Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1861-02-16
No. ~.


without as set of goddess men, misleaders of the ma
tives, and bringing multifold evils upon the land
Under these supposition what viii befan the native
Populatlon 1t may be answered. many circumstances
VIII cause them to come within the camp. and to be
numbered as incosed within the puritanic fold For
IN the first place, their former idolatrous yorshin will
assuredy be put down. and those who continue to prac
tce it be held guilty Of offence against the laws
Their old gods being thus taken from them they will
turn to the God of the strangers for in their ewes he
VIII have manifested his greater power by His having
oVerthrown these idols, and they will hope that by rem
derlng themselves to Him He will bestow on them beni-
fits equal TO those with which He has enriched the strau
ger And not only will they turn TO the new God but
as IN their imaginations, all the powers which men
possess over nature from some God they will seize
with eagerneSs the books He has given the strangers
they will indusriousy strive to acquire the power of
reading them they will search them diligently to find
somewhere within them those sources Of knowledge
from which drinking the foreigner has grown to a stat
ure so vastly superior to their owns Again they have
ever been used to obey the commands of those in au
thority There will be nothing in that outward obsery
ance OF regous ordinances which consists in keeping
the sabbath as day of rest, going to church, Sc,
that Will seem oppressive to them. They will see
too that to make great profession of religious conyc
tons IS sure road TO preerment for themselves and
their children. Hence, there will not be wanting those
who not only read but lay up in their memories many
scripture passages to be applied occasion may direct
many also who, turning the copious fund of language
winch these islanders possess into that channel may
make long prayers not devoid of Bible imagery.
But how much of real Christianity may lie under
this outward show. it will not be very easy to Judge
for 1t Will be difficult to see how the yery foundation
for sincere conviction in its truths can have been laid
Christianity rests the belief of future lfe This
world IS OF no account the other Is the great matter
But while Hawaians the actions of all around them
apparently proceeding from regard to this and not
to that world how shall that absorbing idea of the all
importance of things eternal which is necessary for
even true understanding of the Christian system be
implanted, and become established in their souls:
Nevertheless, led on by the genuine Puritsnc spirit
those IN the seat OF power will deceive themselves into
the belief that their preaching has made true Christians
of the whole population, or at least that it ought to
have done so and they viii proceed to mete out pun
ishments against ransgressors of what they conceive to
be Christian morality, with all the severity of their
fathers in the days of the blue laws code of CO.
erciye morality will be established which would not be
submitted to by any European or American community,
but which the Hawaiians, accustomed to bend to the
Will OF their superiors will not resist but will Grade
From this source tissue of lying and deception will
spring up and spread among them, pushing its poison
Gus meshes through every household and every where
conamnatng and destroying the native virtues Of the
people For, it were altogether mistake to imagine
that virtue. though that virtue may be Of the earth
earthly does not exist in this They have
had right and a wrong, a pono and a pono ole no
words are more frequent in their mouths-and then
their native virtues have hitherto suced TO give pros
perity TO the land, to give industry to the man, ecun-
dy to the women. Destroy them-give nothing better
In their place. and you take from their social system
every sustaining prop and it to fall to the ground
in 1t may be, irremediabe confusion.
Other circumstances will add to the disastrous effects
of thus placing the destnies of your nation in the
hands of a foreign and sectarian Priesthood.
Many foreigners without the camp, believing or
feignng to believe that all within designing hypo-
critics, eager only for the dala will take every oppor
tuny to proclaim this their belief among the native
population. fresh this of distrust in the
teachings, and an aggravation of the evils.*
On the other hand the contemplation Of the native
Hawaiian Church will be productive of anything but
good to the free vers without. They will see within
many so much more free living than themselves that
they would be ashamed to associate with them, but.
because protected by shield Of false oaths they have
hitherto lived unconvicted, received by the pastor
belonging to the sheep, not the goats, partakng Of all
Christian privileges and sacraments, daring to
lift his voice against them. All this cannot but have
the effect of spreading still further among the outsiders
the belief that the whole is juggling trick to conure
cash into dy and greedy pockets to increase their
boldness in denouncng it, and still further to shake
any confidence the native mind may have reposed it.
Under the supposition that system Of government
and of legislation so unsOund as that we have been
looking at becoming the rule of the land, one other
consideration would remain to deepen the gloom which
the aspect of utury would then present. How is it
to be got rid OF There be doubt that the
true Puranic temper, proud of its spiritual gifts
and confident in their potency. would seize with avdity
the seeming vantage ground which these Islands would
then present to bazon before the world the extent Of
its conquess. II would be rer, vidi Uici, came.
we saw, victorious. Finding words for itself
by the mouth of this missionary that it would pro-
claim to the world, "We have come here, we have
preached the gospel the idols have fallen over ali
these Islands extends the reign of Christian govern
ment, of Christian morality, of peace and of prosper
ity' The glad would be received in full faith
and find an echo over all Protestant Christendom.
From all Europe and America many eye would
exutant with triumph and with hope to the lands
that rise out If the midst of the North Pacific How
destroy the pleasing picture How proclaim that be-
meath the fair surface all is decay and rottenness
The endeavor will rather be 10 shun every measure
that might lead a suspicion of the truth. Hence
backward step will be almost impossible.
Such, Mr.. Editor IL seems to me, the conse-
quences that might have been foreseen and predicted
by knowing the disposition of these islanders, and
the spirit Of the Puranc sect, should these become in
effect the Legislators of Hawaii How far they have
been and how far these consequences have followed
leave to your judgment and that Of yonr readers
ITO be continued
Imay here take the license observe that do
recolect been in mixed company In these
Islands where subject the Protestant Mission
without hearing either sarcasm reproaeh
the other hand wherever have been and with
whomsoeve have met have never oe except
controversy who did speak in terms Of respect Of the
Catholic Priesthood Some have expressed their surprise that
found, this time of thus sacrifice
spoken their cutie savoring
granted them the praise OF sincere sedevo
tOn pressed desire that their abors might benefit
the simply fact is for the reader TO draw
the conclusion.
r On one occasion. in the neighborhood Of
Hampstead Heath, rufianly driver was pummell-
inO miserable hara-honod haok-horsa Lord