THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect Am I." SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1889.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 21, 9 March 1889, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect Am I." SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1889.

The determination' of the United States Secretary of State, Mr. Bayard, to pass over the settlement of Samoa future to the new administration has been generally approved of by the foreign residents of Samoa. * The delay that will necessarily be occasioned by having to wait until all the machinery of a liew"Government has been put in ; motion is under, our.prescnt circumstances vexatious. Still Wc feel convinced the change will be a considerable improvement. Under the now administration Samoa may expect to find her interests more industriously attended to than was rendered by .the Jate C;oy§rnment. Secretary Bayard, tike Lord. Salisbury, has unfortunately allowed the time,to pass by."when by a little exertion of either or both Samoa might havo been saved from the terrible sacrifice' of Hfo winch has recently taken place.' I It fs doubtful if either Lord Salisbury., or Secretary Bayard would - [b.ave. interested themselves., even now if the press of the world had not forced them into activity. - Samoa has little thanks to render to either of these gentlemen. On the contrary [ wo may attach.ajansiilorablo blame ' on both ftr thelkwdlfferende'tb our i , "-■• i •mitiim^lii'-'i',, &>.■■* ... • wanta ornqpessHies, although seve-. j ral instances of our wretched condition were btgiyjht under their notice. pud Salisbury's Government showedJ|jsh a disregard of our affaire n look sis months before a member of .the of Commons could get an ans/f ar frpm the Under j Secretary of State for Foreign Af-1 fain to a question affecting Samoa, j &%ps..th.e Under S*or«Ury of State had personally mofe import-; ttt'matter to attend to than read-J ingktUra orooMalar despatches' nb&ag toa islands, the' »bn%«ment M* Ooton-'

lucnt ltn<l pasmsd over to hi* historical friend and near neighbor, Germany* The Secretary of State for the United States, although not so much to blame, hat shown considerable neglect of tjie duties America own to the people of the Samoan Islands, and in many instances a reprehensible disregard of insults and offences against United States citizens resident in Samoa, which has been prominently brought under his notice by correspondence and consular despatches, moro especially those of Consul-General Sewall. Several ofthe.se despatches had to be. brought to light by the persistency of Consul Sewall himself, who had recently gone to Washington on leave of absence tor the express purpose of advocating the interests of the islands. The withholding of these despatches. whether intentionally or otherwise, has not advanced the Secretary, Mr. Bayard, in the estimation of American statesmen, and will probably do more to injure his chances of office in any future change.of Government than any other of his indiscretions. Under these circumstances we feel better satisfied that the future of Samoa should be left in the hands of men who have already expressed themselves so favorably towards the islanders, and in whom the United States citizens in Samoa, no matter of what party they belong to, have implicit confidence. That the new administration will secure the independency of Samoa at all hazards, we are confident. That they will have the support of the Senate, the Congress, and the nation, we fool assured, and outside of German}- the world will praise their conduct. This is the position that Great Britain formerly held in the estimation of the universe, by taking a lead in helping the weak. We should regret exceedingly to sec her lose her reputation. Let Great Britain join in the good work and we will thank them both.