Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-01-11


fact is, there is likely to be but little or no
national feeling where there is not a general
national language.
! Some one has said 'sI care but little for a
nations laws if | may have the privilege OF
furnishing nation their ballads and songs
This expression contains much latent wisdom
and shows a mind well acquainted with the
philosophy of national feeling, sympa,hies
and patriotism, and the means by which they
may be fostered ard promoted But that ei-
ther laws or songs should have their full force
and effect it is quite as necessary that the
medium of their communications should be
nearly as possible identical. One Of the
chief reasons for the fall of nations once pow
erfu and extended, as also for the weakness
of some which now exist, may be found in
| the simple fact Of discordancy of tongues.
What would be the influence on the French
of their great national anthem. II given ln
another language than that which they speak
and think and practice and shrug in
We opine it would have about as much
chance to create Juror and revolution, as
would Yankee Doodle if performed on a
cornstalk to tribe of naked Hottentofs, and
about the same as would law, or a ballad,
or tradition, or history, have to create
union of feeling and sympathy, of pride and
patriotism, of general impulse and national
character, when in order to reach the brain
and the hearts of the people, without which
it would be as If non-eXistent; 1t must be cut
and changed and trimmed to suit a dozen
dialects, and perhaps murdered and the spirit
sent to the shadows In as many soul destroy
ing translations. We wish to apply these re-
Elections to our own State, population, Ian
guages and condition, as it exists, and as it
may be.
The importance of this matter has been
very well understood since the days of Mos
Sc; for we are told by the old Scriptural his
torian that when the ambition of men speak
ing one tongue were likely to attain their
ends in erecting the Tower of Babel, God
confounded their tongues, and thus effectu-
ally frustrated their design. This simple re-
latiOn teaches a fund of wisdom, from which
Legislators should learn. So well convinced
were the Legislators of one of the United
States while founding a col stitution, that
safety would be best consulted by encourag-
inG the prevalence of only one language, as
the ordinary medium of communication, that
they promptly voted down a proposition TO
than one language, although many thousands
of its citizens expressed themselves general
ly in one different from the prevailing Saxon.
They thought the cheapest mode was for all
to make themselves conversant with the rul-
ing language of the country.
We have no prejudices against languages
wish we were masters Of as many as Elihu
Burritt smatters in-or that we were really
as learned in foreign tongues as some of our
contemporaries hope by the assistance Of quo--
tation books and clerks who understand little
Dutch, to appear to be But yet We sincere
ly trust tha: all our future Legislators will be
as wise as the wise men of Louisiana, and
endeavor to encourage the general and uni-
versal extension throughout California, of
our mother tongue, the good, old, strong,
nervous, poetical, heroic Anglo-Saxon. 1t
seems that that language is to be, if any, the
universal one, and therefore if on no other
account, we would contend for its immediate
enforcement by authority, whenever neces-
sary and the power is possessed. Never
since the confusion Of languages, probably,
has there been such mingling of dialects as
in this country.
We like the smooth and rapid French, even
with its spasmodic shrugs and torture-llke
grimaces But let it be spoken in the bou-
doir, not in the halls Of legislation. 1t is de-
lighttul to listen to the silvery notes Of the
beautiful Castillian as they drop like ringing
bells from the luscious lips of some dark-eyed
senorta, or roll impetuousy from the swar-
thy countenance of an incensed Don. And
the Italian for the opera and Dante, the Ger
man for its transcendental philosophy, poetry
and Schiller-are all well and beautiful In
their places and uses appropriate. But for
the sake of our nationality and brotherhood,
for our common good and great destinies,
give US our own fine tongue, our mother
English There is none other its equal
Whether for the language of the battle field
or the forum, the poets soul communion or
the lovers suit, the diplomatist's despatch or
the scholars disquisition, it has, like the two
great people that speak it, no counterpart
and no peer.-IAl Alia Cal.