Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1858-02-13
JI)e l)oluueslau;
Published weekly at Honolulu, Oahu. H.
|2LES GORDON HOPKINS, EDITOR
TO THE EDITOR OF THE poLYxEsrAS.

As the subject of the iniquity of the VIII ,linr
5 again been brought before the public for the
lent cSn,ideratiOn OF those who, neglecting the
s and laborious process Of educating men into mo :
east about for some wonder working moral
& to cure the evil and as it has been suggested
-lt missionary wherever the whlcships c1ngre-
81 beg TO make Il few remarks on this interesting
nv experience Of whaling is perhaps as great and
,ried as that of - Cymon,'' " A New Bedford
r. and the " Messrs. Gulick,' l am. free to ad-
at much Of the evil complained of exists on board
3 nv SHIPS in greater or less degree, but would
my own conscience and that of many shipmates,
and abaft the mast, wsre | TO admit the exagger-
8 proportion of the accusation brought against
5 ]re sigmltising whole class of a community as
andoned and '' moral pest-hOuses," it is neces-
We wish to be just, to take into consideration
y things which our amiable critics either do not
stand or else wifully neglect 1t is necessary to
s the previous elucation, training, modes of
L habits Of life. opportunities OF improving good
ions or resisting bad results, of those whose con-
e arraign it Is neceSS try to consider the condi-
/ md circumstances under which the acts were com
i the amount OK correct knowledge of the conse-
s direct or relative, the amount Of resistance tc
ion before yielding, the amount of remore after
Ssary to consider if these acts or the propensity
nit them have so radically paraly yzed the whole
system, as to render it utterly and hopelessly
.1i thus, t. appearance at least, justify an ex-
2 so sweeping, so void Of mercy and charity, as
of moral pest houses - and il is further ne
to consider whether these acts are isolated in
Of a person s life, or his deliberate, systematic
N throughout and if it be found that the acts
ned last year by one set of persons are repeated
4 lr by another set, it becomes necessary to con-
Ishether the causes, and consequently the blame,
sly personal with tho perpetratOr, or circumstan
4 la the objects and surr ,undings with which he
IA contact, or both.
n such an analysis of the question has been fairly
,el. will admit the prOpriety of passing so ex-
ulrmcnt upon whole class Of fellow beings.
mt that number of fIcts attest the existence Of
ncontinence on board of many whaleshpS, but
that it is logical sequence TINT because Of this
/ e " moral pest-houSes - in other wOrlS, that
aence is the grave and extinguisher of every
moral feeling and principle, or that justice, hon
brietv, charity and mercy, cannot coexIst where
Il been for a day, an hour or lifetime. The
ronosition not being an admitted truth, the truth
conclusion is consequently impaired
j, and will uphold DIR. Gulick in exposing vice
r ashore or afloat, if such exposure will reform
ions but he is unjustiflble logically, social y,
rany. in passing so sweeping and general de-
fon on whole class of fellow men on a partial
4 Doctors Judgment has evidently been betrayed
i felmgs. and with the best of intentions ne has
4 1 to use too 6ig upord in expressing hls views
3 understand all that, and make due allowance,
proper retraction and contrition but cannot
nad why his supporters here should persist III
ng the ienunciation, and thus deliberately place
&Gyes in the predicament of usurpers of the power
erogatives of God, and liable to the same honors
Sn2laments as the first usurper, 4" Lucifer, Son OF
& ming
Ing names and passing harsh judgments, IS an
mate habit, for which clerical writer's seem 10
sa special license. AFn"A