The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, September 20, 1888. RESISTING THE TYRANNY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 198, 20 September 1888, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, September 20, 1888. RESISTING THE TYRANNY.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aini’st at be thy country’s, Thy God's, and truth’s.

From the way the question has been put before them on many occasions, the people of this district ought to have a fairly good understanding of the Samoan question, which is now presented in a light that compels us to pause and think. The record of dishonor which England has brought upon herself owing to her criminal inaction with regard to some of the beautiful islands of the Pacific is bringing home its doubtful reward. The Samoan affair must reflect a lasting disgrace upon the English statesmen who refused to offer the slightest protest against the shameful action of Germany, who for the purposes of more convenient commercial bartering deposed a weak monarch, pandered tu the rebels, and then took the unfortunate man prisoner, making him an exile from the land of his fathers. The history of the affair is too well known to require explaining. The high handed action of Germany would be a disgrace to any nation; the vacillating policy of England was cruel in the extreme. Many people may affect to sneer at Mr Rees, but we believe that in connection with this pitiable Samoan trouble and the deposition of King Malietoa the persistency with which Mr Bees has urged the claims of the exile is now beginning to have some effect. The most powerful journal in England—the Times—has taken up Malietoa’s case again, and is urging that some justice may be secured, by the joint representation of England and America, for the semi-savage who has been treated far worse than being robbed of his rights. In the United States Mr Rees interviewed Mr Bayard on the subject, and there is every reason to believe that to the former is due much of the credit for the sympathy that has been created for Malietoa. The question is one far removed from our petty local politics, and if Mr Bees is the instrument by which Malietoa has restored to him at least a portion of his rights, then we say that those who cannot cordially approve of his action are little better than the persecutors. The trouble which is now taking place in Samoa, from present information, appears to be one of the grevious outcomes of Germany's tyrannical oppression of the poor islanders, but under present circumstances there is no help for it, but for the “rebels,” as they are tgrmed, to submit, or their opposition must eventually be paid for with blood. It does seem a foul shame that after the natives had been despoiled and taxed that they should be called “ rebels ” because they have become impatient under the yoke. It would serve the tyrants right it they were given a taste of their own cruelty.