THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1899. THE CRISIS IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1404, 26 January 1899, Page 18

THE New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1899. THE CRISIS IN SAMOA.

War, as conducted at the present day in Samoa, smacks more of opera bouffe than of “horrida bella” as it is prosecuted by nations boasting of their advanced civilisation. The fighting of which news has just been received appears to have consisted in the main of a masterly surrender by one-fourth of tho loyal army to tho forces of tho “ proud usurper,” a brilliant strategic movement into the bush by another moiety, and a stampede by the remainder on board a British warship for shelter. It is fortunate that there was no stubborn fighting, and that the total of killed and wounded is under four score ; for nothing can be more wicked and wanton than the conduct of those who have incited these guileless semi-savages to fight over a question of succession to a sovereignty which is merely nominal, and which carries no higher remuneration than £SO a year. The present position ,is a striking commentary upon German professions with regard to Samoa. The Berlin newspapers, in recently agitating for a partition of the islands, declared that “the English and American are continually intriguing

against the Germans.” The “ Tageblatt” stated, with refreshing frankness, that the Americans were welcome to tbe island of Tutuila, because it was “ almost worthless except as a coaling station;” Great Britain could have Savaii, which was “not worth much” 1 owing to its mountainous character; “ Upelu alone is valuable,” and that of course was to constitute Germany’s share of the spoil. Upolu is the island upon which fighting has lately taken place, and it is evident from the telegraphed accounts that the German Consul and other German residents at Apia are responsible for the bloodshed and disorder-. The Chief Justice, the recognised final authority, had declared that tho Kingship should fall upon the son of the late monarch, Malietoa; but the German Consul refused to accept the decision, and the followers of Mataafa, tho rival chief, began to seize upon the town, aided and led, apparently, by a German who holds an official position. After the “ battle ” was over, the British and American Consuls, most inadvisedly, appear to have given way to the Germans, and to have formally recognised Mataafa as “King.” This had the effect of making the Germans more assertive than before, for they proceeded to close ;the Supreme Court much in tho style of Cromwell and the Long Parliament, declaring that the powers of the Court vested in them. This high-handed proceeding proved more than the British and American representatives could bear, and at their request the captain of H.M.S. Porpoise landed a squad of bluejackets and reinstated the Chief Justice by force. These proceedings completely contradict the view advanced in Berlin that the British and American representatives at Apia are always “ intriguing ” against Germany. They prove that it is the German Consul who acts in defiance of treaty and incites the Samoans to strife, and they emphasise what we said last week as to the urgent necessity of freeing Samoa from the ineffective triple contro. and placing it under a strong, just and humane government. The prevailing condition of anarchy tempered by British bluejackets ought to call from the Government of New Zealand a strong protest against the continued misgovernment of the mild and improvable Samoans, who are, racially, closely allied to the Maoris, and to the natives of the Cook Islands, who are under British protection with a Resident appointed and paid by this colony. It is scandalous that three Great Powers cannot eontrol the Samoans half so well as New Zealand does the Rarotongans. They ought for very shame to surrender into other hands a task in which they have so miserably failed.

