The Polynesian., 1841-12-04
THE POLYNENIAN.
Honolulu, Saturday, Dec. 4, IS4I.

In reIinquishing "a paper like that which
has fallen to our lot to conduct during the
last eighteen months past, it may not be
amiss to say few parting words. Those
who have interested themselves in its sue
cess, are well acquainted with the principles
upon which we started it, and are fully COM
petent to Judge how far and with what sue
cess we have adhered to them. 1t has also
been our endeavor to make the paper, one
which while it should promote the general
interests OF those who reside at the Islands,
should at the same time be an instrument of
disseminating as much truth and information
in regard to this part of the globe in which
we reside, as could possibly be collected.
Our exertions have been mostly confined to
making it what its title indicates, Polyne-
sian paper; but with "A success very dispro-
portonate to our wishes. The many who
have information to bcstow, are not slow to
give it, but from inexperience in writing, or
want of time, have neglected to preserve
much that would have proved valuable, and
an honor to themselves. Still very res
pectabie amount Of original information in
regard to this and the neighboring groups
will be found embodied in our pages,-an
we fatter ourselves that our labors in this
respect have not altogether been in vain.
We have given our own opinions upon
the various topics which from time to time
agitate this community as freely as we have
wished others to give theirs. Our columns
have at all times been free to all, and we
know of but two instances in the course of
our editorial labors, in which we have had
occasion to refuse communications from any
ones these only because they were too vo-
luminous for our small sheet, and Of little or
no interest to its readers Interference or a
disposition to influence us, either in our
views of propriety or principle, we have al
lowed from no One-whie at the same time
we have even been determined to maintain
the liberty of the press-a spirit in which
we have been fully sustained by the good
sense of the community generally. There
are individuals in all countries to whom such
course is particularly obnoxious, and who
have every thing to fear from the truth being
made public. We refer to acts Of public
character, or such as affect the general in
terests of the community. We have neither
looked for or desired the good opinion or
support to he derived from the suppression
oftruth, or painting it in colors not its own.
Perhaps it is BAD policy to aIlude to our
own faults, and they are indeed too numer-
GUS to mention. Small receipts have obi
ged us to economist both in type, paper and
printing labor, so that our sheets have fire.
quently presented but a sorry appearance
, The typographical errors have been numer-
Gus, but from the manner in which the paper
has been issued, mostly unavoidable. Still
the kind wishes of our friends, and the wants
otthe community here, would have prolong-
ed the existence of the Polynesian, could
printer have been secured after the expiration
OF the present year In that case the edito-
rial department would have passed into the
hands Of gentleman we'll qualified to give