Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1850-10-05
For the Polynesian.

For the Polynesiaa.
Los GRINGos: fin Inside Niev of .Merico and
California, ,rith wanderings in Peru, Chill
and Polynesia. By Lieut.. Wise, U. S. NJ
Continued.
The author Of Los Gringos seems to have
little concern for his reputation on the score
OF consistency. He dashes ahead without
once looking behind, or wasting thought on
what he may have said. OF this have brief
ly spoken, but a striking illustration remains
On page 359 and $50 he speaks of the violent
rawlings of a retired missionary against what
he terms papacy, prelacy, papists, abomina-
ton of the church of Rome, and the like bal
derdash; "and these, he adds, care enough
to induce the belief that were it not for the
great conservative Law and Order party,
which now rules the world--wherein the
virtues of hemp are duly set forth-these de-
luded enthusiasts, so blinded by their fanati-
cal zeal, would be cutting one another's
throats, with the same malignant ferocity as
in the bitter wars of the Huguenots."
This is plain talk and no mistake. But be
not alarmed, gentle reader Go on, and in
the very next paragraph you will find the fol-
lowing eregetical? paragraph:-'sThe mis-
sionaries fully deserve all the love and influ-
ence they possess with the native population
for the toll and labor of many weary years,
passed away from homes and kindred. =
What have we here, Mr. Editor? Does not
our author blow hot and cold in the same
breathe Is he not grossly inconsistent with
himself : But this in passing. | have a
much more serious charge to prefer against
him. Look again at the two paragraphs
The writer either believed that the mission
aries cherished murderous intentions-were
capable of imbuing their hands in brothers.
blood, or he believed no such thing, but on
the contrary, regarded them as deserving of
all the love and the influence-almost bound
less as he affirms it to be in the imme-
date connection-they possess with the ma
tive population. If he believed it, then he
has endorsed the character of a class of cut
throats-of men who but for the Law and
Order party, would ere this, have graced the
gallows. If he did not believe it, he is gull
ty of gross falsehood and cruel SANDER. Let
him choose which horn of the dilemma he
pleases. E7' .
"a Like many Of his predecessors in travel
and book making, our author expresses his
fears lest missionaries should descend from
the high ground they were sent hither to oc-
cupy-should mingle with secular affairs.
$50 long," says he, Gas they sedulously abb
stain from secular affairs, and resolutely con-
fine themselves to the field oftheir good work,
the very piety and blameless purity of their
lives will shield them from the smallest re-
proach." Does piety and blameless purity
Of life, then, shield men from all reproach'
Did it thus shield Socrates the great and good
Athenians His character was irreproacha-
ble-his instructions highly favorable to vir-
tue. But says his biographer, ssagainst the
shafts Of satire and calumny, his noble char
acter afforded no shield'' How was it with
prophets and apostles! how with the incar-
nate Son of Godi And of what did He fore
warn His disciples-"In the world ye shall
have tribulation. If they have prosecuted
me, they will persecute you also" While
the divine declaration remains true, that
linen love darkness rather than light, be-
cause their deeds are evil, so long will pie
ty of the brightest stamp, and purity of the
most blameless character fail to shield their
possessor from the hatred of multitudes of
their fellow men,
Few men however of this stamp are willing
feel to the servants Of God, is really aver
sion to holiness and purity. They therefore
accuse them of illiberality and persecution of
others, Of interference with affairs of govern
ment and similar things. Thus the author of
Los Gringos After admitting that the mis-
sionaries deserve all the love and influence
they have here gained, he turns this very in
fluence against them as a matter of reproach
and elimination, to which he adds another
charge, viz-persecution. Hear him:-"But
human passions are ever the same. This
very influence induces them to take part in
the political contentious Of the government,
and whatever may be said to the contrary, it
is evidently by their direct means or conni-
vance that almost every public measure ema-
mates. Nor is this the most innocent charge
laid at their DOORS Behold the illiberality
and want Of true christian charity evinced
not only here, but with equal hostility by
English missionaries at the Society Islands
in unremitting prosecutions and expulsion of
Catholics. Whether directly urged by the
or at their instigation through
The native Chiefs, matters not-they were
driven like dogs from these inhospitable
shores, and never dared to return until
backed by the cannon Of their king"
From what source our author gathered his
Information on the subject of religious perse-
:ution and interference with governmental
affairs, he does not tell US. No one at all
acquainted with the state of things at the is
ands during the last ten years will accuse
he author of Los Gringos of fabricating the
slang which he employs, nor will any one
Who has been thus conversant with the scenes
which have been acted here fail to detect the
authors of charges so freely made against the
or mistake the ground of these
The writer ofthe fSandwlch
,r Hawaiian Islands" thus speaks on this
stale charges of prosecuting
he Catholics, and meddling with government
we're the mere raised letters in the stereo-
yped plate, to take the. ink and be printed,
shile vexation and wrath at restraints put
,,o, <h< l:.oneo ffhov call liberty were the \