Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-05-03

her magic chains not few, who but for her
influence, might stand erect in the dignity of
freemen. Incidence, moreover, like mighty
incubus, chaining every member Of the body,
and pressing out the life, throws her wither-
ed, but powerful, arms around the soul,
breathing her pestiferous breath into her
every cell, and poisoning the seat of life
Finally, habits impure, lying, treacherous,
whose name is Legion, and which, by indul-
gence have acquired an alarming inveteracy,
claim the field as their own, and strenuously
oppose the formation of good ones. Hence the
feeble hold the Hawaiians have OF life-heEce
the keen disappointment many of US feel, on
account of the failure of our hopes of the
usefulness of not few who have promised
to become useful men and women, but have
proved worthless members of society. Hence
the painful apprehension, that many years
will not elapse ere the nation, as such, will
become extinct, and our peculiar work, as
laborers together with God, for the salvation
of the Hawaiian race, will cease.
Still, while there is life there is hope =
in seasons of gloom and dependency, which
sometimes occur in my experience, CLEAN
of hope-like the bow of promise-spans nv
heaven, and ilumines my darkness. | ask
myself, s;Who can tell if the Lord will not
be gracious TO the remnant of this people,
and preserve them monument of his grace!"
Would that could act more under the in
huence Of faith, SO that | mig hit at once be
more confding and Industrious. have not,
for moment, thought of laying off my armor
or relaxing my efforts in breasting the attacks
Of the enemy, or laboring for the improve
ment of the nation. ] would not exchange
this field Of toll for any other on earth; nor
my post for that of any other, however high
or honorable-Yet would gladly toll. sus-
tanned more fully by the influence of hope
For myself and others, my fellow laborers, |
pray that we may be thus sustained and
cheered, until hope be exchanged for lrul-
tion.
But lest my building should be all porch,
| hasten to say, in relation to physical i'm
provement, that great work remains TO be
done, have remarked on the Importance of
good roads; and one who has more skill than
pretend to possess, has told us how to OBJ
tain them. But this is a small item in the
list of Improvements. The people need
houses of better construction. They must
he taught and encouraged to procure them.
They need furniture, and other things per-
tanning to living. These they must be stimu-
lated to seek. They need lessons in physi-
oogy, the laws Of life, and familiar and
popular instruction the methods of living.
This they must, in soTie way. have furnished
them. They need to be taught agriculture
the dividing their farms in suitable style
and the art of adaptation OF seeds, grasses,
and plants, to different soils and climates.
They must be instructed in these depart
ments SO of fencing, raising cattle, sheep,
swine, poultry, &c. | canRot but hope that
these subjects will receive the attention oi
the next legislature.
In my next | propose 10 say something
more definite on several of these items OF
improvement and may perhaps make some
suggestions as to the means of securing
happy results. hope that we may have the
suggestions, also, of longer heads-of mer
of more political wisdom than the writer o!
this claims.
In concluding what have to say in this
paper, allow me to inquire-have the bene-
VIOLENT desires of His Majesty the King, in
regard to lands, been fully carried outs sAl
who have read his speech-delivered to the
Mobiles and Representatives of his people
April 10, iS5O-must have been forcibly
struck with the generous desires of His Ma
jesty, that all industrious culiivators of the
soil should have an allodial title to the lands
they so occupied. Have these men obtained
such ttIe' Some OF them have, but many OF
them, know, have not; nor do ! see that
they are at all likely to obtain them Whose
fault is it, that they are still destitute of a
title? do not, exactly, know; but, | do
know that these cultivators of the soil remain
as they have, all along. been living; and, in
the words of the King, sc they cannot think
of improving land, ihe possession of which is
so uncertain The remark need not be re-
pea,ed, that secure title TO land II the ioun-
dation-ihe cornerstone of improvement
Till the people obtain this, they will not take
step in the race of Improvement. Agricul-
tural interests will be wholly neglected. No
improvements, in the style of building, will
be made-Home, 'sweet home," will be
unknown at Hawaii The same style of
living will remain Thrift, enterprise, and
neatness, will be strangers still. There may
be an increase of clothing and Iuxuries, as
the country is being flooded with goods, but
substantial improvement will continue al a
stand STILL Disease will still luxurate
among the poor people, ignorant of its nature
and of the methods of applying remedies
Death, on his pale horse, will follow. cutting
down all-chefs and people-men, women,
and children-till the poor remnant of a once
powerful nation will have disappeared be-
meath the clods of the vallies.
Let the assembling legislature take an
early hour for looking at this subject Let
it have the weight which its Importance OBJ
viousy demands. Let it be ascertained how
many have obtained lands, and how many
have, in some way or other, made application
for land; and what are the obstacles III the
way of their success. Nor will it suffice to
make these enquiries, nor to remove the OBJ
stacles discovered, in consequence of making
them. Not few, on each Of the islands,
who need, and ought to have little farms,
know not how to obtain them. They
!. t->axb ,,oofhodo Of opnly-