Polynesian., 1851-06-07

the IgEt ana WISDOM winch we can OBTAIN
from each other and those around US. " Glad
to hear him add. ' Let US never forget the
Great Source of Wisdom above"
Without farther preface, | proceed to
speak Of education. at Hawai-, as means OF
social and moral improvement. When ]
speak of education, mean the systematic
and thorough going instruction of the Ha-
waiian race-the mass of the people, in
their own language. l say the MASS for
education, to produce its legitimate influence,
must be diffused throughout all ranks, just as
leaven is cast into the measure Of flour, and
and thus made to leaven the whole lump. 1t
is desirable that portion of the rising gene
ration be thoroughly educated-carried for
ward, in schools and seminaries, as far as
possible, tina. they may fill important posts
in Church and State may be qualified to
discharge the duties Of legislators, magis-
trates, and governors teachers of schools,
physicians, lawyers, ministers to foreign
courts, preachers of the gospel and pastors
Of churches. 1t may be desirable that chill
dren Of foreigners, by Hawaiian mothers. be
thoroughly instructed in the English Ian
guage, till they become profcicnts in studies
of this sort. But of these higher branches
Of education, am no; concerned, at present,
to speak, but of the. primary school-of the
Importance of pouring the light Of instruction
upon the entire nation oftraining for USE
fulness the children who will be the future
acting men and women of Hawaii /; moi
merely the farmers and mechanics, but vo-
ters; and, in some cases, the Legislators Of
the nation In word the beauty and strength
Of the land. These must be educated-mus
be taught to read and think-must become
an intelligent body, or there will be little
hope Of the permanence of religious or poll
tical institutions.
Fhe subject Of education will, of course,
come before the Legislature, and will doubt
less receive due attention, at the hands o.
the Members Of both Houses. Much vii
depend upon the action taken by the lower
House Let me with proper Difference tc
the wisdom of this body, suggest that they
they take it for granted that the people mus
and shall be educated /; that the safety ant
honor of the nation demand this; that it can
not be dispensed with. Let it be the ques
ton of questions-How can the object o
dffnsing universal education among the peO
pie be attained' Let every member wake
up to the Importance of this subject, and bt
prepared to grapple with every difficulty
which may beset it. The fact Of its being
thus regarded and treated, both by foreign
ers and Hawaiians-both by Chiefs and Re
presentatives, will invest it with Importance
in the eyes Of the people generally. On tn
contrary, let the subject of education b'
treated as matter of minor importance-o
some little value, certainly, though not Pri
mary; less than that Of commerce, or agrl
culture, or finance, and, in my opinion
instead of improvement there will be retro
grade movement, parents, teachers, and pu
pills will be alike Indifferent on the subject o
education; schools already languishing viii
decline still more rapidly; and ignorance AM
its attendant evils will greatly Increase
| There will be a terrible reaction. Othe
enterprises of the day, which are bee9min:
prominent, will override the eaterprize o
educating the people, conducted in Il ifeles
or sleepy lukewarm manner. we know wh'
hath said, ''My people are destroyed 70
lack of knowledge" God grant that thi
may not be said of the Hawaiian race
Chiefs, representatives of the people, friend
of the nation, awake to the Importance o
saving the occupants Of these fair island
from an end SO fearful. Resolve that yo,
viii do your duty in the premises, so that
the people will reject knowledge. and perish
on themselves alone shall rest the responsi
bility. AGRlCOLUS.
Maui, May 20.