The Ashburton Guardian. SMagna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1888. THE SAMOAN WAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1957, 29 September 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. SMagna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1888. THE SAMOAN WAR.

The news of the outbreak of a civil war m Samoa is by no means unex pected, on the contrary it is precisely what might hade been looked for — may we not indeed say that it has been the object of a deliberate plan . This beautiful group has long been coveted by Germany, which did not hesitate to break through tho covenants which bound herself, the United States and England to respect the independence of the little insular Kingdom, and to depart the unoffending Malietoa as a prisoner to Europe, setting up Tamasese, a rival chief, as the nominal King m his stead. That this should Lave been permitted without protest on the part of England is nothing short of a disgrace to us as a nation, the more especially that Malietoa reposed the firmest confidence m British good faith, and had more than once appealed to the prolec u'pn of the Queen. Nay, so strong was the leaning of that illused ruler, and of the £amoan people towards England that the sovereignty of their country was formally offered to Her Majeßty, and there was great disappointment at its non-acceptance. Failing m this, tho Samoans were desirous of annexation to New Zealand, and the Government of the Colony were at one time on the eve of taking steps m that direction. Tho motive of these efforts on the part of the Samoans has been throughout their dread of German domination, and events have proved that they had good reason to believe that actual annexation by Germany was not far off. For years past the Germans have exercised very arbitary powers m these islands, and have been seeking a i pretext for tauing the final step of proclaiming German sovereigns m Samoa, Malietoa'g deportation and' the setting np of ft puppet king m his stead, were the first ««ovpb m the game, and the sending back oi° Malietoa wag the next. That, it was foreseen, would inevitably lead to a collision between thosd of the Samoans who regard him as their right*

ful ruler, and those who are the followers ■ of Tamasese, and that collision has promptly, and naturally resulted, the 1 latest news from the islands stating ! that sevpre fighting has iaken place, m which there has been considerable loss of life, Tamasese being defeated and deposed, though curiously enough, not Malietoa, but Matafa, the leader of the victorious forces, has been chosen king m his stead. The followers of Tamasese have, we are told by the cable news from Sydney, retired to Mulinui Point, a posi tion occupied by German sailors and marines, and as an attack upon that position by Matafa's followers was believed to be imminent at the date of despatch of the news above referred to, a collision between them and the German force seems certain to have eventuated. Such an occurrence will give Germany the excuse she has so long been seeking, and tbe occupation and annex • 1 ation of Samoa may be regarded as , almost certain to follow. Tho whole thing looks exceedingly like a planned affair, and forms one ot the most dis creditable chapters m the history of the dealings of white men with the islanders of the Pacific.^