THE COMING OF THE SLAV

The nine or ten thousand Dalmatians who are now in New Zealand constitute but a small fraction of the Slavonic population of the Austrian Empire, which is estimated at over sixteen millions. Although Russia is the predominating Slavonic Power, circumstances have forced upon the Austro-Hungarian Empire the position of champion of the disintegrated Slavs, for the Poles and Czechs hate and distrust Russia. The Austrian Government, which threatened reprisals upon Germany for the action of the latter Power in excluding Slavs or Austrian nationality from her territory, seems bent upon making some noise over the exclusion of the Dalmatians from New Zealand ; and hence this colony has a lively interest in the question of Panslavism, which is being continually agitated by the restless Slavs of Austria and the Balkan principalities. A phase of the agitation comes to the front in the cable message, published in this issue, regarding a reported incitement of Macedonia to rise in revolt against Turkey. This incitement, which is said to come from Bulgaria, may be set down as proceeding originally from Russia; for the latter Power has not abandoned her idea of furthering her own interests by encouraging the Slavs of the Balkan States to strive for independence. The Panslavic movement is the safeguard against Russian aggression ; for whatever may have been the case fifty years ago, when the first Panslavic Congress was held at Prague, the movement of to-day is one independent of Russia, and aims at the setting up of a great Slav Power, with perhaps Servia as its centre. Tho Slavic race is now believed to number over a hundred millions; and allowing half of these to Russia, there still remains an aggregation sufficient to constitute a great Power. When tho hour comes, and the man, there will bo nothing more natural than that the Bulgarians, Roumanians, Roumelians, Servians, and Montenegrins; with the Poles, Croats, Czechs and Dalmatians scattered throughout Austria, should draw together and assert their right to a separate national existence. The hour ivill come, most thoughtful people believe, when Francis Joseph of Austria dies, and tho dual monarchy, hold together by his personality, falls in twain. Of the fitness of tho Slavs for self-government there can ho little doubt, and there is no reason why a great Slavonic State should not arise in Eastern Europe. The coming of the Slav is with some people an article of faith. These people point to the decline of one race and the rise _ of another which marked national evolution in Europe from the dawn of history till now; and they declare thac tne no in of the Slav is at hand. In this aspect of tho subject, it is well that we in New Zealand have resolved not to allow the unrestricted influx of Dalmatians that has been going on for some years. A restless people,.with the dawn of coming national greatness upon them, are not likely to prove a desirable element in our population ; and the Dalmatian gum-diggers are equally objectionable if viewed as migratory exploiters of the natural wealth of New Zealand. The Slav may “arrive” in Europe one of these days; but he will

cease henceforth to arrive in New Zealand.

THE PUBLIC FINANCES

The statement of the receipts and expenditure of tho Consolidated Fund for the quarter ended 31st December last is published in the “ Gazette ’’just isu-M. The ordinary revenue for the quarter amounted to £1,402,448 12 i 4J, as compared with .£1,317,140 3s lOd fbr the corresponding Quarter of 1897, and the territorial revenue Amounted to .£44,134 5s sd, as compared with .£47,718 9s 6d for 1897. The total tovenue receipts for the quarter were therefore £1,448 582 17s 9J, as Against £1,364,858 12s 8d for the December quarter of 1897, being an ire ease of £81,724 5s Id; Ihe expenditure for the quarter under the bend of “ permanent appropriations ” was £840,356 18s 7d, against £369 580 18s for the corresponding period of 1897. The amount needed for interest and sinking fund was £753,819 10s 5d as compared with £802,703 11s sd, showing an appreciable reduction. The departmental expenditure for the quarter was £659,604 8-s 0 1, as against £651,817 143 lid* showing a slight increase. Nine moutns of tbe financial year have now expired and it is evident that the Colonial Treasurer will be able to meet Parliament with a surplus considerably in excess of that estimited by him last year, which was £450*568, The colony’s balance-sheet at tbe end of the year will show somewhat as follows : receipts. £ Actual for nine months ... ... 3.631,002 Estimate March quarter ... 1,504,307 5,135,309 Released sinking funds... ... 54,300 Refunds Advances to Settlers’ Office ... 18,500 Balarco from last year 171,141 5,379,250 EXPENiUTTKE. £ rermsneDt and departmental for nine months ... ... 3 788,186 Estimate for last quarter ... 955,690 4,743.876 Estimated lurplus 635,374

5,379,250 On present indications, then* the surplus at the end of the year will be £635,374; and if from this £IOO,OOO is taken for old age pensions, the 1 alance left will still be over half a million. In estimating the coming quarter’s revenue we have taken the actual amount received in tho corresponding quarter of 1898 ; but there is every indication that the actual results will be in tho direction of an increase. The expenditure is set down at exactly the amount estimated by the Colonial Treasurer; and here, again, it may prove that the actual result will tend to swell the surplus. This redundant state of the public finances is an excellent index of the country’s prosperity. The figures we have given may not show that a remission of taxation is practicable ; but they amply prove that an experiment in adjusting its incidence could be made with perfect safety.

“EMPIRE AND LIBERTY.”

