The Polynesian., 1841-10-16

attempt to trace to its source. The people
,1,u.h occasionally restless, wore thei,
coans as those long accustolncdto to weight,
which though it oppressed, they walked un-
steady without. Foreign influence and ex-
ample spoke life and liberty to them daily
and occasionally "A voice among themselves
dared TO proclaim against tho Ioa,hsomc sys-
tenn which debased mind and body; but bri-
! berry or force stltled the cry before it pierced
|he length and depth of the islands. The
| |ma,s Of the people were bound to the habits
|of their ancestors, and il was easy on the
part Of the government to have preserved
las far as their own subjects were concerned,
|thcir dcspot'sm, at lcast until another gcnrr-
|aon should have arisen that knew not the
prophets of the old. The flame of liberty
(which burnt brightly in the breasts Of a few,
found no answering light in the bosoms of
the many. Centuries of slavery and dcgra-
bon had had their full work upon them, and
bbey were dead to knowledge. Not but that
Folt Blood mi ght have been shed, but the
people without any more ust ideas Of their
wn rights, would have been Obliged to sue
(u'nb to the too powerful government, which
|ealous of its power, and made cruel by re-
beIlion, would have proved an incubus which
Inother power than their own, alone could
bave shaken off But Providence in its mer-
Fy, directed other and peaceful influences to
Filect this moral revolution. While the in
Puence of foreigners in enlghtcning the
|nnds of the mass was undoubtedly great, it
) as fold more powerful upon the chiefs,
kho both by education and station, were ne
Fessarily among the most intelligent Of the
baton In their continued and increasing i'll
)ctcoursc with foreigners it was necessary to
Employ the best talents among their own ma
)ion, and thus they almost nnc.nsciously
brought into their councils, minds ia advance
bf their own, and whose spirit though dis.
kniscd, was still that of freedom. Set-inter-
kst opened the eyes of the chiefs to the fact,
hat the old system must give way t" new,
Use their power would be but nominal, and
heir wealth nothing. Their intercourse with
(reigners showed more plainly day by day,
heir own dependence upon their people, and
hat wealth and power flowed only from in
tustry and knowledge. Consequently the
alter must work their way among their sub
rcts to prod ice the former. Every scholar
fom the High School went forth an unilcdg-
ID patriot to be sure, but in book knowledge
3lr in advance of his ruIors. The wants of
he rising generation were not to be bounded
" the habits ofthe old, and whether against
heir wills or not, the chiefs were convinced
rat change was necessary. This was a
ulica period Had an ambitious and vio-
fnt chief, availing hi'nselo the spirit of the
rowd, attempted to force his way to power
pou the wreck of the legitimate dynasty,
he consequences would have been serious.
he desire for change, revenge, and all the
los, of heather passions would have been
(wakened, and the country thrown back
ears in improvement and civilization. But
he whole mental and moral influence Of the
American Protestant mission, itself most
cmocratic body of n most democratic nation,
:th bo ,Iyico nd pynmnlp nj the