The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-05-04
SAMOA.

The Sydney Mail, Of March lG, contains highly
important information from Samoa. We would
like to give the whole account, but want Of space
forbids. The experience through which the peo-
pie of the Samoan group have been passing is so
similar to that which the native government Of
these Islands has seen in the past, that it awakens
not only our interest but our keenest sympathy.
1t seems to us that the English, German, and other
naval powers who establish consulates in and send
ships to the South Seas, have not contemplated the
clothing of their officials with the sovereign power
Of i%nficting national fines or making reprisals,
which are overt acts of war. The former power,
in our case, certainly, did not uphold her naval
officer in his high-handed proceeding Of taking
possession of these Islands, and establishing a
Protectorate over them.
1t appears from the Mqls account that Sir Ar
thur Gordon, as High Commissioner, visited Samoa
about the middle Of February last, with the in.
tention of adjusting the various matters ia dispute
in behalf of H.. b. Ms Government. On the day
following his landing, he had an interview with
the Taimua and Faipule, in which he informed
them that for various reasons Her Britannia Males
ty declined to accept their offer Of a protectorate,
although she wished to see them possessed of a
strong and efficient government, and one Of such
a nature that it might be respected by foreign
States. He then proposed that they should take
advantage Of the present opportunity TO settle sew
eral pending questions: more particularly the
fines levied by the late English Consul, Liardet,
the protection Of certain refugees who bad sought
shelter at the English Consulate, and the indem-
nifty in connection with the BarrdcOuta ARRAY.
His o~vertures to establish friendly relations were
not crowned with success.
On Thursday, February Il, a letter vas delivered
from the Taimua, stating that they declined to en-
ter into any agreement on any subject, or to hold
any further discussion with His Excellency or the
Imperial German Consul, until they had received
from Washington a reply to their application for
the protection of the United States, which they
had sent there by their secretary Mamea. Upon
receipt Of this letter another conference was bad
the next day, at which the High Commissioner in
formed the Chiefs that il was important that the
refugee question and the BdrdcOUtl matter -hould
be settled. As to the fine inflicted by the Consul in
connection with the BGrdcOttI ARRAY, be had re-
duced il from the original amount (ten thousand
dollars) to six thousand dollars. and If they would
admit il no harshness would be shown in exacting
it. They refused TO acknowledge any liability
for the BdrdcOutd affair. wbereupon the Commits
sioner informed them that be himself should take
measures to enforce the 6ne. The conference then
ended, and Immediately upon It's termination the
boats of II. Ms Ship Sapphire were sent 10 seize
the Samoan Government schooner Elizabeth as
part security for the BdrdcOutd fine. After the
seizure of the schooner. the Commissioner inform
ed the Taimua and Faipule that If they would en-
ter into an agreement acknowledging their liabil-
ity the indemnity. the vessel would be restored
to them. This. however. they declined to do, and
the Sapphire. with the Elizabeth in tow, left AHA
on Saturday, February 23d, for Fiji, where she ar
rived on the following Wednesday,