Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-12


 fully by European jealousies, was an open scandal, and disgrace alike to those who fostered and those who permitted it. At last, when, in 1S79-80, Malietoa, the head of the largest and most influential party, had subdued all opposition, and was evidently in a position to maintain his authority, he was definitely recognized as head of the whole group by mutual treaty between Great Britain, Germany, and the United States.
 Very soon after this, however, the Germans began, secretly at first and then more open ly, to intrigue against him, and to encourage 8 rival chief, Tamasese. They refused Ma lietoa permission to attack and put down this rival, which at that time he could have easily done; and the British consul, fore seeing the protext for interference which the Germans might have drawn from any such disturbance, also put his veto on fighting, thus impliedly guaranteeing Malietoa against the consequences of following this advice. The result -was that the rival became stronger and Malietoa weaker. I need not inquire how far the return to an unsettled condition suited che great German Trading Company. It certainly led to renewed activ- ity in the trade for firearms, and, what was much worse, to the wholesale alienation of land by the natives to pay for these arms. Evidently. too, the head of the German firm, with whom the quarrel with Malietoa was partly personal matter, had through out the ear of the authorities at Berlin. At last, on the most frivolous pretexts, fine, which he could not possibly pay, was levied on Malietos, and, failing payment, he was promptly kidnapped and carried off in 8 German man-of-nan, calling on the other two eonsuls, in the name of the treaty, to protect him. The British Consul had been forced to leave by illness. Had he been on the spot, and thought it his duty-as he might easily have done-to throw the egis Of British authority over the King, very serious difficulty might have arisen. It caused us an unpleasant shock here when it was admitted in Parliament that this sum- mary step, as to which there could be no pretence of emergency, and which must have been ordered from Berlin, had been taken without any communication with our Foreign Offcs-German oficialdom being still not untrammelled by the ordinary amenities of civilized intercourse.
 Meanwhile, a curious thing happened, Mslietoa's party, opposed by Germany and abandoned by England, determined to hold it's own through deprived of it's head, and the leadership has been taken by another chief of royal rank, Mataafa, who chival- rously declares that he is only holding the place until Malietoa returns. And not only this, but all the chiefs and people or the other great island. Savaii, who have for the last thirty years held aloof from these wars, have placed themselves under Mataafa, show ing how exceptionally strong and unani- nous is the national sentiment in favor of Malietoa, and how speedily the opposition under Tamasese would collapse if it were not for German support. Mataafa, too, is Roman Catholic, and though the Samoans are not greatly burdened, like many of these islanders, by religious technicalities, still the support thus given to a Roman Catholic chief by Protestant community is not without significance. Mataafa is man of ability, and, like Malietoa, of good personal charaeter-very different from the German protege q speak from personal ac- quaintance with all three), of whose gifts and antecedents the less said the better.
 "But when will Malietoa returna His cap tors carried him first to New Guinea, then to the west coast of Africa, and thence to Hamburg, but his constitution was proof against all these ordeals, and where he is at this moment 10 one seems to know. It is impossible to believe that if the facts of the case where known to great and generous people like the Germans, their sympathy would be with the action of their Govern ment in this matter; for the cruelty and in- justice which is thus being inflicted on in- nocent natives has nothing whatever to do with the question of German interests, with which it has been designedly confused.
 'The question, who has the preponderat- ing interest in Samoa! is another matter. Personally should say that the Samoans had; but putting them on one side, no doubt the Germans have the larger share of the trade. though the proportion of it in their hands over that of Great Britain and Ameri ca has been immensely exaggerated; while as to the relative amount of land held respeet- lively by the subjects of these three Powers, it is not easy to arrive at estimate until the varions claims have been investigated by an impartial land court. This is a crying necessity, and it would be difficult to exsg gerate the evil effects and the suffering in- ficted on the natives from the prolonged state of uncertainty as to ownership; but un- til the Germans are pleased to allow return to peace and order it is evident that no such international court can be established.
 con the question of the ultimate proprie- torship of the group will not enter. Mali- etoa earnestly besought our protection; hence these tears or most of them; certainly Ger man annexation would lead to indefinite war and bloodshed. But I only write to protest against the needless and prolonged suffering which is being caused by their present un- worthy policy"