The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-11-20
THE SITUATION AT SAMOA.

Advices from San Francisco re-
ceived by the Australia. reported
civil war as having broken ont again
IN Samoa. This report was cabled
to London in October from Australia.
Our files of Apia Times, received by
the Mariposa, with dates from
October 18th to November I'd, make
no mention of any disturbance of
any kind, and report everything
quiet. The telegram sent from Aus
tralia was evidently a canard. The
present situation in Samoa is this:
Malietoa declined the royal Office of
King, which is his by birth and
popular will, and expressed his views
IN short speech made at a great
native meeting which assembled at
Apia in October to discuss the cues
ton, who should be their King. We
copy from the Samoa Times the pub
lished report of the royal and other
speeches on this occasion:
"Malietoa, who appeared in delicate
health, addressed the assemblage. He
SAID: [ am standing now amongst you,
and thank God for it. / never thought
when was a prisoner away in foreign
land l could ever see you again. Ma
taafa is here with me, and | now thank
him especially for the manner in which
he has supported our cause, and also
thank all my people for the manner in
which they assisted Mataafa while / was
away. You all knew | left over to Ma
taafa the management of our affairs and
the leadership of our party, and you now
will reap the benefit of your faithful
actions. Every man respects Mataafa
and | also respect him, and he MA
tIafa) has done and will do his best for
Samoa. Although | offered myself as
a prisoner away from home, Mataafa
and my people have had trying time
but you have nobly done your duty. |
have made up my mind what to do, and
L know L am doing it for the good of nv
people. |, with every confidence, leave
Mataafa to steer the ship. Mataafa is
not blind. You also have frIl faith in
him, and under his guidance YOU will
now become prosperous people, and
permanent peace secured to Samoa. !
now retire in favor of Mataafa, whom
you will still follow as you have well
done while was away.
''Lauati, chief from Savaii, then adj
dressed the people. He said We have
all met here to-day to meet Malietoa our
old king, and appoint government for
Samoa. The people of Savaii, Manono
Tutuila, and other places cannot come
down, but they have sent representa-
tives to speak for them. This is good
You have all heard what Malietoa has
said. He wishes Mataafa in future to
take his place, and carry on the govern
ment. We will accept Mataafa as our
king and all our people will do so. We
have-afl confidence in Mataafa. He has
led us successfully through our great
troubles. We are all Malietoa's people.
and Mataafa will be our king. am
satisfied with what has been done, and
on behalf of my people agree to it.
'Mataafa, the new king, then adj
dressed his people. He said: You have
heard what Malietoa said, and YOU have
also heard what Lauati said. | am
pleased with the manner in which they
speak of me and of what | have done
during Malietoa's absence. This is
good and L thank Malietoa and you all
Tor your good feeling towards me. Ma
lletoa wants me to take his place. He
wants me to guide the ship. The chiefs
of our party have also asked me to do
so. l now accept the position and. with
Gods assistance, We will save Samoa for
our people. Malietoa and myself are
one in our feelings for the good of our
people. We should not forget what the
United States and Great Britain have
done for us. We have to thank those
nations for our independence. They will
advise us right, and if We follow their
advice it will be for our good. Germany
has only tried to brighten US. 1t is now
more than our duty to support our new
government"
AS may be read in Malietoa's
speech, he assigns no reason why he