SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 79, 5 April 1879, Page 3

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

By the arrival of the schooner Ado May a few days since we have later news from these islands', and are gratified to loam that there is a prospect of a better state of things, aud the promise of a more prosperous future for the plucky native Government which has so determinedly resisted every effort of the jealous foreign element to overthrow it, and bring about the previous demoralized condition of affaire. The Government that Steinberger gave to these people was a good one for the natives, hut it imposed restraint upon the hitherto free license prevailing, and hence met with the opposition of the " beaohcombers," foreigners, and even of the Protestant missionaries, the more remarkable since the provisions of the new laws were rigid in the suppression of vice; where as prevwusly immoral offences were condoned under missionary rule by a fine. All the trouble and outrage ending in the arrest of Steinberger and his forcible removil from the islands has beeu directly traced to the efforts and influence of a prominent Protestant missionary. Since the departure of Steinberger although beset aud threatened by missionary influence, and suffering raids on their little treasury—claims for imaginary damages enforced by German men-of-war, and every species of persecution—the little band of ohiefs elected to fill the offices of the Government have maintained a bold front and have never swerved from their duty. Finding themselves standing alone with every man's hand against them, Chief Mamea was despatched to the city of Washington, and succeeded informing a treaty of a very mild character. From the last accounts per Ada May a more hopeful state of affairs existed. There hod been a cessation of " raids" on the native Treasury since the arrival of the John Adams some months before, and her subsequent departure. The Treaty had been ratified by the natives en masse, and on the Ist, of December General J.J. Bartlett an officer of high reputation in our army during the wur, who had been invited by the Satnoan Government to aid in the administration of government, had arrived, and would assume the duties of Director-General of affairs in connection with the official ohiefs. ' General Bartlett bad been some two months on the spot, and had given oaref u 1 study and attention to the situation and by his conservative course, sound sense and good judgment had so far won the respect and confidence of all parties that by general consent there seemed to lie a disposition to acquiesce in the eourse things were taking aud no longer throw obstacles in the way of the enforcement of the principles and laws of the Government as established by Steinberger. The revenue of the Government in the way of taxes &0., in which the natives cheerfully acquiesce, is payable in " kind" and all that is necessary is to ship the products to our market, which pays cash for the same, and thus puts the Somoans on a good financial footing, and we prophesy that the bonds of the Samoan Government long be quoted in our stock lists at par and "in demand." All ! that is necessary is for our Government to do its part in the mode and manner we have suggested,—Alta California 3rd. Jan.