The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-02-11

The late hour at which the copy Of the communities
ton inserted in our last issue relating to Uhalemen.
was handed in (only four hours before our country
edition was struck off, precluded our accompanying
it with those remarks which appeared necessary.
During the discussion which the publication Of the
letter OF DR.. Gulick has given rise to, We have made no
remarks on it excepting those which accompanied the
letter. Our views on it were then distinctly stated,
and can be found by reference to the Commercial OF
Nov. 5. The point at issue is not whether immortality
exists among the whaling feet. Every one who has
had any acquaintance with whalemen knows that II
does. That was clearly asserted in the paper alluded
to. But we did then and do now most unhesitafingy
deny that seven-eighths of the whaling feet IN the
Pacific s'are The most Disgusting of moral pest houses,
and that their sailors Sc are giren TO erery crime
The main point at issue, (Which our correspondents
have not kept before them), and for which DIR. Quick
was blamed, is the fact that he published this exag-
gerated attack on seamen. in a Boston paper, to be
copied throughout the Union, where that class were
little known, and could not be expected to defend
themselves.
To illustrate the point, let us suppose that a distin-
guished clergyman or laymap. comes to these islands
and travels about visiting every mission station, pro-
Tossing everywhere great interest in the work OF
civilization going On; he returns to the States or to
England and publishes his account, and says that
after the most thorough examination into the state Of
morals and religion here, he is fully satisfied that
nine-tenths of the 10000 protesting Christians at
these islands are unfit 10 be called Christians-and
further asserts that seven-eighths, Cor even a large
majority of the females are known to sell their virtue
for lucre. Though such a statement might have
truth at the foundation of it, it would be a gross false
hood and SANDER, and an injustice to the natives and
their teachers. Now, surprising this traveller, Instead
of publishing his statement here where the truth is
known, should only proclaim it abroad among the
American and English churches, what would be the
effect but to sever the bonds of sympathy which have
SO long bound the natives of these islands and the
work of missions here to the hearts of the American
people. The evil arising would be just in proportion
to the position and standing of the person who had
published the account.
Now DR.. Gulick has indiscreetly placed himself in
precisely the attitude of that traveller. He has pub
lished a statement in regard to the whaling feet
which, though founded in truth lis highly exaggerated.
This statement was originally published where whale
men are little known, and where the truth of the
accusation could rot be readily tested. The cause of
truth does not gain by such expedients; nor will the
morality of whaling captains or seamen be improved
by such random attacks on them. DIR. Gulick has no
douDt met many obstacles ana Trials from the Few
seamen who visit his port. In these trials he has the
heartfelt sympathy Of every one who loves the work
he is engaged in. But he does not appear to have
borne in mind that others before him have met SINH
lar obstacles in their labors, and borne them as trials.
The whaling feet of 1857 is not what it was twen-
ty-hve or thirty years ago. Changes for the better
: are constantly going on. We are situated at the head
quarters of the Pacific whaling feet, where $50 to
$50 vessels touch every year, while at Ascension, if
we remember Alright, only twenty-five or thirty whal-
ers touch annually Our business relations bring US
in contact with the captains and officers of nearly all
the whalers that visit the group, and from an ac-
quaintance of several years with them, we confident
ly believe that a fair majority of the fleet Of 1857 are
commanded by captains or officers who have as high q
regard for morality and religion as those of any ma
rine serrice in the uorld.