The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-02-22
THE POSITION OF AFFAIRS IN SAMOA
"A BRITISH VIEW.

4 recent number OF the Sydney
Daily Telegraph contains an inter
esting and able review of the essen
tial points In the Samoan complica-
ton by Mr.. W. Mcmillan, NJ. p
We reproduce as much of the article
az our space will allow, emitting
some portion Of the narrative which
recounts events with which our
readers are already familiar:
As all the troubles in the Pacific have
arisen out Of the conflict of the various
national interests, 1t may be well to
Thoroughly understand what is meant by
the term Interests" before 1 give an
account OF the late extraordinary events
connected with the German occupation
OF Samoa. As the chief danger is to be APP
pretended from German ambition, twill
he sufficient to contrast the actual posi-
ton OF Germany and England in those
seas, with slight reference to the claims
OF France and America.
Almost all the influence which Ger
MANY holds in the islands arises out of
the trading transactions Of one firm. |
cannot state exactly the present capital
Of that firm, but | understand it is about
$500 COO 1t was originally known as
"GoGdeiroy's" before the failure OF the
bankers OF that name. 1t has now a
name which is almost a sentence, andl
for sake OF simplicity l Will refer x. -
it is generally designated, Tt II a.
Firm" Since Bismarck -He oeI ma mai
the cause OF colOnizaAI~A mas esPouSeu
haan taken NEG Ehon, this hrm has
NJ 60, ,,miarIy under his care.
Mn t.- Lloyd line of steamers,
III ", .anch between Sydney, Samoa
- nga. is subsidized annually by
enormous amount of G220 900, much
nore than the net profit which, under
the most favorable circumstances, could
De realized by the trading firm. In
stead OF the traders and planters OF this
firm carrying on their operations on
commercial pTinci pies, the whole ma
chincry IS more or less political, the
Government at Berlin "meddiing and
muddling" In such a way that the ma
rives have lost all confidence, and are
perfectly neWil1ered with the conflicting
national interests, exhibiting a very
sorry spectacle of European trickery.
The settlement and trade of the Ger
mans not being Ui natural growth, and
being. as individuals, much disliked by
the natives, their whole status and inter
esls simply rest on the fact of lands
easily acquired, often with doubtful title,
and the iact that the prestige of the Ger.
man name and power is kept alive by q
display oil force in the periodical
visits of their ships OF war. In all this
YOU will see there il no element OF native
rights and no question of native predl-
lectiOns.
This it Will be noticed CORE
spends very accurately with the
view already expressed by the
ADVERTISER in an editorial wherein
it was stated that the war in Samoa
was " a traders war; that it was
originally melted by, and was being
carried on in the interest of parties
whose only concern in the matter
was one of private gain. Mr.. Me
MILAN next givesa brief sketch OF
the claims of SIalietoa and Tama
sese, and the strength of their res
pective forces. These matters are
we'll understood here and need not
be repeated. Ie proceeds thus
/ making 4 strong case IL FAVOR or the
right Of his own country to consider
alton IN the premises:
Now let us examine our own title anC
interests. IN the first place we discov
cred the islands. III the next place
through missionary enterprise and the
Civiliziag influences OF Christianity, We
prepared the way foT all those possibili
F ties Of native industry and European
trading in which all nations have parti
cipated. In the next place our war
ships at great cost surveyed the coasts
tempted the perils OF the most dangerou
waters in the world, made thousands o
separate soundings, and by the charts
which as i result Issued from our Admir-
atty Department, the very nation VIII,
noy dispute our position have been en-
! abled % avoid shipwreck and disaster
Ia the next place, As practical proof o