THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1888.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 10, 1 December 1888, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1888.

Taking a retrospective view of the »*tn» of event* in Samoa for the la*t lix months, and the unprecedented occurrence* which have taken place daring that time, would lead ns to imagine that some providential iutarferenoe had amUted to remove the abortion of a Government that «i gradually radneing the natives Of this country to alavefy aad tended to drive all the .foreign resident* Who •Oj.dhreetlv interested or othenri* *pported by the German ¥km *j* ***** P* theiwmtry. Let M quietly review the event* of

those few months, but in doing so we must refer back to the ill-judged conduct of the German Commodore who took charge of Samoa. If he had hoisted his nation':) Bag the country would then be governed from Berlin, and probably many of the causes of disaffection might not have been permitted, but then the annexation of Samoa to Germany would entail serinus responsibilities which Germany did not desire to incor. TThey preferred to take charge of the country without responsibility, and allow the Germane here the lull control of its management. This nice Httle arrangement suited the Gentian Firm exactly, and to give them free liberty of action Maliutoa had to be removed, so the German Commodore took the obosen King of the people in one of his warships, carrying him about all over the world according to the whim or fancy of his jailors. And.while on.this subject, we must admit that it has not been very creditable to the other Great Powers interested in Samoa in their not* having immediately I demanded of Germany Malietoa's restoration. However, this subject ; has already been discussed all over the world, we Only refer to Malietoa's removal, together with the | high-handed rule of the Germans in.&aufoa as the direct cause of the , native wars which have lately taken place, an'd unfortunately, 'ttJWwSV -pßiOpk news foTgatfta indignity pot «n

nd now comesthefirßtmistskemade

by the Government. Mr. Brandois makes* grand display with 600 or 700 of his warriors and shoots down a few of tbe poor wretches; the outlawed people then fled further htiand, gradually - gaining strength and in few weeks their numbers were increased by thousands, who could no longer bear the infliction of tbe unprecedented heary fines and penalties imposed upon them for the most trifling offences, hundreds of them asserting that they might as well die at war as be made slave* for life. When they found themselves sufficiently strong they informed the Government that they had appointed another member of the Malietoafamily their Kingand would fight in defending him. Tbe parties met at Matautu, and the world el* ready known the'result. The tables were turned; Malietoa 11. became master, and Tatnasese and his Gov* emment were driven into a corner where they had to be sheltered by a party of marines from a German warnhip. For all" purposes, of a' Government Tamasese's rule ended here, but he muat'be maintained in his place of refuge by the Germans at all hazards as their nominal K i Eg. Then bis people offended the United States by hacking their flag and interfering with* one of. their citisens,Bo he wasagainhurriedaway in the night. , In fact the events of the last four months has been a chapter of reverses and misforiuries for German rule in Samoa, for the world is now well aware that Tarn-

Mete au«l his Government were simply a very .thiu veil fco cover the regulations which governed Samoa, and which were framed and administered solely in the German Firm's interest.-