The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-06
FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
MAKAwAo MAUI, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS,

| MAkAWAO MAUI, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS,
June l6, 1855.
To the Editor ofhae National Era:
Since | wrote you in February last, things
at the islands have moved on the even tenor
of their way. April 18th, the Hawaiian Legis-
lature was opened by sensible speech from
the King. was glad to perceive, on reading
| it, what seemed to be deep concern on his
part, in view of the decrease of his people. He
urged the Legislature to devise measures to
check this decrease. Chief Justice Lee also,
in his report, spoke most alarmingly on the
same subject, and made some suggestions as
| to the means of reformation. But though the
| meeting of the Legislature is about closing, |
do not hear that anything has been done to
check the evil complained of. / had many
fears that nothing would be done. Neither the
| King nor Mr.. Lee said anything of the princi-
pal cause of the decrease Of the Hawaiian race,
| and OF course made no suggestions which point
ed to the removal of the evil. Incidence is
| unquestionably the cause of the depopulation
of the islands. The King said nothing to en-
| courage industry, nothing of helping every Ha-
| waiian to a home, and of encouraging every
( man, woman, and child, to remain at home,
and to throw around it such attractions as
should cure them of all desire of wandering.
Judge Lee reports that one cause of diminu-
ton is the fact that +" our young men are trans
ported out of the kingdom, and die on foreign
| Shores" But though the King knows this per-
| fecty yet he recommended no measure which
looked like encouraging his poor people. In.
stead of this, he recommended to "place the
| Department of War upon a firm and better
footing" This, in my opinion, is one of the
worst recommendations that he could have
made But he has advice from a high quarter
Mr.. Wylie, his Minister of Foreign Relations
is Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy
Yes, OF the Hawaiian navy, of which the first
ship sloop, brig, barque, and gun-boat, is yet to
be built or purchased. Think of such a navy
Admitted to such sight, could you, my friend
refrain from laughter"
cannot exclainn, any voice is still for war,
seems TO be saying, " In time of peace, prepare
for war;" AS he is conjuring up war spirit
thankful may he be if he do not have taste
of its horrors. Some $4,000 are to be appro
priated, in part from the hard earnings of thi.
poor people, to crafty this foolish and wicked
spirit. And this sum is only about twothird.
of what the honorable Secretary of War wished
Indeed, could the war party have all they de
sire, we might at once bid farewell, long fare
well, to industry, and intelligence, and thrift
| mourn over this insane project. | pray Goo
to pardon the folly and sin involved in it. / re
gard it as provocative Of war. The strength o
Hawaii is to sit still. l deprecate it, as indu
cling Incidence, and perpetuating ignorance
and as shameful waste of property. How
much good might be effected with this money
it is easy to see. School.houses, roads, bridges
&C., might be built, books printed, &c. hop,
and pray that this show of resistance on tn,
part OF little Hawaii may not cause some for
eign Power to come down upon US, like al
eagle bouncing upon sparrow, and carrying
1T of In Its talons, and destroy US as a nation
l wish Mr.. Wyllie would recollect the deelara
ton OF One greater than earthly kings" al
they that take the sword, shall perish with tn
sword"
Our shadow, too, has gone ten degrees back
ward. And though we have no organizes
| Know Nothings among us, naught but nov
and then stray member from the Unite,
States, yet we abound in DO Nothinqs-a Sc
of creatures scarcely less perncious in the in
fluence which they exert on society. Yo
know the maxim" He that does nothing, 500
learns to do ill.," But / must speak of thi
subject in another connection, as l have no
room in this sheet to say all that / need, t
make the right Impressions thing which
would do, or say nothing. will merely add
that had the King and his Ministers said les
| of commerce in his speech and their reports
and more of agriculture, as a means of con
fort, independence, and wealth, there woul
have been more hope of permanent improve
ment in the character and prospects of the pes
! pie at large. Though have awakened dislik
. for asserting that Commerce is digging th