Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-05-21
SANDWICH ISLANDS AND TIE
FRENCH FRIGATE ARTEMISE.

Journai of C0nimerce.
SANDWICH ISLANDS AND THE
FRENCH FRIGATE ARTEMIsE.
Il. S. Ship John .7idms, HOnoiuln, I
November 3D., lc:D.
But few portions of the world have been
regarded with more interest by the Christian
and phllantiroplc public, than the Sandwich,
Islands, since energetic efforts were first
made to improve their condition by the intro
ductlon at the Gospel aud lis concomllon
blessings. Every arrival from those far dis
,ant regions has been heartily welcomed, an,
how often have tho friends of missions been
called on To rejoice IN the onward progress
ot their benevolent schemes. Its prosperity
has not been periodical or IntermI,tlng; but
for twenty years, or sIuce the landing OF the
first missionaries, It's affairs have been "iI
the tail tide q! successful eXpormcnL"-Wt
were told in the earliest stages Of ts history
vi The aboltlsn Of ldola,ry aud the willing
ness of the Chiefs 10 listen To instruction
this was followed by their respectful s'ten'
ton TO The precepts ot the Gospel and thoi
anxious desire tor the light which cnncil
\ from above. After passing these lnltla'or,
confines their future progress was astonlsh
lDgly rapid and satisfactory. Natural I'm
DrOvemcnt ~ morals ana manners were ci
iected domestic virtues were manifested
vice and immortality were dlscOuntonnnced
and true religion obtained firm foothold.--
In fine, these Islands. so recently the abode
ot ignorance, llcenllousncss, and crime, bid
fair soon To become polished columns in the
Christian temple.
While civil aud religious knowledge was
thus being conferred Oh this hitherto unen-
lI9htcncd race, its beneficial effects were
experienced likewise by the American mer-
chant, IN the increase ut commercial advan'
tagcs winch the change had occasloncd. II
may be affirmed that the civilization Of the
! lslanders and the prosperous growth OF a
mercan trade among them have advanced
pmi passu
\ Events have ,ranspircd within the last few
months in measure calculated to try the
principles and faith Of tho advocates of re-
form, and to cause those 10 eXnlt, who, pre-
ierring darkness to light, desired return o
the pre-cXisling condition OF things. al
lude To the consequences resulting from tht
VISIT Of the French lrigate Artemlse. WI
endeavor TO give you concise but as ful Q
statement Of these transactions as can be
comprised within the limits OF this sheet, nj
though in many points the information may
have been anticipated from other sources.
hope you will not think the narrative less
worthy of attention because It comes iron
one in no way connected with either party
10 whom II relates, but on the contrary, un'l
possessed Of the facts within the last lev
weeks, unbiased towards either.
Il 1t is Yenernlly known that the Romanist:
for number of years have evlnced disposl
ton to dispute the missionary field among
II the Poyneslan Islands where the PrOteslants
before them had so successfully laborrd In
Oahu two Of their priests entered the arena
as early Gs 1927 but without obtaining the
consent Of the Sandwich Island Government
to do so,-a preliminary step considered so
important by our missionaries that they have
never failed doing 1t. IL is unnecessary Ia
truce their career from this period. Suihc,
it to sny that the King of the Islands deemed
i, better for his people that they should not
remain, and accordingly ordered them away
that Notwithstanding this, they returned
after short absence, and were then iorclby
sent away. The samo sovereign power, II
order to suppress their doctrines, adoptct
measures towards the few Vs. no embraced ant
adhered to the Catholic religion, too much II
accordance with the unrlghtcOus course pur-
sued by Pnpnl rulers towards Protestants, to
be approved OF by the wise aud humane among
the latter. Whether the missionaries were
the advisers and abc,tors OF these perniclou,
measures is n moo,ed point, denied by them
selves, and those in authority, but as conf.
denIy affirmed by the Catholics and II cas:
of foreign residents in Honolulu, who con
tend that they constitute The power bchinc
thn |, otar fl,.n hn
Viewed politically, do not see why the
question need excite much interest, as those
possessing the power de jure are responsible
Tor all acts cmanatlng from themselves
However unchrs,an.lke was their conduc,
IN Furnishing Catholic converts, or however
irnpoiitc was the expulsion Of French Ca,ho-
lie priests, still IN nsithcr case have trnnsccn-
ded their sovereign prerogratlve, or done
more than any crowned head in Europe holds
II IN his freehold right to do, or more than
what the most have done and continue TO dc
from year TO year. For my own part an
convinced that the Protestant Clergy nelthar
aided nor abetted, or encouraged or approved
the aiding or abct,lng Of either the one OF
the other OF these acts of his llawaiin NJ aies
| ty, although hod they done 80 II was not All
offence TO be punished by any third party
So did not think the powerful King oi the
French, nor &. LaPlace, Esq. the Comlnan.
der Of Ills Christian Mojcsty's Frigate Ar,e.
mise.
Before referring to the manner in which
This officer executed bis purpose OF ln'rodu.
eng the Catholic Religion, and syenglpg the
wrongs Of her sufferers, d. may be well Il
state more precisely the state Of affairs a
the time Of his arrival of this harbor IN Jul,
last.
The progress of Reformed Christianity
was never more ilatotIng. The Chiefs gene
rally, aud large potion of the people, be
longcd to the Church Tho government wa,
directed by the spirit Of IT. doctrines psna
laws having hccn created To- punish the more
palpallo icanSgrcssons against ns prcccpts
Houses Of worshp were numerous aud well
attended. Schools were ilonrl~hng nnd
promised the happlcst results. Public upin
IoD irownCd upon ,huse gr"'s wees winch
had unce bcru upheld by the auihorjy Of the
Chiefs, and continue Ia be encouraged by
many of The foreign residents. A change
had even been effected within tho pre-, edInc
year smOng the latter clus. Several mora