Mr John Morley, one of the leading Liberals of Britain, has just been deprecating what are known as Imperialistic tendencies, and warning his constituents that the indulging of these will inevitably lead to an increase of militarism. As Mr Morley’s address dealt largely with the question of the Liberal leadership, this particular part of it may bo interpreted as an indication of his opposition to Lord Rosebery being placed in the position just vacated by Sir William Harcourt, but in tho broader aspect, it is an expression of tho “little England” view, which has in these later years done much to alienate popular sympathy from the Liberal party in England. Many people can remember the time when public sentiment in Great Britain was opposed to Imperialism ; when most men shook their heads over the Queen’s assumption of the title of Empress of India, and when Lord Beaconsfield’s suggestion to adopt the motto “ Empire and Liberty ’ was simply howled down. Things have changed greatly in these respects in less than thirty years, and British opinion is now in favour of Imperialism— that is to say, of an indefinite expansion of territory and responsibility and national greatness. The people have learned to despise their former “ craven fears of being great”; they have also learned that empire and liberty are not incompatible, but may flourish side by side, co-equal in power and blessing. “Impcra et Libertas” doubtless was, with the ancient Romans, a phrase descriptive of empire and liberty for themselves, with subjection and slavery for tho races whom they conquered and upon whom they imposed their civilisation. Very different is the nature of the Empire established by the British, whoso flag waves only over freemen and whoso system of polity is based upon the most perfect civil equality. In the nature of things, such an Empire does not need to lie buttressed by a thousand forts or guarded by a million of bayonets. Its security consists in the patriotic loyalty of the people, who are as ready to defend themselves against external aggression as they are to maintain internal order. Hence an Imperialistic policy does not necessarily mean a permanent increase of pow r er to the military party, although it is probable that, as a passing phrase, an increase of the military forces will be advisable until tho hostility of rival Powers is overcome and the territories annexed have attained to tranquillity and settled government. Mr Morley’s views, we feel certain, will be disclaimed by the great majority of English Liberals. Expansion and Imperialism are now permanent factors in British noliev. and the protests

of the “littlb Englanders, ’ based oh & spuriohs philanthropy arid a false sentiment, will henceforth be as the voifehS of those Crying in the wilderness, j America, like England, has her Imperialists and her anti-imperialists; . There is some ground for the opposition raised in the United States to a policy cf expansion, because the Constitution of that country is absolutely ! silent as to the annexation and control I of territory outside of America, and the . traditional, policy of that Country has hitherto been to discourage schemes df | colonisation and conquest. The Ahti= ‘ Imperialist. League, of which there grfl now branches in thirty States df the Union, was started at. Boston iii Ndveiiiber last. The platform of the organisation sets forth:—“(1) The rtloral iniquity of converting a war for humanity into a war of conquest; (2) the physical degeneration, the corruption of the blood, and all the evils of militarism which will ensue if the troops are to 1)0 kept in tho Philippines and elsewhere longer thaii absolutely necessary to thalilo a goveriimeiit to bd established which will protect life and property ; (3) the political evils and tho necessity of preserving the Union upon tho principle of its framers; (4) tllC clear necessity of large increase of taxes for the support of armies aiid iiaVidiq with a great probability that Voluntary enlistment will have to be supplemented by drafts.* There is herd that clever mixture of moral and monetary considerations which will appeal to the “ down East ” Yankees; but we shall be surprised if the anti-expansionist movement meets with much support in the Western and Southern States, where the blood is warmer and freer, and where Considerations of consistency aiid ebst do not weigh against projects that appeal to the imagination, and to that sentiment which in its excessive development we call “ spread-eagleism.” For good or for evil, America and Great Britain are committed equally to a world - policy which is in accord with the most generous instincts and aspirations of tbe Anglo-Saxon race. The close bond which now unites them is no mere thing of fleeting emotion, but is based upon identity of race, of aim, of impulse and ambition. The agreement arrived at by the AmericanCanadian Commission, and the assuranca of Colonel John Hay on the subject of the Nicaragua Canal in relation to British rights, are evidences of the complete nature cf the understanding arrived at between the Governments of England and tho United States. Linked in a common destiny, these two Powers are evidently going forward, animated by the same desire to spread the blessings of peaceful trade and add to the sum of human happiness. Their banner, as they march, could have no better inscrip ticn than “Empiro and Liberty.”

