Polynesian., 1850-09-28

said in truth that the nation was stepped in
deception, and it is not to be disguised that
the influence of early habits is still seen and
felt. But are the Hawaiians alone in this
matter? Do men who understand better the
nature of truth do her homages Alas, alas,
no sin so sadly disfgures christian states as
deception, falsehood, gross lying. Let any
candid truth loving man read Jay on the late
Mexicdh war, and he will blush for his coun-
try. Indeed. do not believe that a nation
can be found whose annals are not more or
less stained with the detestable dye of false
hood. In This respect the little Hawaiian
nation has been far in advance of many an
old and enlightened government.
On the whole, the author of Los Gringos
may spare his contempt on account of the
mendacity of Mr.. Judd. By the blessing of
God on the instructions communicated to the
chiefs and people during the last thirty years,
the nation has reached a moral elevation un-
paralleled by any heather nation since the
advent of Christ, moral elevation which
may indeed compare favorably with that OF
any other country. And to how much high
er elevation it might have attained, had all
who have resided here, or who have favored
us with their visits, pursued an honorable
and christian course, WHO can tell? may
be mistaken, but 1 cannot doubt that had
stiAh been the uniform course pursued by all
foreigners since the discovery Of the islands
TO this day the nation would have been saved
As it is there is much reason to fear that the
nation as such will not long survive. Our
author tells US that-''there are no govern
ment hospitals, and the disease brought by
Cook is sweeping still with the deadly strides
of pestience. These causes serve to check
and diminish the population to an extent
hitherto unprecedented, and not unless their
very existence as nation becomes Obliter-
ated, does there appear to be any reasonable
prospect of reform''-p 357. Alas that it
| should be thus And who will bear the re-
sponsibility of destroying what might have
been prosperous and happy nation :
Our author uses the term-moral in a very
vague, indefinite sense. Thus he asks on
page 357. ssIf with all these evils entailed
upon them by strangers, does it not seem
problematical, if in their days of superstition
and ignorance they were not morally better:
Happier they certainly were!" do not
wonder that he has an exclamation point al
the making of such an assertion. He must
have regarded himself as the author of a veRy
profound discovery, to wit, that nation o.
!, ignorant, naked, drunken, fighting savages
covered with filth and scars from self infiict
ed wounds; without social tie which nigh
not be ruptured at any moment; unrestran
ed by law from preying upon each other; the
: slaves Of superstition, without God ant
Y hope ip the world" !" in a word '' hateful ant
: hating one ano,her"-and yet happier thar
: nation one half of which can read and write
e conversant with the scriptures, and instruct
: ed in the rudiments of education! Yes
. happier than a nation decently clad, temper
a ate, peaceful, protected by salutary laws
!, united by social ties, and inspired by tn
f hopes of the gospel Verify our author ha
i a keen sense of the nature of happiness
c One would think such man would sigh 70
the good old times Of his ancestors-of tn
times of Thor and Odin-prinative times
k when naked savages sacrificed, If they di
e not eat each other. Such was the happines
y of the Hawaiians as all who survive can tes
/: tily. The author Of the second article at th
: head ofthese papers thus sums up the item
: which constituted the nation so happy. Al
y ter speaking of the prevalence OF infantIcld
); he saws ssThere were other evil custom
If prevalent in those bad times. saying nothIn
e of their wars, which rendered life uncertain
- There were various games of chance at whic
i they gambled deeply, and wherein they fire
IS ouentlv lost their lives There were other
e which had impure associations, and wer
l. practiced only in the night; and not TO ente
e into painful detail of particulars which mlgi
n easily be done to show the horrid state G
l. Hawaiian society, there were unnaturs
e crimes, as well as polygamy, polyandrIa
1t robbery, murder, burying the aged alive
II killing offenders without trial, and variou
II other savage usages, that rendered the stat
,fI of society, maugre all the sickly stuff eve
e told of island innocence and bliss unbosome
k in the Pacific, more like community G
II devils let loose on vacation from hell, an
y eager for all the pleasures of sense they coul
II get before being cast out again into the deep
S than society Of immortal men. "Iha
: time . saws David Malo twas very dfferen
d from the present Now the aged men an
S women walk safely and sleep in the path :
i Reader, you know the customs OF this coun
y try in DAYS past. The land was full of dark
s ness. folly, iniquity, oppression, pam an
h death. A pit of destruction. dark, polluted
If deadly and ever burning was theawelling Q
+ Hawaiians in ancient times" What, wha
it shall we say of the happiness of the Hawal'
!, ans in those dayss
!, But that they were morally better, cap
e the climax of absurdity. Apoor superstltIous
IS heather nation ignorant of the God o
7 heaven without the shad ow of an idea o
n responsibility; living qdying like brutes
d what mockery, what an abuse of languag
IS to speak of their moralss What an ide
h must our author have Of moral character
r. Moral character mas reference to the law o
:. God The heathen know not this law what
d ever other traits Of character they may pos
II sess. whatever overt acts Of sin they ma
!, avoid. and commendable actions they ma
i perform, it is certain that these actions ar
) not moral in the sense that the acts of thos
"a acquainted with the law are moral. 1t !
: possible that these may be 'sa law to them
o seIuas >, may .shY nature do the things con