The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1894-06-19
STEVENSON ON SAMOA.

The Writer Pleads for the ISL
anders.
LONDON, June |. Robert Louis
in a four.column letter
to the Times, gives picturesque re-
cital OF recent events in Samoa. he
says government by the Berlin act is
no more than a mask, aud very ex-
peusive Que; for the government by
the Consular triumvirate at Samoa
pays. or tries to pay, f22OO a year
to couple of helpers, and they
dare not call their souls their own.
They take their walks abroad with an
anxiouseye on the three Consuls, like
two we'll behaved children with their
nurses, and the Consuls, smiling
superior, allow them to amuse them
selves with routine business. But
lot trouble come, and the farce is
suspended. At the whistle OF
suuall these heaven. born mariners
seize the tiller and the f22OO anna
teurs are knocked SPRAYING on the
bilge. At the first beat OF the drum
the treaty officials are sent below,
gently protesting like pair OF old
ladies', and, behold! the indomitable
Cousuls are ready to clear the wreck
and make the deadly cutlass shine.
And their methods, studied under
the light OF a new example,, wear an
other air. They are not so adaman-
tine as he thought. Something that
he can only call digniiied panic
presided over their deliberations.
They have one ideal-to Tighten the
ship. Overheard with the ballast,
mainmast and chronometer, Is the
cry. In the last war they got rid,
first, Of the honor OF their respective
count ries, and, second, Of all idea
that Samoa was to be governed in
manner consistent with civilization
or government. 10 the present war
they have sacrificed, first, the pres
tige 81 the new Chief Justice, and,
second, the very principles for which
they had contended so vigorously
and successfully in the war before -
that rebellion was a thing to be
punished.
Elsewhere Mr.. Stevenson SAYS:
The progressive LIBERALIZATION Of
! these islands WAS evidenced by the
female heads taken IN the last war
and the treat ment Of white mission
aries in this. Our methods Of pull
devil, pull beggar, general indeci-
sion aud frequent, though always
dignified, panic, are the best calcu-
lated in the world to bring on a
massacre Of whites. In consistent
dignity, the consistent and indepen.
dent figure Of the Chief Justice, the
enforcement Of laws. and, above all
Of the laws against barbsriiy 10y the
Consular Board, the same in the
presence as in the absence Of wal
ships, will be found our best de
tense"
Mr.. Stevenson demands he liberia
ton of Mataafa aud his followers
who. he says. ar. the victims 81 IN
translated protocols and iuconsis
tent justice. He asks at least tina
they be fed. He says concerning
this: Il have paid taxes tn the Sa
moan Government for four year,
and the most sensible benefit that
have received ia return has been q
he allowed to feed their prisoners.
In conclusion Mr.. Stevenson says
III the farce 81 the Berlin act is I,
he continued, IL will b. necessary I,
moderate Il. Among our five sovor
eigns, il is tn be presumed that Id,
aud Schmidt were chosen for thei
good qualities. Little good we ar,
likely to get by them il at ever,
wind Of runior the three Consuls ar
to intervene
The Times, in n leading article
thanks Mr.. Stevenson for the literar,
skill displayed in his narrative, ant
says il is very pleasant and interest
lug reading. But" il says, Nv
must be content To pass lightly owe
the details Of bis prose epic with tn
feeling, possibly, that even the tire
Consuls whose misIleeds he set
forth might have something Ia sa
Tor themselves IL arraigned befor
some more practical tribunal. Nj
Stevenson can arrange the affairs u
Samoa in imagination upon idea
principles, but the poor Consuls hav
stubborn facts TO deal with, whicl
often render the nice appreciation @
relative honesty somewhat irrelevant
In fact, he tells in his own fascina,
ing manner only what We knew bs
fore
; INTERNEciNE WAR IN SAMOA.
AUCKLAND, On. ~, June advice
received from Samoa, under date {
May 18th, announce that the rebel
have occupied Tituwumanuckin, a
almost inyincible fortress. II is adl
I'd that the Government troops hay
advanced, and are now facing til
rebel army.
q Advance parties Of the rebels an
' Government troops have been el
4. gagged in several skirmishes. On
y Government soldier was killed an
4 two rebels wounded. An importar
! battle was imminent, and the SUI
5 geons Of the British aud Germa
u war ships were preparing to atten
the wounded.