THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1870.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 84, 10 May 1879, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1870.

AjAthkK act in iB Me of self-govern- I nicJt by tho SuiiS played at

Muliuuu, on Saturday fat. Some few months ago the Tuaniasaga party brought Maleatoa to Muliuuu, tlu> seat of Government, and informed the " Government " that as the Conatitutioa provided for a King, they had brought Maleatoa up as the person who had a right to that position. They then left the matter iu the hands of the so-called " Government " for their decision. This, however, they refused to pay any attention to, and matters have been in a very unsettled state ever since. When Mr. Instructor Uartleii was installed into his office on the 19th of March last, he said, "Thereare, unfortunately, some divisions at present in the country, but I hope the differences will be settled without recourse to forco being used by tho Government." What attemps have the " Government," or Mr. Bartlett, as their adviser, madu to bring about a peaceable settlement of those differences P So far as we can ascertain nothing whatever has been done, but have apparently foolishly relied upon the force they could bring to bear upon those they are pleased to call rebels. If they had that power last Saturday was the day upon which they should have shown it. The " Government " cannot hold forth the plea that they were taken unawares, for the King party has intimated its intention, over and over again during the last four months, of having Maleatoa as King. The fact that they intended to proclaim ami crown Maleatoa on Saturday last was generally known for several days previously. One would have thought after all this warning and time to prepare they would have had all the force at their command and would have put to scout the rebels and their King aud have had them all in irous before twenty-four hours had passed over their heads. But what was the result? A very small party of the King's supporters accompanied him to the seat of Government, one of the speaking men actually hod the audacity to stand before that august body—the " Government" and invito them to coinc and witness the crowning of the King. The King was crownedmnd saluted without any resistance, or the slightest shadow of a protest being offered. So much for the power of the so-called " Government." In the face of this inability on the part of the " Government" to oppose tho action of the King party, wc must look upon what took place on Saturday lost as a bloodless revolution, and whereas upon this day week Samoa was a republic, today it is a monarchy. Whether the country will be any better off under the new regime than it was under the old remains to be seen, but there is one thing very certain it cannot be any worse.