THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1879.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 100, 30 August 1879, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1879.

At last has that miserable body of men, the Tainiua ami Faipulc, who have hitherto called themselves tho (Jovcruiiicnt, and who have kept the country in a stato of uproar evef since they usurped the position, have received their deserts at the hands of the foreign representatives resident here. During the whole of the time, some two years, in which the Tuimua and Fuipulo hare held tho reins of Government thoy have dono nothing but retard the progress of the country, soap liavo not promulgated a single low, and have not been able in any one iustanco to cany out tho order* of their courts. Be-, ing tired of this slato of affairs, tho Timmasmga, hacked by Mnnono, determined, some nine mouths ago, to institute a now order of things, anil thereupon gave norire that they had dotoiuiined on having Mulictoa as Kiug, and gave the Tninma and Faipttlt n certain time to consider whether they would accapt the King (i. it'tire from the scat, „f Government. They, having failed to comply with the request of the 'J'uatiiaaega, Maiieto* was crowueil and saluted

as King of Samoa, in the very midst of the Tairuua and Faipule, on the 3rd of May. This ceremony was performed a deputation merely of the King's supporters, tho whole of the members of which being unarmed. If the Toiniua and Faipule had had the slightest shadow of a right to the titlo of Government, why did they not have this handful of men, together with their King, arrested and punished for their daring in thua rebelling against their authority t It could not be pleaded that they had been taken unawares, for tho Tuaiuas-iga niado no secret of their intcution, and even sent one of their party to invite the Taiuiua and Faipule to witness the ceremony. We can therefore only come to the conclusion that the Tainiua and Faipule had no power to prevent this demonstration, tuid therefore were no lon"er entitled to be considered as the rulers of the couutry. In fact so far from then being able to punish these intruders, tiny themselves, on the iSth of May, received notice to quit the seat of Government bom the King party. How wus thin notice received Y Was any protest offered or any resistance made"? No; but in the most abject tone imaginable the Tainiua and Faipule said " we will go, but as we have our women and children to take, wo beg to be allowed a day or two to remove everything." They then weut to Aana, set up their Government there, aud threatened the Tuamasaga party with anihilatiou. Consequently we were in the unenviable position of haviug two " Governments," aud tho foreign representatives were in somewhat of a quandary as to which party they were to deal with. There is no doubt but that state of a/fairs would never have existed had it not been for the advice given to the Tainiua and Faipule by one or two individuals, whoso only interest in tho country is very little more than a carpet bag. Had it not been for the bolstering up by these individuals we have not tho slightest hesitation in saying that matters would have been amicably settled long since, and Malietoa would have been received, and a new Government formed. Day by day the Malietoa party was receiving more and more supporters, whilst those of the other side had dwindled away to such an extent that tho auihihitiou of tho Tuamasaga was no longer talked of, and it was pretty generally thought that it was only a matter of a few weeks ere the Tainiua and Faipule would swallow their pride and own allegiance to the King. Such was the state of affairs when Sir Arthur Gordon arrived hero a week ago. Having been commissioned to arrange a treaty between Samoa and Englaad°His Excellency was desirous to know which party to deal with. He very wisely consulted with the foreign representatives resident here, and tho result was tho unanimous opinion that Malietoa was at present entitled to bo considered tho ruler of Samoa. At the meeting at Mulinun.ou Tuesday last, His Excellency, in the presence of the wholo of the foreign representatives and captains of the ships of war in harbour, treated with Malietoa as the King of Samoa. During the progress of the meeting above referred to a deputation from a portion of Falealele, headed by Tuatagaloa and Leaaiolagi, two of tho greatest chiefs in that district.camo in and pronounced for Malietoa. Whether the new Government will be an improvement on the old oifb remains to be seen ; one thing is very certain that it cannot be worse. Our chief complaint against the Taimuaand Faipule has been their eagerness to listen to and accept the advice of every penniless adventurer and jiolitical schemer. If the new Government will only give such individuals a wide berth, and listen nioi-o to the advice of responsible pel-sous, we have no doubt but that they will be able to render a better account of tho stewardship than their predecessors have done.