The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-08-22
Progress Of Cs0ilizatios u the SaaaSieA
Ls1aads.

AS the SANDWICH 1Gtan0S ahoro Naeue-
bic article Of commerce in Sandal Wood,
and are fay0urabIy situated for supplying
with provisions whale ships, and other ves-
sells crossing the Pacific, they have been
much more frequently visited by foreigners,
than the other Polynesian groups. For
several years past, indeed, factors ard q"
gents from England and the United States
have resided there for mercantile purposes.
This intercourse has naturally caused some
advancement in the arts of civilization
new wants have been created by an ac-
uuaintance with articles of convenience or
luxury unknown before, and to supply
these wants new incentives have been Civ
en- to industry. Tits melancholy to know,
however that the vices Of civilization have
made their way, in. too many instances,
more rapidly than its improvements or
comforts that indulgence in novel sources
Of qualification has nnnerved the arm of en-
terprise that the powerful, instead of be-
ing quickened to industry, have laid more
Oppressive burdens on the weak. This
must perhaps always be the case under
similar circumstances. CIVILIZATION is not
the work of a day; nor is itsan opinion,
theory, or consent of the mind it is a hab-
it, an acquired nature, the growth OF years,
wrought into the being and constitution OF
the human system, both intellectual and
corporal. A savage is not to be brought
to this state at once; it has cost the edu-
cation of a life in the civilized man, and 1t |
can hardly be done at less expense OF time
and care, in the uncivilized. One OF, the |
great instruments Of civilization and re-
straint; society itself, as well as the closer
ties of private relationship, is held togeth-
er by the system Of restraints on appetites,
feelings. wishes, conduct. We have learnt
to do this by habit, from infancy; educa-
ton. cultivated understanding, refined
moral sense, the knowledge of pure re-
ligion, and example, have contributed, each
its portion, to confitm the habit, and make
up the civilized man.
Now the savage has all these appetites
and propensities, without the habit Of con-
trolling them, or of resisting temptation
and without the moral light and culture, /,
that enable him to discern their pernicious
tendency, and reflect on the consequence I
of indulgence. Nature manages the mat
ter very we'll, while it is wholly~in her
charge; she teaches the savage to be con-
tended with his narrow comforts, and con-
fine his wants to the means of supply, which +
his rude skill in the arts of life has com. 4
passed. But when civilization has poured n
out, before him her accumulated stores, d
empted him with novelty, and pampered Re
lim with the promise Of new qualifications, $
ne is no longer under the pupilage Of ma p
ure he becomes civilized man to the ut 2
most of his power; that is, he gives way !.
o all the excuses Of civilized life, in which :,
le needs no instructors but his appetites, :
Ind possesses none of the virtues, princi- 4
oles, and habits, which are the balancing r
Weights in the character of the civilized v
nan, but which are only to be acquired by q
long train Of discipline. Hence il is, t
hat the Sandwich islanders were not for Z
! time II the way of the best influences Of y
civilization; they were visited by seamen : :
y trafickers, whose example was not i,
Inning light, and whose business and in y
crest 1t was to furnish the natives with Ii,
uch articles as they most craved, and for
which there was the quickest demand. b
Such was the condition Of the Sandwich b
ISLANDERS. from the time Of their discovery v
y Cook, till very recently; but, we are
lappy to state, that salutary change is now \ 4
aking place, and that prospects of improve 3
l r ~ 2k4 ; u
nent among them are in q high degree en- !,
'ouraging. I'm April Of the year 1920, q !
,ody Of Missionaries from this country A. r
rived at Hawaii, and were favourably re-
ceiyed BY the King. Being divided into
small parties, they were stationed on diff L
ferent islands, and from that period have
been labouring, with great zeal and self-de- L
votednass. 70 advance the intellectual, mo-
raj, and religious culture Of the natives.
Schools have been established, houses for
stated religious worship erected, d printing
press put IL operation, and books publish
ed IN the Hawaiian dialect; many sof the |
natives have already been tauahf reading.
writing and the elementary principles sc & i
refined education. This Is taking the tr,,e,
ground il is opening way gradually 70
the hearts and understanding Of the people:
itis scattering seed in the minds 81 ths Fl
sing generation, which will hereafter spring |
up, and flourish, and produce fruit.
Six years ago the language ofthese ISL |
ands was feeting sound, existing 6zIly inl
the mouths Of the natives il Is now writ |
ten unehanging vehicle Of thought. suited /
to Communicate ideas to the Peonle. wh;ch /
they had before mo- power 81 atta;n;nr
the advantage Of this single Improvement,
IN their condition is not to be sestimatad.
AkAa- IA L.