Polynesian., 1862-06-21
Ghe polpnesialt.

Thoughts the System Of Legislation
Which has prevailed IN the Ha,ai,an Islands for the last
forty years on The eris that hare arisen from Il and
on the possible remedies for these euS-by Dr. JOHN
RAE, of Hama, Masa, author of NEW PRINCIPLES OF
Political ECONOMY, &C., Sc, &c. lCoatnued
HAMA. Maui, April 3, 1862.
So much as to what may be done to revive the
ancient external and mechanical guardianship of
woman. But though that species of restraint if
exercised as in those times, might be very efec-
tive agent in far checking disorders as to give
much more favorable aspect to the population
question, yet. assuredly, it is not all that is want
ed. 1t is only a civilized nation that the Ha-
waian people can have we'll grounded hope to
preserve their existence. Their permanent endu-
rance. therefore, depends on their adopting the
principles of action which move other civilized
tiOns. Now, with us, it is not from without, but
from within, that the force comes which preserves
woman pure. 1t is not so much from being care
fully guarded, from her inward feelings prompt
ing her to shrink from the touch OF aught dehling.
that with us she remains spotless. Why is this
Why is 1t that she walks abroad among US, fearing
no evil, suffering evii-all foul shapes retiring
from her path to lurk concealed in their secret
dens, and that as she thus moves along, the love
she wakes in the bosom has more of heaven in it
than of earth 1t is well known that it is only in
these modern ages that she has assumed this ex.
alted rank, and that in the ancient times she had
no such fortune.
Some will answer perhaps it is Christianity
which has done this; it is to its influence that We
owe the comparative purity of modern times. No
one, think can deny that to the precepts of the
Gospel much of the happy change. But,
assuredy, it is not from it alone that the revolu
ton Of thoughts and manners has proceeded. For,
its precepts apply equally to both sexes, and to
know how little these serve to restrain the one
when they have opportunity to indulge in forbid
den pleasures have only to look at the lives OF
| the generality of young men in any Of our larger
cities.
1t is among the Germanic tribes-the Goths and
TeutOns-that, as have already stated we have
to seek for the origin Of this elevation of the e-
male character. These northern races subdued
Europe, and dominated over every kingdom in it,
infusing into most of the nations large share Of
their blood and giving a of mobiles and kings
to all of them. Thus they had power to impreg-
nate all these nations with their own peculiar SEN
timents, feelings and principles of action.
Pre-emnent among these one which got the
name of hOnor-a detestation of falsehood, deceit,
| of a lie. For a man, death was conceived prefer
able to living under such imputation. The
stain could only be blotted out in blood, and the
traducer was therefore called out to deadly CON-
bat. As to woman, the deflement of her bodily
purity not only thing in itself to be detested,
but, it necessarily implied falsehoOd and deceit,
it merited death-prefiu1 est mOri; in some tribes
the death by fire.
Christianity and other influences have much
modified these sentiments, but they still exist
among us. The single combat 10 defence of what
is called ones honor, is dying out, may be said
to have died out for Christianity has set its face
against it. As TO woman, the sentiment has been
modifed-not destroyed. She is no longer en-
cOmpassed by that sort of divine halo, through
which she shone all glorious to the eye in the an
cent times. Christianity has said, 'giye not
that worship to the creature which is due only to
the CREATOR and she no longer expiates her
weakness by physical death. Still she is conceived
to move and have her being in purer and more
exalted sphere and. if she fall she falls like the
angels, to find no middle resting place, but sinks at
once into gulph of shame, sorrow and suffering,
from which she in vain struggles to extricate her
self. This sentiment as to women pervades our
whole social existence and constitutes one Of the
essential elements of our form of civilization. De-
stroy it, and the whole fabric of modern society
would be ruin. 1t pervades also, and is en-
bodied in, our whole literature, marking it with
character quite distinct from the literature Of all
antecedent ages.
If, then, the people of these islands are TO hold
place among civilized nations, it is necessary that
they should be im6ued with something of this SEN
timent that woman here should learn to be q
guard to herself; that her weakness should be
strengthened by conviction of the shame that
How can something at least of this sentiment be
infused into the native race 1t is obvious it
cannot be from reading the Bible, or from any of
the direct preachngs of Christianity. Our religion
rather acquiesces in our giving to woman the
place she holds among US, than teaches US to put
her there. 1t is the same here as with regard to
personal freedom, liberty, and the right which
every man has to have voice in the management
of the affairs Of the community to which he be-
longs This notion, as now embodied in the idea
of constitutional government, Is entirely Ger
manic one. We in vain seek for it in the pages of
the Old or New Testament. Christianity acqu-
esces in it, but does not teach it.
Just so is our yielding to woman her position
in modern society and the consequent influence
she exerts over it. Our religion acquesces in our
ideas on this point, but does not incucate them.
We in vain seek therefore for direct aid from it.
But, again. as constitutional government is
spreading and extending ITSELF where there is little
of Germanic blood, because men have perceived its
excellence, so has this Germanc idea as to the
proper place of woman diffused ITSELF as it were
by simple contact, from just appreciation of its
excellence, among populations having but sprink
ling of the Germanlc element. of this same ele-
ment these our islands have also had a sprinkling
Why has it done so little good? The cause seems
this
The anelo-saxon race scattered here and there
among this people are mostly of one class-tfat of
saiors-and these, ike every other distinct class,
have their peculiar virtues and their peculiar vices
The evil has been that the vices belonging to them
as a class have been especially pernieious here.
The sailor boasts that he finds a home in every
port. 1t is not of the purest, and so, unhappily,
his previous habits and propensites very generally
prevent his home here being of the purest. He
cannot be supposed to be an available means of
diffusing sentiment which his previous course of
life has so often obliterated from his own bosom.
(l,,.lA - hoo, ho
sible, to establish settlements say of my country
men-the religious, sefrestraining and persevering
Scotch-Or of the honest and industriously-
plodding German, the influences emanatiug from
them had been, and would yet am persuaded be,
far better and happier. That probably is vain
4 - L.. .L-A IL