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chief justice had suffered himself to be irritated beyond the
bounds of discretion。 It must always seem as if his original
attempt to deprive the commissioners of the services of a secretary
and the use of a safe were even senseless； and his step in printing
and posting a proclamation denying their jurisdiction were equally
impolitic and undignified。 The dispute had a secondary result
worse than itself。 The gentleman appointed to be Natives' Advocate
shared the chief justice's opinion； was his close intimate； advised
with him almost daily； and drifted at last into an attitude of
opposition to his colleagues。 He suffered himself besides （being a
layman in law） to embrace the interest of his clients with
something of the warmth of a partisan。 Disagreeable scenes
occurred in court； the advocate was more than once reproved； he was
warned that his consultations with the judge of appeal tended to
damage his own character and to lower the credit of the appellate
court。 Having lost some cases on which he set importance； it
should seem that he spoke unwisely among natives。 A sudden cry of
colour prejudice went up； and Samoans were heard to assure each
other that it was useless to appear before the Land Commission；
which was sworn to support the whites。
This deplorable state of affairs was brought to an end by the
departure from Samoa of the Natives' Advocate。 He was succeeded
PRO TEMPORE by a young New Zealander； E。 W。 Gurr； not much more
versed in law than himself； and very much less so in Samoan。
Whether by more skill or better fortune； Gurr has been able in the
course of a few weeks to recover for the natives several important
tracts of land； and the prejudice against the Commission seems to
be abating as fast as it arose。 I should not omit to say that； in
the eagerness of the original advocate； there was much that was
amiable； nor must I fail to point out how much there was of
blindness。 Fired by the ardour of pursuit； he seems to have
regarded his immediate clients as the only natives extant and the
epitome and emblem of the Samoan race。 Thus； in the case that was
the most exclaimed against as 〃an injustice to natives；〃 his
client； Puaauli； was certainly nonsuited。 But in that intricate
affair who lost the money？ The German firm。 And who got the land？
Other natives。 To twist such a decision into evidence； either of a
prejudice against Samoans or a partiality to whites； is to keep one
eye shut and have the other bandaged。
And lastly； one word as to the future。 Laupepa and Mataafa stand
over against each other； rivals with no third competitor。 They may
be said to hold the great name of Malietoa in commission； each has
borne the style； each exercised the authority； of a Samoan king；
one is secure of the small but compact and fervent following of the
Catholics； the other has the sympathies of a large part of the
Protestant majority； and upon any sign of Catholic aggression would
have more。 With men so nearly balanced； it may be asked whether a
prolonged successful exercise of power be possible for either。 In
the case of the feeble Laupepa； it is certainly not； we have the
proof before us。 Nor do I think we should judge； from what we see
to…day； that it would be possible； or would continue to be
possible； even for the kingly Mataafa。 It is always the easier
game to be in opposition。 The tale of David and Saul would
infallibly be re…enacted； once more we shall have two kings in the
land； … the latent and the patent； and the house of the first will
become once more the resort of 〃every one that is in distress； and
every one that is in debt； and every one that is discontented。〃
Against such odds it is my fear that Mataafa might contend in vain；
it is beyond the bounds of my imagination that Laupepa should
contend at all。 Foreign ships and bayonets is the cure proposed in
Mulinuu。 And certainly； if people at home desire that money should
be thrown away and blood shed in Samoa； an effect of a kind； and
for the time； may be produced。 Its nature and prospective
durability I will ask readers of this volume to forecast for
themselves。 There is one way to peace and unity： that Laupepa and
Mataafa should be again conjoined on the best terms procurable。
There may be other ways； although I cannot see them； but not even
malevolence； not even stupidity； can deny that this is one。 It
seems； indeed； so obvious； and sure； and easy； that men look about
with amazement and suspicion； seeking some hidden motive why it
should not be adopted。
To Laupepa's opposition； as shown in the case of the Lauati scheme；
no dweller in Samoa will give weight； for they know him to be as
putty in the hands of his advisers。 It may be right； it may be
wrong； but we are many of us driven to the conclusion that the
stumbling…block is Fangalii； and that the memorial of that affair
shadows appropriately the house of a king who reigns in right of
it。 If this be all； it should not trouble us long。 Germany has
shown she can be generous； it now remains for her only to forget a
natural but certainly ill…grounded prejudice； and allow to him； who
was sole king before the plenipotentiaries assembled； and who would
be sole king to…morrow if the Berlin Act could be rescinded； a
fitting share of rule。 The future of Samoa should lie thus in the
hands of a single man； on whom the eyes of Europe are already
fixed。 Great concerns press on his attention； the Samoan group； in
his view； is but as a grain of dust； and the country where he
reigns has bled on too many august scenes of victory to remember
for ever a blundering skirmish in the plantation of Vailele。 It is
to him … to the sovereign of the wise Stuebel and the loyal
Brandeis； … that I make my appeal。
MAY 25； 1892。
End