THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1888.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 7, 10 November 1888, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master, of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1888.

NoTwrmaTAKDma all that has been written against the continuation of the native war it is to be pursued to the bitter end. Mataafa's people numbering about 6000 or 7000 have left for Atua to conquer the only district held by Tamasese. It was really pitiable to see the poor wretches leaving for the war, their wives, sisters, and children following in their wake, ill-supplied in many instances with the necessaries of life and insufficient covering. Still they must go; they are driven to it Let us consider what is the real question to bo decided by the result of this battle. It is certainly not the supremacy of Mataafa over Tamasese, for that is already decided. Mataafa is master of the islands, and if the natives were left to themselves after the battle of September 12th Mataafa's title to the position of King of Samoa would not have been questioned, and the natives would now be at home, and the country at peace; but this otherwise satisfactory settlement of the native difficulty could not possibly be allowed, some hole or corner

must be found fur Tamasese and his followers aud protected there, so that they could still call him King of Samoa. The Gorman representatives sheltered him there. 1 hey brought a company of marines ashore from H.I.G.M.S. Adler, nominally to protect German property, but actually to protect Tamasese. They then declared Mulinuu German property and threatened to (ire upon any of Mataafa's 'people who dare attack it. The war-ship Adler was brought to anchor more in front of Mulinuu apparently to enforce obedience, so that if Mataafa attempted to attack Mulinuu he would have to declare war with Germany. This state of things lasted until an outrage was perpetrated by some of Tamasese's people close to the forts on an American subject. Captain Leary of the U.S.S. Adams took it in hand ; the result was that Tamasese and his forces were hurried away in the night to Atua to join the only people he could depend upon. Here he has again settled, gattling guns, rifles, ammunition, and all other war material beingliberallysupplied to him ; European skill exercised in the formation of hisfortifications.until by all reports he is well guarded. Where the money has come from to supply all this ir- a mystery. Probably we will hear more about it when the Government balance sheet is forthcoming, and we promise that we will make particular enquiries into the items of expenditure whenever they do appear. The whole matter is in a nutshell. The overthrow of Tamasese as King of Samoa will for ever curb the ridiculous pretensions of any Comi>any to rule Samoa. They will then be placed on even competitive footing with other traders, and acquire supremacy only by business capacity and business competition. This is as it should be. Let the Government of the country be uncontrolled by any trading interest, whether German, English or American, and we predict that the bitter, jealous feeling that now exists amongst us will be only an unpleasant recollection.