“England’s Disgrace.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 245, 10 January 1889, Page 3

“England’s Disgrace.”

[TO THZ EDITOR.] Sib, —I would like to make a few remarks on your article under the above heading. Whether England has or has not been disgraced is a matter which I leave to English. • men themselves to answer, but Ido not say she has anything to be proud of in some •SKaer actions, and I quite deny that Germany is entitled to the blame which has been casj. upon her on account of her actions with regard to Samoa—yes, I will admit there is B slight amount of blame; she has not taken that decisive stand which she should have done, she has not stepped in as she should have done and by her own power have forced the natives to live peacefully under a wise native ruler instead of allowing them to Continue murdering one another. Germany stepped in st a late hour of the day, but you may rest assured, sir, that she will effect a satisfactory solution of the trouble now that she has taken definite action. There has been a trivial defeat in ths first instance, but it redounds to the credit of the German commander that he risked so much in the first instance to try and secure amity amongst the natives, and thus put a step to the slaughter that has been going on in Samoa. Il the English and American warships were afraid to take action when their co-operation was solicited, they may well abide by the result and discard the sham and pretence of getting into “ fighting trim.” From what I have heard and read of the Samoa affair 1 fail to observe a single instance in which Germany has acted with cruelty, and though Borne things may have seemed harsh they have been done for the ultimate good of the natives. What on the other hand has the English Government been doing? Look at the Soudan affair and let them bow their heads with shame 1 Just think of the horrible human butchery that has been going on there for no purpose put greed! Consider for a moment the shameful way in which a proud and austere nation has goaded on a people fortunately not helpless I—has brought to bear on the brave Arabs, with their miserable and rusty weapons, all the engines of destruction that modern science has invented I You may call them rAels, you may weep over your Gordon, you may cheer your Stanley, but you cannot justify murder even though it ba perpetrated by order of a powerful nation. Gordon and Stanley are men of whom the world may feel proud, but because they try to fm her in a peaceful and Christian spirit the greed of their country, that does not justify the inhuman conduct of the paid butchers. In writing this I do not wish to offend those of any nationality, but why will men not look at the facts ? Why will they shut their eyes to the horrible wholesale murder that is going on, and one of the arguments by which it is defended being religion ? Search your history and tell me where is there a more “ disgracefid record of tyranny ” over a people, as I have said, fortunately not helpless? I place sufficient reliance in the justness of the German nation to know that it will carry out mercifully and effectively the human task her representatives have undertaken in regard to Samoa, of converting a chaos of disorder and bloodshed into a peaceful and just mode of government, No doubt we will all anxiously await further details, and we will then I feel sure also learu that Germany has faithfully carried out her humane task.—l am, etc., Faib Play.

In connection with the above an article which appeared in the N. Z. Herald (commenting on a battle that was fought among the natives themselves on November 29) has now a peeular interest. It is as follows : — The news to hand from Samoa tells us of the continuance of fierce hostilities among the natives, between the party of Mataafa Malietoa and that of Tamasese, and the bloodiest battle that has been fought that ever was fought in the 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 UJMfce world; and none of them durst put to stay the internecine slaughter, of tbeir mutual jealousies and their .Jplcions of each other’s object. That such * thing should be is a disgrace to our boasted civilization, and to that humanity, the im pulses 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 ifivil 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 the mutual slaughter to the bitter end. No doubt the blame of this is not to be equally divided. In the most coldblooded selfishness, the Germans deposed the rightful ruler—the King recognised by treaty, the choice end 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 an 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 those 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 the presence of the Germans in Samoa, it is high time that England and America should have asserted the claims cf humanity and bidden the slaughter cease. A greater stigma on our civilisation and common humanity than this head-capturing process in Samoa within sight of the flags of England, America, and Germany it ia 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, among the Samoans as to who should be their ruler, ought to have promptly put an end to this desolating straggle. The Samoan people have shown a capacity for adopting civilised institutions that should have 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 ns ehall have the greatest influence among them, as a preliminary to having the largest