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Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 55, 19 October 1878, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SAMOA TIMES. Sin, —Tlio letter of “Siuim Cuique,’ which appeared iu your last issue, is a fair exposition of the infantile ideas held even at the present day by illiterate persons as to the powers and duties of Consuls. In that production, in which common sense is conspicuous by its absence, your correspondent gravely informs the public that the Acting British Consul has shown his willingness to go to the extreme limit of his authority in order to prevent the supply of intoxicating liquors to the natives by British subjects, but has refused to place himself in a false position by representing, or allowing it to bo represented that he had any authority whatever over Foreign residents other than British subjects, and therefore the iut'tided action of that official should be sense of justice and fair play, (in the interests of which he pretends to write), must have been slumbering when he penned an effusion which can only ho characterised as an attempt to do an act of gratuitous injustice to a thoroughly elllcicnt and conscientious official, and an unmanly endeavour to vilify the memory of a dead man. Mr. Swanston’s adherence to the strict line of his duty, and his refusal to take pan in a visionary scheme which would inevitably have failed deserves the commendation of the public. Let the other Consuls do the like, and I confidently say that the liquor traffic will soon be stamped out. “Suum Cuique” need not lay tbo flattering unction to bis soul, or believe for a moment that bis statements are accepted by the public as anything more than an ebnlition of spleen and chagrin at the failure of “the little game,” for the establishment of which the liquor protocol was intended to act as the thin end of the wedge. He may rest assured that he can no more throw dust in the eyes of the public, than in those of the wide-awake British representative. 1 am, Ac., Fiat Justitia. October 18, 1878.