royalty； and the two Malietoas； with so many
causes of disunion； dwelt and met together in the same town like
kinsmen。 It was so； that I first saw them； so； in a house set
about with sentries … for there was still a haunting fear of
Germany； … that I heard them relate their various experience in the
past； heard Laupepa tell with touching candour of the sorrows of
his exile； and Mataafa with mirthful simplicity of his resources
and anxieties in the war。 The relation was perhaps too beautiful
to last； it was perhaps impossible but the titular king should grow
at last uneasily conscious of the MAIRE DE PALAIS at his side； or
the king…maker be at last offended by some shadow of distrust or
assumption in his creature。 I repeat the words king…maker and
creature； it is so that Mataafa himself conceives of their
relation： surely not without justice； for； had he not contended
and prevailed； and been helped by the folly of consuls and the fury
of the storm； Laupepa must have died in exile。
Foreigners in these islands know little of the course of native
intrigue。 Partly the Samoans cannot explain； partly they will not
tell。 Ask how much a master can follow of the puerile politics in
any school； so much and no more we may understand of the events
which surround and menace us with their results。 The missions may
perhaps have been to blame。 Missionaries are perhaps apt to meddle
overmuch outside their discipline； it is a fault which should be
judged with mercy； the problem is sometimes so insidiously
presented that even a moderate and able man is betrayed beyond his
own intention； and the missionary in such a land as Samoa is
something else besides a minister of mere religion； he represents
civilisation； he is condemned to be an organ of reform； he could
scarce evade （even if he desired） a certain influence in political
affairs。 And it is believed； besides； by those who fancy they
know； that the effective force of division between Mataafa and
Laupepa came from the natives rather than from whites。 Before the
end of 1890； at least； it began to be rumoured that there was
dispeace between the two Malietoas； and doubtless this had an
unsettling influence throughout the islands。 But there was another
ingredient of anxiety。 The Berlin convention had long closed its
sittings； the text of the Act had been long in our hands；
commissioners were announced to right the wrongs of the land
question； and two high officials； a chief justice and a president；
to guide policy and administer law in Samoa。 Their coming was
expected with an impatience； with a childishness of trust； that can
hardly b