TO THE EDITOR OF THE SAMOA TIMES.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 43, 27 July 1878, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SAMOA TIMES.

Sin, —Tho Sanioan Government lias for a very considerable time, remained in the position of the young bears who had alt their troubles before them, and must certainly bo complimented upon the adroitness with which it has, up to the present time, evaded anything like confronting impending trouble or accepting those responsibilities which necessarily attatch to a governing power. The ratification of the treaty between the United States and Samoa has, however, placed the Samoan Government in a better position than it has heretofore occupied, inasmuch as it has thus obtained that desideratum which, although not absolutely essential to its stability, will yet increase its importance in the eyes of the outside world. It should bo remembered that while Ibis treaty is advantageous to the Samoan Government in the above respect, yet it throws certain responsibilities upon it. and the gravest duty arising therefrom is that of Urn organisation of governmental and judicial institutions, such as are inseparable from civilised ideas of a Government. It is to be presumed that early steps will bo taken by the Samoan authorities for the purpose of bringing about this" consummation most devoutly to be wished."

Now the possibility of establishing such institutions naturally depends upon " the almightv dollar," and the sucoassful initiation and carrying out thereof must be resolved into a question of revenue, and it must be admitted that the sources of revenue, in an undeveloped country such as Samoa, must ho within a very limited range and extent. TaUo as one ol the sources of revenue, the poll tax.

li.mki.-V poll tax may be placed upon tin- natives, and it is probable thai in tiino a « rtain sum may be realised in this maimer, but experience baa shown in oilier countries, that the collection of sueb a tax from natives i.s attended with much delay, and requires expensive maelunlry, and it cannot be argued that tho rollcctiou Of suehatax will be easier in Samoa tli:.n elsewhere, us it can hardly lit said that an anxious desire to pay money i-. a trait of the Sanioan character. Again, it at present extremely problematical and doubtful whether amounts worth .0:1.-: iciatioii may bo expected from customs duties on imports for a rousid-ruhle tiflje to come, if at all, and it is clear that t&6 amount whiah may be realised from dirjct taxation of the white residents is entirely incommensurate with governmental requirements. Doubtless if the Government had State lands of any extent, a sufficient sum might lie raised thereon to carry on governmental institutions while the taxes are in process of collection, but it is to be feared that when it becomes a matter of enquiry, as to whether there is any land in Samoa which can he classed as State land and as to the quantity of land ' owned by native individual Inudowncrs, which might bo converted into State lands, the result will show that no depi ndence can he placed upon this "broken reed." Will the foreign residents, notably German and American landowners, step aside and say to tho Government, " (ientleiuen use our lands as you please .'" 1 trow not without a sufficient consideration. A matter which, while foreign to the above remarks, is still of deep interest to persons resident in Samoa, is the utter • fatuity of the policy which gives advantages to a certain section of the community and denies equivalent advantages to the remainder. Such a policy is incompatible with peace, good order, and harmony of feeling. Why cannot the esteemed United States Consul consent to •• IThim? his trumpet in tho ball A li.l study war no more " y Are tli iv not sufficient claims of I'nited States citizens to occupy his attention or divert it from his favorite oc- ' cupatioii of splitting diplomatic straws '. I ain, sir, yours. &c, 1 Stokm Biltl).

T" Tin: uniTon <>v the .sa.M"A timi:s. Sn:.—Tin: great secret has lieen revealed, and the Sainoans are ut last con- ■ vinced tint the treaty dues not mean either annexation or a protectorate. Where now are the boasted expressions of the I'. S. Consul, who has repeatedly told both natives and foreigners that this treaty was a protectorate to 'he natives, more, 'twas annexation, and from the day „f .1. ■:--.:..., ..f ii„- „,,„■ to the I Nth ■)t July thev have lirmlv' belie* e,l mat . the I "nit -■. 1 States was the shield behind which they would flue from any trouble which might arise between foreign nations and themselves. How much are the United States, through their officials in Samoa, responsible for ? "lis a hard question to answer, but a slight estimate may be formed from tin- following:—Thev are responsible for the lives lost in the action with the Barracouta, in .March, IS7G, when ten Sainoans were killed and nineteen wounded, and four English killed and seven wounded. They are responsible for the Puletua war in 1877, when fifty .Sainoans were killed and as many'more wounded. The Samoan difficulties' would have been settled amicably by compromise had not the Steinberger party been bolstered up by false promises of ships of war to be hero ill six weeks, and the American Consul went after them himself. The sufferings caused by the war, anarchy, famine, and all the other evils following, tho,U. S. Consul has been the dog in the manger; he boasts that he " beaded off " Sir A. Cordon from doing any good, aUhouhg he believed what his Excellency offered was the best thing that could be done for Samoa; but it would have, hindered his treaty from coming in first. He has kept disturbances afloat in Samoa to further his own ends. His jealousy of the German Consul stayed any good which the German Government offered in the way of mediation, and through and by him the turmoil has continued up to the arrival of the Adams. Any one with a clear perception can form some idea as to what answer can be given to the question above. That any good result will obtain from the visit of the Adams is doubtful. Mamca has returned, and the most of tho Sainoans have gone back to their homes to ponder over their disappointment. What a contrast to their joy two week's before, on the arrival of the Adams. Then they saw the American flag floating gloriously under the Samoan flag on the Samoan Government flag-staff, put there by the American Consul. Their enthusiasm was great. "Behold," tkoy exclaimed, "the fruition of all our hopes; the American flag under our flag holding ,il up!" And there it hung to the wondering gaze of a great multitude, among whom was the Gorman Consul, Captain of the German war ship Ariadne, and his oEßcerx, until seen by an American resident, who, having more patriotism than the U. S. Consul, pulled the flag down. In thi> act of hoisting the flag, the Consul may he excused, as no uue expects ho knew any better, or if he did he might justify himself by laying it hud been hoisted in the same way many times before by other! holding the same, position as himself during the past eighteen months, The general admission among tin' Sainoans is that Maiueu'a misMon Ills proved a failure. The different districts

will lake breathing time t-> consider over the matter, and it they reject the treaty, the Taimua and b'aipula, as I sentatives of the people will inform the I iiit.il States Government,anil time will finish the story, I am, \o., Vox PoPTLI.