Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1861-07-27
Ghe polunesian.
SATURDAY, JULY 81, 1861.

y We insert to-day the communication touch
ing the introduction of the English language in
this country, to which we alluded last week /; and
instead of labOred reply we have only space to
follow the writer with some short notes. The
subject is of vital Importance to this people and
should not be lightly passed over.
The communication reads:
SR:-The question, whether the early missionaries to
these islands should have taught the English language
to the natives instead of creating literature in their
nacular, depends for its another inquiry
What was the governing object-the ''central idea
of Christian mission to the heather people Of Hawaii
If to give them the word OF God IN the least pos
sble tme with the least possible outlay OF men and
money, ID then there scarcely be two opinions as
to the most direct of attaining this end. The
speedy reduction of their language to writing. followed
as il was by universal enthusiasm for reading, was
the only method of bringing religious, or other truth,
before the mind Of the then extaut generation For 1t
was then as it still continues to be, impossible to as
sign any definite period of time in which the mind of
this nation could be put in communication with English
literature. The most speedy and economical method
would be- to ordan that all Hawaiian infants should
be born in English speaking countries But II the
change of language is to be made on Hawaiian sOi then
we must bespeak for the work nothing short Of the
{" time and times, and half time of the Apocalypse
(2)
But there are those who regard the English language
as the surest if the only eectua means Of eevaDg
this nation and saving it from speedy annlhilatIon
The chain of reasoning by which such conclusion
arrived at lies not the surface of things, and there
fore the awy links if any there be, cannot be examln-
ed and rejected. The argument oftenest put forward
is something like this: The Anglo Saxons are IN the
vanguard of civilization They read. speak and write
the English language. Therefore the Hawaians can
best get abreast of them by short cut through the same
language (3) Before endorsing this logic, let US ask
of the historic page, Did nation dlsoWn ITS YER
nacular tongue and hUeP az L think not when
nation loses that sturdy vitality which resents suen
denationalizing process, it only remains Tor 1t to DIE
Yet any country may be essentially and safely aided
in its upward progress by superior civilization Inc
leading European nations have not been left to WORK
out their civil and social problems entirely alone In
ancient times the cOnquering Romans TOOK on arustc
refnements through the conquered Greeks anu IN mod
ern times nearly every country in Europe has received
very important accretions to its mechanical skill ana
enterprise through the artisans OF France VINO were
dispersed abroad at the revocation OF the edc OF Nan
tes Thus, too, the Cars of Russia from refer the
Great to the Autocrat of to-day, have made free use OF
foreign genius in every department of civil, military,
and political science Yet, with almost more than hui
man sagacty, they have known just when and where
to say to foreign influence and ideas, Hitherto shalt
thou come, but further The high water marx Oh
this influence is placed just below the possibility OF Its
overlapping the protective barrier reef and becoming
inconvenient the sovereign or unpopular with the
people.
In all these instances. and others which might be
cited what is specially to be observed IS pentude OF
home born power and vitality all sufficient to preserve
the native races intact and Misunderstanding of no
damaging rivalry, moBOpOy or competition, IN which
the shrewd foreigner will be sure to turn up " heads
(5)
For an example of different kind we have only to
refer 10 our Anglo Saxon ancestors (6) William the
Norman found them sturdy independent, progressive
but divided people The chances OF war were against
them The battle of Hastings threw open their sea glrt
home to their ambitious neghbOr and before they had
time TO rally consolidate, and recover from the conquest
of the Sword they found themselves subjected to far
more humiiating conquest-that Of the Pen Their
language was repudated banshed from the courts OF
Justice and the halls of diplomacy The sagaclous w
liam well knew that this latter conquest II fuly enect-
ed. would be more pervading and enduring than the
boodies exploits of the sword Aud he laid his plans
all too wisely and too well. After few years. the ver-
nacuIar tongue Jared more on ears polite IL was
cherished only in the cabins of the poor and reached
the national lips only through the nursery tale and the
ireside ballad.
These were Englands days of darkness and humia-
ton But after many weary years of /" Normanizing'
and matchmaking, she slowly gathered up her pros
trate energies and sloughed off the ntrudng language
which had been fostering into her nationality. Ihen
il was that she sprung into her old place on the race
course of nations, where for hVe hundred years. she
has stretched on, neck and neck with the country
which gave birth to her rejected cOnquerors.
And vet the Norman-French language was just what
William claimed for it-more polished and courtly than
the Auelo-Saxon tongue This fact IS established both
by the quantity and quality of that portion OF II Wnlcn
rema;ns imbedded in modern English. Why then
it not blessing to the AnglO-Saxons! For much the
same reason that s living dog is better than dead
lon." TIE new language was dead matter, which the
living body polite digesed very sparngy, and on the
first occasion, all the unap2ropriaed portion was hurled
out Of the country.
And what has all this 10 do with teaching English to
Hawaiians: Practically not much, perhaps, for those
religious teachers whose yernacuar II Is, came not
as the conoueror comes, either in power or numbers
Cannon balls were their hackers and they brought
no sword but the sword of the Spirit. They gave to
this nation what it early learned to cravethe word of
God and secular literature in language which the
peope could read and understand and therefore, 1t
probable they will go talking Hawaiian as long as
there is a Hawaiian race to talk. 90
Of course one can object to the lntroducuon OF
the English language under such wise limitations as
control the study of foreign languages in all countries
Nowhere should such studies be allowed to shame the
pupil out of his nationality, or to dspace his mother
tanpue Least of all should it be suffered to invade
the beartream of Hawaiian homes, (S) dividing them
into factions speaking to each other only IN an un-
known tongue Poor Hawaii has infinite need to gather
up the loose ends of family ties and bind them firmly
about her wasting yitals
A wise hsathen, when asked " what was most usefcl
for boy to learn, replied, what he viii m1st need
TO practice when he becomes a man." Were this test
faithfully and universally applied to youthful lnguists,
what clouds of Babel textbooks would be seen flying
70 the wall Not but that all study tends to strengthen
and develop the mind, physical exercise does the
body whether the labor in either case be productive
or otherwise But in the present stage Of human pro-
gress in general and of Hawaiian PROCESS in particular
few can afford the luxury Of any long course OF
instruction in which the 9 bread studies do not pre-
dominate.
And precisely at this point arises objection to the
introduction of the English language into the common
schools. To bring the learners mind into easy COM
muucaton with English literature requires nearly the
entire spring time Of Hawaiian youth. Meanwhile the
English learners Of both sexes losing their interest
in and respect for. everything Hawaan-its language
history institutions-fOr the parents who drudge IN
rags that the children may learn English and attect
satip and broadcoth-and for the nation Of which they