CURRENT REFLECTIONS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8332, 8 April 1889, Page 3

CURRENT REFLECTIONS.

(BY OUE AUCKLAND CORRESPONDENT. ) _„ AUOKLAND, April 3. Ihe Sensation of the week has, of course, been the Samoan disaster. It was at first received with incredulity. I had been reading the Herald in the suburbs, but it was an early edition, and it gave no news of the Mariposa except that she was telegraphed from Tiritiri at the time of going to press, therefore the rumor of such a startling calamity was for the moment placed in the same category as the late vanard that one of the German ships had sunk an American. On arrival iv town it was soon found that the report was perfectly true, and the daily papers were publishing extras with details of the disaster. The flags of the United States aud Germanywere flying half mast high at the respective consulates, as well as at the residences of some ot the citifcens who hail from Germany, or from the States. One or two of the wrecked German ships haye visited this port, and the Calliope is quite at home here, as it is not many weeks since she was last in the Waitemata. It will be remembered that, in company wilh the Diamond, the Calliope was docked in the new dock whicli bears her name— though not named after her, but derived from thu old Calliope here about 184S — on the occasion of the opening of that dock about the early part of last year. Great satisfaction was felt at her escape, partly from friendly feelings towards tlie officers and crew, but also as evidence that the much-abused British

navy is not played out yet, wbeu the only ship of that navy was able to steam out in the teeth of a heavy gale, when six other war ships were unable to do so. You have no doubt received a full account of the disaster by telegram, but some explanation of the geographical position will help to show how the seven war ships, as well as a number ot small sailing craft, were caught in a trap from which the Calliope alone was able to force her way out.

The harbor of Apia faces towards the north, and as the south-east trade- wind prevails for nine months in the year, it is a safe harbor at tbat time, hut this gale blew from the north-east, and the harbor is bounded on the east and west by coral reefs which draw in very close towards the head of the bay, but widen out considerably seawards, so that the plan of the harbor is like a long narrow funnel closed at the narrow end. It will be readily imagined with what terrific force even a moderate gale would drive the sea into such a funnel, and what a poor cbaace any vessel but a powerful steamer would have of escaping from the trap. The outermost vessel at the outset was

tlie U.S.S. Trenton; behind her, to the south, was the U.S.S. Vandalia, and south-east of her H.M.S. Calliope. Behind these were the three German ships, much nearer the shore, and in a line with each other, bearing north-weat and south-east, the Adler being outwards, nearest the Calliope, the Olga in the middle, and the Eher furthest in the south-east. The U.S. Nipsic lay near to, and eastward ot, theEber. The Herald's correspondent at Apia says: "The gale was no heavier than occurs frequently on the coast of New Zealand, and I feel perfectly sure lhat any one of tbe Union Company's boats would have steamed right out as

the Calliope did." Possibly so, if tbey had sea-room, but it is a different thing being on the open coast and being embayed amongst coral reefs wheie the sea is boiling like a maelstrom. 1 should not care to be at anchor, even in one of the Union Company's fine boats, near the tlie head of Palliser Bay, if there was to come up suddenly a stiff gale from the south-east, such as can blow there from, time to time. But at Samoa a good deal of the mischief resulted from the vessels fouling each other. The Olga, for instance, came in collisiou with the Nipsic, carrying away the smoke-stack of the latter, and thus depriving her in a great measure of the use of her steam power. It is difficult, with our imperfect knowledge of the objects of the Germans in their piratical raid upon Samoa, to fore cast the effect which tbis mishap may bave on their further proceedings. Their largest ship, the Olga, is likely to be got off ; but if Prince Bismarck wants to withdraw as gracefully as the case will admit of from a position which at present does not promise either honor or profit to Germany, now is the time. The United States will probably not be inclined to put difficulties in the way if he will make his bow and retire from a false position, and so gracefully acknowledge the conduct of Malietoa Malaafa in sendjng hundreds of his men to assist in saving the lives amd property, not of his friends only, but also of the" Germans who have ticated him so shamefully. This generous conduct on the part of men they call f.iivages might induce something like generous conduct on the part of the | German Government. I£ England and the United States stand aside, no one

