The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-07-01


wrong-weret torn up by the new system; and with
unsettled notions of duty and liberty, fancying per-
haps that education is a passport to impunity, they
relax the bonds of obedience in which themselves were
held. and resign their children to the drift OF their
own passions.
Besides, the fAcility with which truant children
find a shelter and encouragement from real or pre-
tended relations is a serious annoyance and drawback
to every r~ight-minded parent that happens to know,
and wish to do, his duty to his child.
To remedy these evils, we must take up some OF the
threads which the new system dropped out of its web;
we must begin with obedience to parents at home, to
teachers at school-while both parents and teachers
should be made TO understand that to shonor thy
father and thy mother is as much a Divine COM
mand as to sc keep the Sabbath holy" and-with all
reverence be it spoken of far greater social impor-
lance Who cannot obey, as a child, is unfit to COM
mand, as a man.
While on the subject of public morals, I beg leave
to record another remark.
When, by the permission of the King, and the con-
version of the principal chiefs, the new religion be-
came the dominant one, the practice obtained, and
has, to a great extent, prevailed ever since, of invari-
ably appointing ~professed church members to any Of
nee or situation IN the gift Of the government. Ii
may have originated in an over-estimation or under
estimation of human character, as it lay on this or
that side of an arbitrary line; it may have been but
another version OF the political doctrine that $ to the
victors belong the sroils;' but however that may be,
it cannot be denied that the effect has been numerous
disappointments to the government, and, l regret to
say, not unmerited reproach to a church, whose mem-
DerS IOuuu III tnelr religion n convenient OOt-StOOl IOr
their political aspiration. To have this idea removed
l wish it to be understood that, while | have had the
honor to preside over this department, | never have,
and never shall, exact any other qualifications for Of
hces of which this department may have the disposal.
than that of competency, ability and loyalty-believ-
ing that thus His Maesty's Government will be best
served, and a powerful motive to hypocrisy removed.
The elevation of the Hawaiian people to the level
of other people in civilized lands is a problem which
the pious, the good and true of foreign chimes have
for forty years end avored to solve, and with what
success-let those answer whose spears drank the
blood of their foes on the Pail of Nuuanu: whose re-
latives or children bed on the affairs of Kali and
Kalaipahoa; let those answer who owned nothing in
life. not even hope of a future; who were slaves, in
the deepest sense of the word; and who, in their own
persons or their children, now occupy your benches
as free men, and legislators of n free people.
But though the change has been great and marvel
lous; though the steps in the ladder of civilization
have been cleared by bounds, rather than by the
slow and toilsome progress which has characterized
fatter ourselves that the problem is solved and the
goal achieved. Foreign aid and foreign countenance.
though invaluable as pi neers and auxiliaries, cannot
do that for us which, if 1T is done at all, must be done
by ourselves. On us then depends the final solution
of this great problem, with all its responsibilities and
all its risks.
While we then honor and respect those who spent
the strength of their lives and the powers of their in
tellects to accumulate for, and instruct us in the use
Of the materials, implements and facilities for accom-
plishing the task before us, let our first duty be to
tue OhisSltns TtptiT III utucituCitc III
separable, perhaps, from the very rapidity of our
as a nation Of these there are two that
claim our attention.
The first is a Stricter regard to the preservation of
life by affording facilities for the prevention and cure
Of diseases. On this subject any explanation on my
part would be a work of supererogation, and should
you require particular information. | have no doubt
the medical faculty of Honolulu will cheerfully
you all the light that you require. This much
[ would take the liberty to suggest, that, in whatever
manner you may choose TO provide for this crying
want, you will avoid the evil of half measures, or an
appropriation for the purpose.
The second, is such a change in the common school
as will give a thorough, u~nintermittent
to the spread of the English language. In
our progress, as n nation, we have been placed under
q pressure of circumstances TO which no other nation
with slow and almost imperceptible i~nstalments, and
heir language had ample time TO adapt itself IN the
new ideas which sometimes took a century or more
before they became developed and dominant. To us,
however, that time is denied. To us civilization
zones ready dressed, and we must take her on her
,wn terms, or not at all, if we wish to attain to n
rue comprehension of her spirit, rather than a mere
lcqniescence in her forms.
1t also becomes a matter of national selfpreserva-
ion that our people, the Hawaiian born. should. as
rs possible, be able 10 stand up on equal terms
the foreign born in the school, the college, the
Drum and the mart. While rhe language of the
oreigner enables him TO drink full draughts from the
of knowledge and wisdom, our own Ian
.uage is, as yet, entirely inadequate to Stake car
hirst; and hence, in the daily practical contest Of
lie, we are continually laboring under a disadvantage
hat bars us from developing the intellectual resources
which God has given us in common with others; n
lisadvantage as humiliating to ourselves as it is I'M
to a fair solution of the great question before
ls- To educate ourselves. the language must first be
and for that, as l said above, we have no
ime.
The acquisition of n language then, which will
emove this bar, which will enable our people to
tand on equal terms with others, is a subject of the
highest Importance. To obtain this-to facilitate and
peed its acquisition, / woui! suggest that the gov
schools he kept in the English language; and
hat the change from the present system be adopted
but as speedily as the means at the COM
nand of the Board If Education will permit. If the
be established, the means will not long fail
be forthcoming. The people will then be so much
icher by the possession of another language CAPABLE
place them fully en- rapport with their new duties
which their new condition and growing civilization
equire. COP SAVE THE KISG.