THE UNITED STATES AND SAMOA 237 



revolution, one possessing a fair sense of justice. It seems 

 to have been his aim to administer his government with 

 strict impartiality toward the business interests of the 

 several nationalities. Roads were built; taxes, though some- 

 what excessive, were well applied, and many needed reforms 

 were instigated. Indeed, many of the foreigners in Apia 

 who had bitterly opposed the change gradually became recon- 

 ciled to the new conditions. But the fault of the Tamasese- 

 Brandeis Government lay in its origin. In the nature of 

 things it could not last. The seizure and deportation of 

 Malietoa never ceased to rankle in native breasts, and back 

 in the forests plots were continually hatching against Tam- 

 asese and German rule. No government, in fact, that strictly 

 enforced its decrees could long remain popular with the 

 easy-going Samoans. From day to day dissatisfied natives 

 drifted into Mataafa's camp, for Mataafa had Malietoa blood 

 in his veins, and stood for the vindication of his exiled 

 kinsman. 



The ambitious Tamasese, within the limits of his circum- 

 scribed powers, like the beggar on horseback, rode too hard. 

 He had gained honors, and he craved distinction. He began 

 assuming honorific titles, finally dubbing himself with the 

 highest of them all, the sacred name of " Malietoa." The 

 allegiance of many of Tamasese's own best supporters was at 

 best none too sure, and a host of these became indignant 

 with their monarch for this unholy folly. The clansmen of 

 Malietoa, who regarded Tamasese as a mere usurper, shielded 

 by German forces, felt their tenderest sentiments outraged. 

 The one consistent and uncompromising enemy to the new 

 regime in Apia was the American Consul, Mr. Sewall. The 

 Tamasese-Brandeis Government had been conceived in a spirit 

 of unfriendliness to his country, and had been planned and 

 executed by the Germans in disregard of their obligations. 

 In fact, it was being maintained in defiance of his own 

 protests, and the complaints of his Secretary of State. He 

 felt himself to have been hoodwinked in the abrogation of 

 the neutrality of Apia, and he could not forgive Becker for 

 his duplicity. 



T 1 OF THE 

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