The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1840-12-12


generally of the most abandoned character
conyicts escaped from New South Wales
runaways from vessels, and others of equally
uncquivocal caste These men brought a!
their vices with them, and spent their time
and earnings in scenes of the grossest de.
bauchcry. Some indeed may have com.
pared in vicncss and crime with the dc.
based savagcs around them. Nevertheless
that their general influence tended to pro.
ducc favorable change in their barbarous
associates, is evident from the fact, that mcr
of better character were soon attracted
thithcr, and bringing their families became
denizcns of the country, where but a short
period before it would have been unsafe to
land. Many benevolent persons declaim
with much earnestness against the settle
ment of whites on lands held by savages,
and draw amcntablc picture of the condi.
ton of the native tribes in case of such an
event. They conjure up scenes of past fe-
licity and innocence, when the children OF
the soil, unrammelled by the artificial re-
straints of civilization, roamed in unrestrain.
ed freedom over the land, and all was mlrh,
and gadness. Their readers have presented
to them scene of Arcadian bliss. This.
they contrast with the toll and drudgery OF
laboring for the whites, of their entire de-
naturalization, loss of language, and rapid
passing away from the soil where repose
the bones of their ancestors. All this pow
crfulIy appeals to our sympathes, and with
out further reflection we should come to
the conclusion that the contact Of the two
races brought nothing but misery, disease
and death to the weaker. How far this is
the case, we propose to examine before we
leave the subject, but for the present we
shall confine ourselves to the question of
colonization. That the whites found the
savagcs cruel and sensual race, we have
already shown. The great mass of the peo-
pie being mere slaves, and always at war
to CRAFTY the base passions of their chiefs.
could have but little attachment to the soil
and nothing of the spirit of patriotism. Fear,
with them was the most cogent motive, and
almost the only princip which entered into
their government or religion. Any change
would be an improvement, and we find that
after an amicable intercourse has been once
opened with the whites, they arc eager
to enter their service. The chiefs would at
first freely ALLEVIATE their lands to acquire
foreign Injuries, or the means of adding to
their power, through the superior knowledge
OF their visiters. Thus the first exchanges of
lands, goods and services, were simply acts Of
trade, by which both parties were benefited
AS the whites increased, the chiefs would
naturally become more jealous, and the
body OF the people would reap many benefits
from Their intercourse, and lose much of the
debasing subscrvencc, so natural to dcsnot-
Ism. But it is needless to trace the progress
OF all the changes which result from the svs-
tenn to which We refer. The effect is simn,v
tins: the natives are benefited Just so much
IN proportion as the settlers are supcrior N
them in virtue and intelligence. A few Of
the rulers might regret the days of violence
and tyranny, when their breath was law. but
this could spring only from spirit of repre-
henslble selfishness. AT those islands in the
Pacific at the present day, where whites