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perfidy took part in a scene of 〃reconciliation〃 at the German
consulate。
Malietoa supposed himself betrayed by Tamasese。 Consul Churchward
states with precision that the document was sold by a scribe for
thirty…six dollars。 Twelve days later at least； November 22nd； the
text of the address to Great Britain came into the hands of Dr。
Stuebel。 The Germans may have been wrong before； they were now in
the right to be angry。 They had been publicly； solemnly； and
elaborately fooled； the treaty and the reconciliation were both
fraudulent； with the broad； farcical fraudulency of children and
barbarians。 This history is much from the outside； it is the
digested report of eye…witnesses； it can be rarely corrected from
state papers； and as to what consuls felt and thought； or what
instructions they acted under； I must still be silent or proceed by
guess。 It is my guess that Stuebel now decided Malietoa Laupepa to
be a man impossible to trust and unworthy to be dealt with。 And it
is certain that the business of his deposition was put in hand at
once。 The position of Weber； with his knowledge of things native；
his prestige； and his enterprising intellect； must have always made
him influential with the consul： at this juncture he was
indispensable。 Here was the deed to be done； here the man of
action。 〃Mr。 Weber rested not；〃 says Laupepa。 It was 〃like the
old days of his own consulate；〃 writes Churchward。 His messengers
filled the isle； his house was thronged with chiefs and orators； he
sat close over his loom； delightedly weaving the future。 There was
one thing requisite to the intrigue； … a native pretender； and the
very man； you would have said； stood waiting： Mataafa； titular of
Atua； descended from both the royal lines； late joint king with
Tamasese； fobbed off with nothing in the time of the Lackawanna
treaty； probably mortified by the circumstance； a chief with a
strong following； and in character and capacity high above the
native average。 Yet when Weber's spiriting was done； and the
curtain rose on the set scene of the coronation； Mataafa was
absent； and Tamasese stood in his place。 Malietoa was to be
deposed for a piece of solemn and offensive trickery； and the man
selected to replace him was his sole partner and accomplice in the
act。 For so strange a choice； good ground must have existed； but
it remains conjectural： some supposing Mataafa scratched as too
independent； others that Tamasese had indeed betrayed Laupepa； and
his new advancement was the price of his treachery。
So these two chiefs began to change places like the scales of a
balance； one down； the other up。 Tamasese raised his flag （Jan。
28th； 1886） in Leulumoenga； chief place of his own province of
Aana； usurped the style of king； and began to collect and arm a
force。 Weber； by the admission of Stuebel； was in the market
supplying him with weapons； so were the Americans； so； but for our
salutary British law； would have been the British； for wherever
there is a sound of battle； there will the traders be gathered
together selling arms。 A little longer； and we find Tamasese
visited and addressed as king and majesty by a German commodore。
Meanwhile； for the unhappy Malietoa； the road led downward。 He was
refused a bodyguard。 He was turned out of Mulinuu； the seat of his
royalty； on a land claim of Weber's； fled across the Mulivai； and
〃had the coolness〃 （German expression） to hoist his flag in Apia。
He was asked 〃in the most polite manner；〃 says the same account …
〃in the most delicate manner in the world；〃 a reader of Marryat
might be tempted to amend the phrase； … to strike his flag in his
own capital； and on his 〃refusal to accede to this request；〃 Dr。
Stuebel appeared himself with ten men and an officer from the
cruiser ALBATROSS； a sailor climbed into the tree and brought down
the flag of Samoa； which was carefully folded； and sent； 〃in the
most polite manner；〃 to its owner。 The consuls of England and the
States were there （the excellent gentlemen！） to protest。 Last； and
yet more explicit； the German commodore who visited the be…titled
Tamasese； addressed the king … we may surely say the late king … as
〃the High Chief Malietoa。〃
Had he no party； then？ At that time； it is probable； he might have
called some five…sevenths of Samoa to his standard。 And yet he sat
there； helpless monarch； like a fowl trussed for roasting。 The
blame lies with himself； because he was a helpless creature； it
lies also with England and the States。 Their agents on the spot
preached peace （where there was no peace； and no pretence of it）
with eloquence and iteration。 Secretary Bayard seems to have felt
a call to join personally in the solemn farce； and was at the
expense of a telegram in which he assured the sinking monarch it
was 〃for the higher interests of Samoa〃 he should do nothing。
There was no man better at doing that； the advice came straight
home； and was devoutly followed。 And to be just to the great
Powers； something was done in Europe； a conference was called； it
was agreed to send commissioners to Samoa； and the decks had to be
hastily cleared against their visit。 Dr。 Stuebel had attached the
municipality of Apia and hoisted the German war…flag over Mulinuu；
the American consul （in a sudden access of good service） had flown
the stars and stripes over Samoan colours； on either side these
steps were solemnly retracted。 The Germans expressly disowned
Tamasese； and the islands fell into a period of suspense； of some
twelve months' duration； during which the seat of the history was
transferred to other countries and escapes my purview。 Here on the
spot； I select three incidents： the arrival on the scene of a new
actor； the visit of the Hawaiian embassy； and the riot on the
Emperor's birthday。 The rest shall be silence； only it must be
borne in view that Tamasese all the while continued to strengthen
himself in Leulumoenga； and Laupepa sat inactive listening to the
song of consuls。
CAPTAIN BRANDEIS。 The new actor was Brandeis； a Bavarian captain
of artillery； of a romantic and adventurous character。 He had
served with credit in war； but soon wearied of garrison life；
resigned his battery； came to the States； found employment as a
civil engineer； visited Cuba； took a sub…contract on the Panama
canal； caught the fever； and came （for the sake of the sea voyage）
to Australia。 He had that natural love for the tropics which lies
so often latent in persons of a northern birth； difficulty and
danger attracted him； and when he was picked out for secret duty；
to be the hand of Germany in Samoa； there is no doubt but he
accepted the post with exhilaration。 It is doubtful if a better
choice could have been made。 He had courage； integrity； ideas of
his own； and loved the employment； the people； and the place。 Yet
there was