A specially-written and graphic ac- ( count of the recent revolutionary disturbances in Samoa appears in another I portion of this issue. It is particularly \ interesting because it presents the facts ! frfifix a fielh point of view, and throws I additional light upoli the causes that led up to the fighting; A return issued from the RegistrarGeneral’s office shows that during the year 1898 the movement of population to and from New Zealand was as follows: —Total arrivals, 18,855; departures, v 16,159. This shows a balance of 2696 as the gain of the colony during the year by ijhmlgfatioflM which is a gratifying evidence tif the grhwihg popularity of New Zdalatidj the statistics for December laat show that the arrivals in that month were 2219 persons; departures, 1059; gain for the month, 160. This shows but slight variation from the figures for December, 1897, which were:—Arrivals, 2213; departures, 1160; gain to the ■colony, 153. In view of tho general election that must take place not later than next December, various country journals are seriously exercising themselves in circulations of rumours—and contradictions of them. Persistent rumours have been current some time that Mr McGowan was likely to stand for some other seat than the Thames electorate, but ho states that he has no intention of doing so, but will contest the Thames seat against all comers. The “Te Arolia News” says:—“We understand that Mr Edwin Edwards will contest Ohinemuri. Rumour has it that Messrs McGowan, Mills and Gain aro also to make bids for Mr Cadman’s seat. The Mayor of Thames (Mr Greenslado) is spoken of as a hot favourite for the Thames constituency.” The “ Peilding Star ” contains the following paragraph :“ It has been known for some time that Mr J. J. Btfgnall has supporters who would be glad to see him contest the Rangitikei seat at the next general election. We now understand that he has expressed his willingness to do.” Mr A. B. P. Pyemont is out for the Wanganui seat. Some interesting particulars of this lone island were published a few weeks ago by the London “ Times ” in tho shape of extacts from a letter from Mr Peter Green, the head of the little settlement, received by the last Capo mail. He writes under date November 4 last: —“ Our island is over-run with rats and mice ; before we could grow grain and fruit of some kind, but this is impossible now. If the Government would Only do something in this way for us ! But it seems we are too far off from the world, and unless some kind souls would rementber us sometimes I think nobody would know we are existing. This year was a specially hard one for us. We lost lots of cattle and sheep on account of scarcity of food and grass, and a ' stormy and hard winter. For five months we got the shipwrecked crew 1 of the British barque Glenhuntly, from Liverpool, here, and' this made a good hole in our stock too. We had not an ounce of sugar, tea, coffee, or flour : all the time, and on account of this bad stormy winter we had no chance of boarding any ships sucessfully and do ' any trade with them. They (the crew) are going away in the same man-of-war which takes this letter away.” Ecclesiastically Tristan is in tho diocese of St. Helena, but the island is so remote that it has been impossible to send them a clergyman for many years. Tho Rov Mr Dodgson, brother of “Lewis Carroll,” spent some years on the island. He is now at St. Helena.

A new epoch in the history of the Catholic Church in New Zealand is marked by the opening of the first Provincial Synod of that church held m this country. This innovation is an acknowledgment by tho Holy See that church expansion and activity in New Zealand have reached a point that demands the most direct relations with the head of the great religious system. Catholic Provincial Synods, the “Tablet” of Thursday last remarks, “ have the dignity and wisdom of attending to their own affairs. They are wholly practical and administrative. Subject ever to the final judgment of the Holy See, their deliberations touch all the widely varied interests involved in the conservation and spread of the faith within the limits of their jurisdiction ; the administration of the Sacraments; the toning-up of Christian life; the relations of the clergy to their ecclesiastical superiors, to each other, to themselves, and to the flocks entrusted to their care; missions to the heathen: ecclesiastical property ; education ; and the application of the broad principles of Catholic discipline to the special circumstances of that portion of the Universal Church which lies within the circle of their charge.” It is interesting to recall that in 1835 New Zealand was included in the newly-created Vicariate-Apostolic of Western Oceanica. In the following year, its first Vicar-Apostolic, Monsignor Pompalljer, set out for his new field of labour, and in 1838 the cross was planted in New Zealand, and the first Mass celebrated in the house of the first Catholic pioneer of the colony. Four years later (in 1842) New Zealand was formed into a separate Vicariate, and Monsignor Pompallier was named its first Vicar-Apostolic. The year of European revolutions (1848) witnessed the creation of two new dioceses —Auckland and Wellington. A third—Dune hn—was created in 1869. The year 1887 witnessed a the erection of the diocese or Christchurch and the conferring of the archiepiscopal pallium on the Most Rev Dr Redwood, S.M. In 1840 the white Catholics of the colony were not above 500 in a total population of some 5000. Eleven years later they numbered 3472 in a total population of 26,707. Today they total close on 100,000, with 240 churches, 143 priests, 65 religious Brothers, 600 nuns, 2 college boys, 21 hoarding-schools for girls, 8 charitable institutes, and 98 primary schools attended by. 11,361 emails.