Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-09-03

If the readers of the Freeman have taken sufficient
interest in this people and their country to read the ar
tices respecting them lately published in this paper,
and especially if they have looked over some of the
histories and other authentic sources of information
they have doubtless settled intheir minds the following
points: ]. That the Sandwich Islands, as a nation
from its situation in the great Pacific Ocean, from its
interropical locaton from its excellent climate varied
productions fertile soil land natural abundant resources
is one Of no inconsderabe interest and Importance
That the common people exceedingly poor wretch
ed and degraded notwithstanding they are called
christian nation, and surrounded by the favorable
circumstances indicated above. On this subject the
Missionary Herald for Oct 1873 p. ST., says "Their
inconceivable poverty is another mitigating circum-
stance. Instead of being charitable, they are them
selves objects of charity Poor half starved and more
than half naked creatures what can they d. or what
can they give? 1t seems almost sin to ask them to
give"
In the New York Evangelist, for 1915, in the series
of letters over the signature H. r. c., it will be seen
that the natives called half naked savages going
in the bronze of nature" &C. These descriptions APP
well to those who are not; and indeed, the first de-
scrption relates especially to church members
3. That to redeem this people from such degradaton
and elevate their characters reform their habits and
enighten their minds by placing before them proper
inducements to mental and bodily exerton securing to
them just reward for their TOLL the enjoyment oftheir
rights, and, far possible, inducing them to fear
(Noda nd tbnir ofe ob
ects worthy of philanthropy of benevolence, and of
christianity. Toso far redeem one such nation as the
Sandwich Islands, and place it in situation in which
1t will sustain such literary political and christian in
stutions as will enable it, Independently of the aid of
other nations to rise in character improve in civza
ton, and maintain christianity oflove truth and JUS
tlce, would constitute a proud example of the power
and bessedness of the gospel of Christ Perhaps there
may be those who suppose we are already upon the
point of accomplishing this grand result and that the
Sandwich Islanders in another generation, at farthest
will stand forth clothed and in their right mind doing
ALL and being all, that is alluded to above. How far
the present state of the church at the Islands, and the
actual condition of the inhabitants at large Justify such
an expectation, not now objects of inquiry but VIC
simply request such as indulge such an anticipation to
consider the
DECREASE OF THE POPULATION.
When the Islands were discovered, 60 or 70 years
ago, they supposed to have contained population
of about 100000 Now the population is about l00-
900. 1t is not known when the decrease commenced,
but is supposed that they may have decreased lO0
600 in the last 40 years The present ratio of decrease
as ascertaned by observation from year to year. is
greater than that stated above and if it continue
will annihate the whole nation in about another CEN
GRAFTON Oft The pastors of the two largest churches
on the Islands write as follows: See Miss. Herald,
Oct 1843, PIP. 376, $40: " Death is sweeping away
this people at fearful rate while the vacancies thus
made are far from being filled. For example, during
the past year, there have been in my field, with pop
uation of $780, four hundred and thirty four Deaths
and only ninety eight births"
The other says: "The average of deaths in the
church, for four years past has not been less than two
hundred and fifty annually Should remain the pas
tor of this flock for four years to come shall be call
ed to bury at least thousand MORE" That church
consisted of about $500 members At this rate of de-
crease, of the missionaries who carried the gos-
pei there in 1890, may live to preach the funeral ser
of the nation, without supposng that they will
reach much greater age than some other missionaries
have done.
Is there any good reason to hope that the present
ratio of decrease will be materially checked? That
must depend upon the cause producing this decrease
and the degree of probability that it will ever be re-
moved.
PHYSICIANS REPORT.
What is this cause Several labored articles have
been published by the missionaries to prove that the
decrease is owing to vices and diseases introduced by
foreigners. This opinion seems to be set aside by
report of all the physicians Of the MISSION which may
be found in the annual report of the Am Board for
1910. This report, after speaking of the excellence Of
the climate, says notwithstanding the favorabeness
of the climate, they, 1.-THE physicians, find unusual
amount of disease among the natives, especially Of the
subacute character which, though for the most part
not very painful, tends always to undermine the con
stituton, and pave the way to premature grave Tha
the immediate cause of most ofther maladles are plain
" ascrbabe to their frequent violation of the first prn
ciples of correct living to their low estimate of life
reckessness of themselves; to their wretched habta
tons, which furnish little comfort projections to thei
practice of lying upon the damp ground; to want o
protection by clothing in exhausted conditions of the
SYSTEM against vcsstudes in the weather. and thei
poverty, which keeps them strangers to necessaes ant
comforts" The report goes on to mention that iron
diseases introduced by foreigners very few deahshav
occurred in their practice, and that they do not per
ceve that such diseases materially retard the increas
ofpopulation.
If this report is entitled to credit land what author!
can be credited if this cannot9 it is surely needles
to look elsewhere for the immediate cause of the de
struction of the people. Did human beings ever mu