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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9241, 19 December 1888, Page 4

The news to hand from Samoa tells as of the continuance of fierce hostilities among the natives, between the party of Mataafa Malietoa and that of Taiua,sese, and the bloodiest battle has been fought that ever was fought in th? Samoan Group. Great numbers were slain, and plenty of heads were taken as trophies, according to the primitive fashion of the people. And all this has been proceeding in the immediate presence of the representatives of three of the most powerful and most Christian nations of the world ; and none of them durst put forth a hand to stay the internecine slaughter, because of their mutual jealousies and their suspicions of each other's object. That such a thing should be is a disgrace to our boasted civilization, and to that humanity, the impulses of which drive us to penetrating into the interior of Africa, and to hewing down thousands of half-armed and half-naked men in the cause of the suppression of slavery One gunboat moved, one word of authority from either Germany, England, or America, and every gun in Samoa would be lowered, this taking of heads would cease, and the civil war would be closed by a vote of the people as to who should be their ruler. But no ; the Christian Powers have each their own objects to serve, and secretly abetted, if not aided .these poor islanders are left to pursue their mutual slaughter to the bitter end. Mo doubt the blame of this is not to b« equally divided. In the most coldblooded selfishness] the Germans deposed the rightful rulerthe King recognised by treaty, the choice and the favourite of the majority. They not only encouraged revolt against the rightful King, but placed the usurper on a throne which he cannot hold, and which the Germans are, apparently, now ashamed to maintain ; but, England and America are not free from complicity in a situation which is allowing this bloodshed to continue. It was a disastrous thing for humanity when the German Power was first incited by ail evil impulse to extend their influence over the lands of inferior races, whether in New Guinea, the Pacific, or in Africa. Their regime does not seem to be imbued with tllbse finer feelings of Christian humanity, which, at least professedly, govern the policy of England and America, and even France, in dealing with defenceless races ; and arrogance and remorseless force appear to sum up the principles of their civilising policy But even making allowance for the chilling influence of tlie presence of the Germans in Samoa, it is high time that England and America should have asserted the claims of humanity and bidden this slaughter cease. A greater stigma on our civilisation and common humanity than this head-cap-turing process in Samoa within sight of the flags of England, America, and Germany it is hardly possible to imagine. Government with the consent of the governed is the rational principle accepted now as the rule of all civilised and free people • and if it were not for the shameful selfishness of these three Powers, a plebiscite among the Samoans as to who should be their ruler, ought to have promptly put an end to tVs desolating struggle. The Samoan peon.: have shown a capacity for adopun-; civilised institutions that should ha". been humanely and sympathetically fostered by the superior race ; but like the ancient gladiators, "butchered to make a Roman holiday," they are left to annihilate one another to determine the question, of which of us shall have the greatest influence among them, as a preliminary to having the largest share of plunder.