The Polynesian., 1841-01-23
THE POLYNESIAN.
SATURDAY, JAN. %. ISL.

Me SCUM sea ISidhuS dS Il "h''', mas '''"
lccdedlv beneficial. We first depicted
Mat would be the natural consequences of
A,ch a contact, and then referred to the past
Ind present condition Of many of the groups,
n contirnatory of our assertion. The false
news SO frequently entertained on this SUBJ
fct by those ignorant of the nature of sava-
H., or who have formed their opinions from
Sriters whose superficial knowledge or wish
q support some iavoritc theory has led them
hto gross though unintcntiunal errors, in
duccd us to attempt to place the matter be-
brc the public in It's true light.
the following description, from the pa
acs of popular author of the last century
! correct, then we are altogether IN the
Srong, and happy would it have been for the
4 spotIcss minds of these children of an
&rthly Paradise, had the white man never
x,ited their favored land. The missionary
build bring no glad tidingS to a sin'cSs race,
pr commerce benefit them; their happiness
las complete.
Is it not enough that European avaricc
hd ambition disturb the reposc of distant
8tons! why should their vices and their
srases tan,t the spotless mind, on the I'M
Contaminated frame! o, why were you ever
lawn from your primcval obscurity, yc once
Sppy natives of Otahctc! We have only
lolght YOU to feel wants which cannot be
SaiIied we have planted ills which ncy'r
In be cured. Such are the blessings that
~ civilized confer on the savage!'
8Smlar opinions were entertained by many
|of the great and good of the past age, and
sIe not altogether cradicated from the pres
1t But the belief which most generally
pevails at the present day among a numcr-
oos class, and one which some authors seem
Plrticulary DESTROYS of extending, is that the
uencc of commerce is necessarily prrju-
dfal to the aborgincs of a country, and an
Qagonist principle to the prcccpts of the
Gospel This, we believe to be a sophism,
&ngerous alike to both causes, and calcula-
~ to strengthen that cnInity of feeling which
fortunately exists between the partial adj
vocatcs of either view. No one will we
Z'N dit'Hpt W u'SuC thdt IL Nou'u h">C
Wen better for humanity and civilization
thht the islands of the South Seas had never
Wen visited, thong h some may contend that
M latter has spread itself at the expense Of
II former. This we cannot altogether de-
as unfortunately the criminal conduct Of
many voyagers and traders in their inter
course with the natives gives room for the
Mcrtlon, Who has not read of frequent
VS. OF barbarty committed through mere
Mntonncss of power, by men whose BOASTS
Wrc of such deeds, and who were themselves
wages in all but white skin; of dupicity
" trading, and diseases introduced, and of
m many wrongs and outrages which cause
Ito blush for our race. The guiIclcss TIA
and innocent voyager have in many in
@ences suffered the retribution which should
e donby fallen upon them. Such men
a pest to mankind; their deeds are the
que spots of history; savage and civilized
are alike injured
we but look as too many do) only upon
|M Dark side Of history, our hearts slcken at
I% Vlcw-thc bad always appear the most
/ "'ncnt-dcath, disease, crime and suffer
are always in bold relief, and strike US