The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-02-18

From the folyneSlan.
Mr. EDITOR SIR As the subject Of the inioui-
ty of the whaling feet has again been brous1 - before
the public for the benevolent consideration Of those
who, neglecting the slow and laborious process OF
educating men into morality, csst about for some
wonder-working moral specific to cure the evil; and
as it has been suggested to "put a missionary
wherever the whaleships congregate,' | beg to make
a few remarks on this interesting subject. AS my
experience of whaling is perhaps as great and as
varied rs that of s.Cymon,, sA New Bedford
Whaler'' and the Messrs. Gulick,'' I am free to
admit that much of the evil complained of exists on
board of many ships, in a greater or less degree, but
1 would wrong my own conscience and that of many
shipmates, before and abaft the mast, were I to admit
the exaggerated proportion of thd,6ccusation brought
against them.
Before stigmatising a whole class Of . community
as God-abandoned and moral Iest-h0lses," It is
necessary, if we wish TO be just, to take into consid-
GRAFTON several things which our amiable critics
either do not understand or else wilfnlly neglect. It
is necessary to consider the previous education,
training, modes Of thought, habits Of life, opportuni-
ties of improving good resolutions or resisting bad
results, Of those whose conduct we arraign it is nee
essary to consider the conditions and circumstances
under which the acts were committed, the amount
of correct knowledge of the consequences, direct or
relative, the amount of resistance to temptations before
yielding, the amount Of remove after; it is necessary
to consider if these acts or the propensity TO commit
them have 50 radically ~paralyzed the moral system, as to rem
der it utterly and hopelsssiy lost and thus. 70 appearance at
charity, as is that Of g moral pest-houses y and It is further
necessary 10 conSuer Wnttner tne9c 899 are isolated incidents
ola PERSONS life, or his deliberate, systematic conduct through
out and IL it be found that the acts committed last year ny one
set Of persons are repeated this year by another Get, It becomes
necessary TO consider whether the causes, and consequently the
blame are solely personal with the perpetratcr, or circumstan-
tial with the objects and surroundings with which he comes In
contact, or both.
When such an analysis Of the question has been fairly con-
Quoted. 1 will admit the propriety Of passing 20 extreme q iudg-
ment upon a whole class Of fellow beings.
I grant that a number OF facts attest the existence OF much
incontinence on board Of many whaieshtps, but I deny that it is
= logical sequence that because Of this they are moral pest-
houses !" in other words, that incontinence II the crave and
extnguisher Of every other moral feeling and principle. or that
justice, honesty, sobriety, charity and mercy, cannot coexist
where this has been for a day, an hour or a lifetime. The
major III position not being an admitted truth. the truth Of the
conclusion Is consequently impaired.
I can and will uphold DR.. Guick In exposing vice whether
ashore or anoat, II such exposure win reform the vicious but he
Is unjusti6ahlc logically, socially, and morally, in passing %
sweeping and general . denunciltion on . whole clan Of fellow
men on . partial datum 4
The Doctors Judgment has evidently been betrayed BY his
feelings, and with the best Of Intentions he has been Nd 10 use
too big a cord in expressing his views. I can understand an
that, and make due allowances upon proper refraczlou and con-
triton but I cannot understand why his euppcrtfs here ahould
persist In jusdsying the deuuncistion, and thus deliberately
place themselves tn the pro ssnen: q uearperss q III. power
seoaomenis ~ the nrst usnpRs = Ineikss soe e. M Meaning =
Calling nzmes and passing harsh inipments, 4 an n~n1ottnnste
6htk tr which cssrjcal uTihza sesm . enenaaaGpodat Hc<uso.
AvADrt