The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-09-19
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 10.

.
THERE are times in the history of every nation,
when a thirst for knowledge takes hold of the
public mind, Il desire to learn more Of what IS
tons, we see this thirst developed in the produc-
tIon and sale of new books treating of every
branch OF knowledge, but particularly of foreign
countries. 1t Is a singular fact that by far the
largest demand and consequent sale of books,
is confined to new publications of travels, and ro-
mances, which generally embrace foreign travels
and descriptions of habits and customs of other
peoples Few have the ability or leisure to
travel abroad, consequently books which graph
ically describe other countries are sought with
avidity by the public.
The thirst for information is also shown in
the numerous periodicals published in every
country, from the smallest and most insignificant
newspaper to the most elaborate quarterlies and
dissertations on science and art. The demand
must be sufficient to sustain each Of these pubIi-
cations, else their number would decrease instead
of increase In the United States probably the
press is more free from taxes and surveillance
than in any other country in the world: and as
n consequence, books, newspapers and magazines
have there an almost universal circulation. The
number of newspapers and other periodicals
amounted in the United States. previous Ia the
civil war, to over 5000 different publications.
some of which have immense calculations. like
the y. \. Ledger, with its edition of 800. 600.
and the \. y. Tribune with Il circulation of over
COG, 1000 papers issued each week. This increase
OF books and papers arises solely from the thirst
for information and knowledge on the part of
the people-thc desire To know what is going ON
in other parts Of the country, or in foreign
lands.
1t Is not surprising that the ~IIawaiians should
have the same desire for information that the
people of other countries exhibit. Their posi-
ton Is peculiarly isolated, as we well know from
our own experience. Here they are, shut UP
from the world around them. They hear of
troubles, instructions and wars in Europe. In
dia and China they hear of the civil rebellion
now in progress in America, but have no means
OF obtaining particulars. Few, perhaps none,
OF them can read English sufficiently well, to
enable them TO obtain correct notions of the {
causes of the wars of which they hear only re- d
ports and probably it viii be years before they =
Will be enabled from this source To derive in
Still, Is the more intelligent among
hem increase in knowledge and acquire through
industry more of the comforts of life, thcir thirst
or information or news increases. The two or
hree seven-by-nine local papers, printed in the
IatIve language. are mere apologies for news
apers, and are filled mostly with religious con-
royersieS and maqao's Ct the natives. possessing 1
title interest or importance. The best of these. e
he Hae, devotes but a small space to foreign in :,
Perhaps more ought not to be cx- y
ected Of 50 small 4 paper. L
The desire for more news. more knowledge. =
nong the lawaiians, is probably the surest in u
of their real and permanent advance P'
ent in the scale of civilization. As their men, Il
! capacities expand. and they begin to compre- HI
nd more of the ideaS which possess the minds I'll
educated foreigners, they hunger for mental IL
urishment, and the newspaper being the best w
d simplest means to obtain it. they now call &c
better newspapers. There is no agent Of oil
1%lizatiOn more powerful than this. and its Iii
ect on the native IIawaiians must b. the same lp
with foreigners. Ralph Emerson. in his new 90
uses the following language. respecting an
Tspapers, which is as applicable to Hawaiians les
Americans Is
Show US an intelligent family Of boys and girls. d''
We viii show you a family where newspapers and she
iOdicals are plentiful. Nobody who has been with nar
these silent tutors can know their educating
Ter for good or evil. Have you never thought O.: II
topics Of discussion which they sur- inv
IT the breakfast table. the important UubIc 4