NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Samoan incident looks an ugly one, but will not, we think, come to anything. Great Britain and America are united over it in opinion, and Germany is doubtful if her representatives are in the right. Practically, it comes to this, that under the condominium, the local Europeans quarrel as they would in a country town; that the English and Americane, hating the Germans, support the claim of Malietoa to be King ; that the Germans, bating the English and Americans, defend his rival, Mataafa ; that Mataafa, sure of this support, attacked Mullane ; and that the Ameri-an and English armed vessels shelled Mataafa.'s men. Under other circumstances this would have produced war ; but as matters stand, the three Powers will arrive at an agreement, through negotiations conducted at Washington. Let us hope that they will be able to divide the islands, for if a condominium continues there will be endless risks. Two Powers, or ten Powers, might govern a place well enough in which they had no subjects from home, and all appointed the same representative ; but if they have merchants, ship captains, sailors, and Consuls, quarrels are as certain as squalls in March. The Consuls do not understand one another, they have nothing to be proud of but the dignity of their nations, and they are surrounded by natives whose delight it is to secure their support by lying. For the peace of the world, any government is better than a condominium.
