The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-01-01

sous who can hardly obtain food, al
though the islands are said 10 be capa- I
BILE of supporting millions Of men. To
enter into detail of the causes of this
miserable destruction Of human life
would occupy too much Of our pages
the chief causes are summe ed up in the
note below.
" 1t is extremely painful to be obliged
to say so much against the American
missionary system, as found it existing
in these highly favoured Islands. Whilst
travelling in Europe, the writer had al
ways been friendly 10 tie cause, & had
been also no mean contributor to the
Missionaries generally in the South seas,
and therefore visited the various groups
of islands quite prepossessed in favor of
them: but truth compels me to say, that
the personal observations on the spot, Of
the effects produced by the conduct Of
the American Missionaries in the. Sand
wich Islands, wrought on him sad 81
melancholy disappointment.
No doubt, among so numerous bo-
dy as the American Missionaries, there
are many very valuable men, who would
do honor to any employment they mig't
be engaged in, and among these i have
great pleasure in recollecting Mr.. -
in Owhyhee, but 'exceptio probat reg
ulam;' and it is to be regretted such in
stances are not more numerous. The
system of exacling Spanish silver dol
lar from every black man and woman
before the missionary will marry them,
is certainly not one of their instructions,
and is highly oppressive among popu-
lation that can hardly obtain dollar by
any exertions, coupled as this prize ;tly
regulation is, by summary denounce.
ment against all those who cohabit toge-
ther without the form of marriage. A
sermon which heard in the island of
Woahoo was frightful it was something
ir these words, You will GO TO the hor-
rible place of torment in everlasting
flames, unless you rely solely on the
Lord Jesus Christ. 1t is no use your
being sober, feeding the hungry, and
healing the '""a'no what the
towards anot H.
you and your ..-.
the fiery pit, W ... -
lever, the botto ... r.s.H
lthe little bones of infants span long
would ask any body if this is the way
to begin with people in a complete state
of nature! The preacher was n young
man of about twenty,'that had just arri-
we'd from the establishment at Princeton
N New Jersey but it is to be hoped
that he will follow in the path so abun-
dainty set bofore him by his elder bretb-
ren, and end with the same amount OF
discretion as he has now of zeal, and
thereby accumulate, as | was informed
the head missionary, but ci devant chair
maker had done, twenty thousand dol
lars worth of property in his house al
Honoruru
" No wonder the population is gradu-
ally falling off, when, added 20 this sys-
of frightening the people, and charging
them dollar for getting married, they
are compelled to attend the church and
schools four days out of the seven, and
the fifth day is spent in compulsory la.
Dor for the chiefs thus leaving bu. two
whole days for the purpose of tillage and
growing their necessary food.
The missionaries having prohibited -
Fishing, Bathing, Jews Harps, and
the Surf Board, are forbidden amuse-
ments among the native population be-
sides which they have introduced an old
law Of the Connecticut puritans, and
will not allow an English or American
gentleman 10 ride on horseback on Sun
day, or drink spurious liquors, or play
a. bowls or billiards on any day in the
week whilst they at the same time are
driven about the town, and about the
country four in hand, with their wives
and families, Sundays and working days,