The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-11-06
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER G.

Ii "
Much has been said and written respecting
the decrease in the population of the Hawaiian
Islands, since their discovery in 1878, by Capt.
Cook and yet, Notwithstanding, very errone-
Gus opinions prevail on the subject. That cele-
brated navigator, after visiting the different
islands, and witnessing the crowds attracted to
the shores by the arrival of n new race of beings
in So floating islands, gave it as his opinion
that the population in 1879 was about 400, 900.
lie may have been deceived in his estimate but
whether SO or not, partly from Difference to his
high reputation as a voyager, and partly to the
absence of other evidence, it is now generally
conceded to be about correct. The numerous
evidences of a more extensive cultivation of the
soil, which still exist in various parts of the
islands, now entirely waste and uninhabited,
tend to confirm the correctness of bis opinion.
From various causes, there began, immedi-
ately after the discovery of the group, a decline
in its population. 1t is impossible to determine
now the exact year when this decrease began,
nor is it a point of material Importance.
This people, however, in their decrease, do not
constitute an anomaly in the worlds history,
when compared with other nations. The aborig-
ines of many countries have faded away on the
dpiiOiCh VI lOIcISHtISs II as we IT accustomed
to say, 4" before the advance of civilization"
and their nationality has been destroyed or
merged into that of the immigrants. So it has
been in the history of various European nations
so the aborigines of North America and the
West Indies have entirely disappeared before the
white man while in Mexico, Central America
and South America, they have to q greater
degree amalgamated and formed mixed races.
Even at this present day, Ireland is a remark
able instance of q decrease of population.
We have not the statistics at hand, but the
decrease has been about two millions during a
period of twenty years, from 1S4l to 1861. The
case of the Hawaiian people is not, therefore,
out of the ordinary course of nature, as illus
trated by history.
Few nations, however, have had more power
full causes operating against them than this ma
ton has had during, more especially, the past
sixty years. The principal of these may be
briefly stated, to correct the false impressions
existing on the subject. They are these: Vene-
real Disease; Mtemperance; and Epidemics.
Each has had its influence, and it may not be
amiss to examine each separately.
1st.-VENEREAL. This disease was unquestion-
ably imported by the first ships which visited
lAC 6AOuBs shu Il IhAo Cth cDItdud lDu htDE INV
by the continued visits of foreign seamen. Its
has been to undermine the health and
of the race, by destroying its terminating
power. 1t has operated rather TO prevent births
than to increase the mortality and in this way
has checked the increase of population, not even
it to hold its own. The assertion has
frequently been made, and many ignOrantly be-
Iieve it, that this has been the sole cause of the
decrease of this population but it is as unbound
ID and unjust as it would be to assign il as the
cause of the decrease of the population of
Ireland.
2d.-ISTEMPERASCE has been a mere powerful
gent in destroying the Hawaiian people than
most people are aware of. From the time of
heir discovery to about the year 1880, intern
Derance prevailed throughout the land, and slew
Is thousands and tens of thousands. Here, as
n every new country, was opened TO the cupid
ty of the white man n tempting field for the
.rafic of rum, and here the trade fourished.
. Not only was alcohol imported in great abun-
lance says the Hawaiian Spectator, p. 90,
but every neighborhood had its distillery,
md the materials for making it were spontane-
'usly afforded in exhaustless quantities. The
were, that not longer ago than in
he days of Rihoriho, this was a nation of drunk
rds. Whole villages OF men, women and chill
.ren, would give themselves up, for days together,
o drunkenness and debauchery. To this day, a
ative, who gets a taste of the liquid fire, never
short of drunkenness, if it is in his power
obtain a sufficient quantity. What then would