For the last and worst of the mistakes on the Laupepa side it would be unfair to blame any but the king himself.Capable both of virtuous resolutions and of fits of apathetic obstinacy,His Majesty is usually the whip-top of competitive advisers;and his conduct is so unstable as to wear at times an appearance of treachery which would surprise himself if he could see it.Take,for example,the experience of Lieutenant Ulfsparre,late chief of police,and (so to speak)commander of the forces.His men were under orders for a certain hour;he found himself almost alone at the place of muster,and learned the king had sent the soldiery on errands.He sought an audience,explained that he was here to implant discipline,that (with this purpose in view)his men could only receive orders through himself,and if that condition were not agreed to and faithfully observed,he must send in his papers.The king was as usual easily persuaded,the interview passed and ended to the satisfaction of all parties engaged -and the bargain was kept for one day.On the day after,the troops were again dispersed as post-runners,and their commander resigned.With such a sovereign,I repeat,it would be unfair to blame any individual minister for any specific fault.And yet the policy of our two whites against Mataafa has appeared uniformly so excessive and implacable,that the blame of the last scandal is laid generally at their doors.It is yet fresh.Lauati,towards the end of last year,became deeply concerned about the situation;and by great personal exertions and the charms of oratory brought Savaii and Manono into agreement upon certain terms of compromise:Laupepa still to be king,Mataafa to accept a high executive office comparable to that of our own prime minister,and the two governments to coalesce.Intractable Manono was a party.Malie was said to view the proposal with resignation,if not relief.
Peace was thought secure.The night before the king was to receive Lauati,I met one of his company,-the family chief,Iina,-and we shook hands over the unexpected issue of our troubles.What no one dreamed was that Laupepa would refuse.And he did.He refused undisputed royalty for himself and peace for these unhappy islands;and the two whites on Mulinuu rightly or wrongly got the blame of it.