doubts that Germany can demolish the Samoans, but, on the other hand, few will doubt that she would lose caste by doing so, and would be wiser to leave Samoa alone. A Berlin telegram of Monday sll y S : __" The Nationalists affirm that the Siiinoan disaster must not be allowed to cool colonial ardor in respect of Germany's interests in Samoa." Tbe main points to he considered are : What does Bismarck say ? and what does the United States say ? England seems to have taken a back seat in the negotiations. She has not as free a hand as the United States have, for there is too much of the '_' caw me, caw thee" in European politics in these days; but those who complain of making any concessions to Bismarck should jnst study the position of affairs in Europe a little more. If Englaud is to be drawn inlo the next gteat European war, which I trust she will not, she must do so in alliance with one party or the other. It has been the' policy of the British Government for many years to keep aloof from continental wars as much as they can. Both Liberals and Conservatives acted alike in this ; though I think Gladstone is the most to be blamed, because bis principle has been to watch the weathercock of public opinion and then to swing with the tide. But I do not see that the present Government is in a position to co to war wi.li either France or Russia— which, indeed, might probably mean both— without being prepared for enormous sacrifices, worse by far than we

bad to make when we entered upon the Crimean war against the one, bnt in alliance with the other. If we do not prepare for war in time of peace we must be at a disadvantage when it comes upon us unprepared. The death of the Right Hon. John Brieht must be regarded as a national calamity. He was one ot the few men who ventured to oppose popular opinion when he was convinced it was on the wrons. track. The most notable instance of this was in the case of the Crimean war, for although John Bright was opposed to war on religious and humanitarian grounds', he was also a statesman who could foresee some of the evils of tbat war, and tbe enormous cost it would saddle upon the nation ; he was, if I mistoke not, burned in effigy at Manchester at that time, and rejected from the House of Commons for a season because he would not follow in the wake of popular clamor. Mr Bright was a great orator. I suppose, Gladstone has made at least twenty Bpeeches to Bright's oue; but there was a vast difference between them. Here it is— l will quote it from the Evening Star, which followa Gladstone blindly in all his gyrations. The quotation, however, gives the opinion of a gentleman now in Auckland lecturing on the subject •of "International Arbitration," and who was interviewed by a representative of the Star. Question— How would you compare the two men as orators ? Reply— Mr Gladstone's style of speech is more involved, and more difficult to follow in order to obtain the sense than Mr Bright's, which was perfectly simple and straightforward. Every sentence was complete and effective, and conveyed the full and sincere impressions of the orator. Gladstone is much more flowery, aud brings in more illustrations than did Mr Bright ; but, on the other hand, Mr Brigbt introduced most humorous illustrations, • which usually proved very effective. In reply to further questioning the same gentleman said : " Gladstone has an immense prestige or mana in England, but still Mr Brigbt, as an orator, was more effective in moving the hearts of the people. I have seen an audience of 7000 people in Birmingham standing before Bright and swaying like a cornfield swayed hy the wind under the power of his immense oratory." I will give one more extract, this time from tbe Herald, interviewing the same gentleman. " Some time a«o a _ _uaational cablegram was published about Mr Bright, stating .hat on bis death-bed (what was then supposed to be his death-bed) he had t-OTfui*. dewed _ewßci.Rti.__ with Mr

Gladstone. I know nothing of such an incidont. Mr Bright's sister and brother, Mr Jacob Bright, had frequently endeavoicd to alter his views on certain political matters, but in vain. Mr Bright, as a devout Christian, was of course desirous of dying at, peace with all men, but as to desiring 'tearful ' reconciliation with Mr Gladstone, in his politics, as in his creed, John Bright died ns he had lived." I was glad to see this contradiction, for I had not only noticed ihe telegram, but I saw in the local Gladstonian oigan of Home Rule, a comment on the telegram apparently intended to convey the impression that Mr Blight's tender df reconciliation, was also a recan lation of his opposition to Mr Gladstone's Irish delusion, j which Mr Bright, by his letters in the Press, frequently and unsparinglycxposed.