Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1862-05-24
Ghe polpnesian.

JoTty years. on me ecttS tndt Goe ortSe1 from and
on the possible remedies for these erils-5y Dr. JOHN
RAE, of Hama, Maui. author of New PRINCIPLES OF
POLITICAL ECONOMY, &C., &C., SC. [COatinGedl
HAMA, MAUI, April 8, 1862
It is the same case with husbands. 1t is only
very rarely that they apply to the laws. They are
often very desirous of wreaking vengeance on the
seducer but they do not wish to have their wives,
that is themselves, amerced in equal sum with
him. and it is but rarely, and then mostly, when
they desire divorce, that they are willing their
wives should be taken from them for four months
Government service.
What they would desire would be condign
punishment on the sedueer, and permission them
selves to inhict corporal chastisement on their
wives. Such was the ancient custom. The SEN
tments of the people have not changed, but the
law holds them in check. They cannot punish the
seducer they dare not beat their wives for fear of
an action of assault and battery. will relate
case, than which nothing could better illustrate
the prevailing feeling on this point
man was brought before me for a severe as
sault on his wife. 1t appeared on evidence, that
he had sent her for certain article to o house a
short distance off. That she was very long of re-
turning, and that. when she at length appeared at
the door, he merely asked her if she had got it,
and on her answering no. he instantly struck her,
and beat her, In so violent way, that she fell
down. her head badly cut, and her person covered
with blood. / asked the witnesses if he was pas
sionate man. No, they said, he was quiet and
peaeeable. IF they had known him i'll use the
woman before. No. l asked the woman similar
questions, she replied as the others had done, that
he had been kind husband to her, and had never
struck her before. Though l was satisfied there
must have | cen some other provocatiOn, and
ectured what it had been, and therefore questioned
the witnesses very closely, could get nothing out
of them. | asked the man himself if he could give
1 e
said no the thing had happened as the witnesses
had stated. Nothing remained therefore but to
impose fine, which he Immediately paid.
Now may remark that, though trial. it is
often difficult to get at the real facts yet after it
is over, these people readily tell all about it.
Knowing this, sent person on whom could de-
pend to ascertain the truth. Ii appeared that the
thing had fallen out just narrated, with this
important omission. At the time the man was
waiting for the article in question, his sister went
out to see what could be Getaning the wife, and
soon came running back, saying she had peeped in
| at neighboring house. and had seen her in the
arms of a man with whom he had suspected her to
have an intrigue, and in no equivocal position.
While the husband and his friends were debating
what was to be done, the woman opened the door,
when he fell on her and knocked her down. Her
paramour passing at the time, saw the occurrence.
and ran for the constable, who apprehended the
man and brought him before me. This man-the
gallant-was one of the witnesses against the hus
| band, and described the condition of the woman
truly pitiable. Yet for all this the husband kept
silent, and the people in the house (his reations)
all perured themselves rather than the risk of
having the wife tried for adultery | might relate
other instances, not so strong indeed but of simi
lar import.
recoect man coming to me to put himself
under my care for a very serious disease which he
had contracted from his wife. He also wished to
/ - 1 4
whose illicit connection with her had produced the
mischief. He had, he said, abundant evidence
amongst the rest, letters that passed between his
| wife and her paramOur. | replied that [ thought
he had sufficient grounds for action, but that it
would be expensive, and he would have to consider
whether or not the property of his rival would pay
even the costs, and also that his moving in the
matter would probably cause his wife to be tried
| for adultery. AS he thought she was sincerely
sorry for the occurrence, and the mother of his
| family he determined not to have recourse to the
| laws. He next asked me, as | knew how he
| aggreved, if would make the penalty as light as
possible if he went and gave the fellow a sound
beating. OF course could enter into such
rangement and he left me that day not in the best
of humOrs with the law or with me.
1t is thus that this law has almost done away
with the check which fathers and husbands really
were to licentiousness. The seducer fears them
not he fears only the constable. More than this,
the natural supporters of domestic purity act very
often as opponents to the law which was passed to
prevent its violation. However palpable the guilt,
! the husband very commonly swears to the limo
cence of the wife, and the wife to that of the hus-
band,
| 1t must be allowed that the evils which have
flowed from this faulty legislative action have been
| of the gravest character. We should, however,
have very imperfect conception of the extent to
which they have operated, if we confined our at
tention to their influence on the adult population
alone. Two generations have grown up from child
hood to manhood and womanhood since they have
been in force How have these been trained up Z
and what influence in that training up have the
laws in question exercised We live in days when
the Importance of these inquiries will be admitted.
Since the commencement of this century, the
subject of education has, year by year, been more
and more forcing itself on public attention, until
now it is seen to be gradually assuming, in the
eyes of the most enlightened and influential men,
the character of being of all the means within the
power of the statesman the one of most promise of
good for the people whose destinies he sways.
What then is this the education which is before
the eyes of the real statesman? 1t may be thus
defined The training up of the moral. intellectu-
al and physical man to the condition that may
most conduce to his own individual good, and to
that of the community of which he is to be MEM
Der. The mems sanG incOrpOre sano. the healthy
mind in the sound body is the thing aimed at.
Wholesome nourishment, plenty of good and nu-
tritious food for lungs and stomach with constant
but never Overstraining exercise, give the best
physical man that the constitution with which the
individual may have been born is capable of reach
ing to. 1t s the same with the moral and intel
lectUal part. Plenty of wholesome food-that is,
food which can be digested-with exercise suf-
fceut to cause it to be assimilated and grow into
the frame, the requisites for soul, for body.
How far has the Hawaiian system come up 10
this standard How far has it fallen short of it ?
What influence have the laws in question exer-
cised overi il?
We shall best see this by turning our attention
for a moment to the mode in which it grew up:
The Bible was the main Missionary instrument.
Not the great truths it contains, set forth in the
SIMPLEST FORMS but the Book itself The reading