The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-09-10
Correspondents q The Pacific cOmmerc.al Aaversr,s..

articles in the -7dreTtiSer and PolynesiaH Of a like
drift aud tenor, tend to show at leas, that many
minds are at work TO point ont the faiings and short
comings Of my race, and TO apply remedies TO pre-
vent its extinction.
While l as a Hawaiian am grateful for the kindly
feelings thus displayed. l am at the same time thank
ful that these writers have not the power to work
out their various isms upon me, for | notice that
most OF them desire to act in rather an arbitrary
manner, in 50 far as | am concerned. Take English
mans idea for instance-he advocates the passage
OF g law n follows:
" Every owner Of a kulesna must cultivate 1t according 10 its
capabilities and il shall be incumbent on him to plant and
Keep cultivated a Reasonable number Of productive trees. suited
TO the locality and propor;ioned to the size of tile kuleana.
forfeit his Proftess talent. that it may revert to the government,
or % given as . medal 10 the most Industrious"
This Is with q view TO encourage industry. Now
I would like to know in what way n Judge is to de-
eide on what IS a g reasonable number Of productive
trees" and how the Euglishman would ike it him
self should the authority Of the district take a view
adverse to him and confscate his lot (if he has one)
because there happened to be one . papaia' tree too
few on his land : 1t appears to ne we would then
hear something about the Liberty of the subject"
which every one appears at present ready 10 sink as
OF no moment, Perhaps it is that this same liberty
being something new to US Hawaiians, we think
Ho'G - II luiH lIOSe 20 VINO nave nau II longer
for to US il is a satisfaction to know that our : pas"
pigs, and poi are cur own, and that SO long as we
obey the laws and pay cur taxes, no one has a right
TO touch them or US.
We Hawaiians are often charged with want of
Industry and forethought, aud to a certain extent it
is true, but l notice some of You strangers among US
who do not work any more than you can help, and
that is just cur case, and we in excuse are of q race
Huo have caer n uiD,ar FIR yanarariops
Another panacea for all our ills is to teach us all
to speak English, and thereby lay open to cur minds
the rich stores OF literature in that language, from
Shakespeare down. This is a favorite oue-horse
hobby. and doubtless would be a grand thing if it
could be done, though | fear my couutrymen would
not find much time or inclination to indulge in lite
nature while working on a plantation Mt twenty FIVE
cents a day.
Do not suppose that 1 object to teaching English
to rs many of the rising generation as can be taught
with the means at the disposal of the government,
aud the aid of :heir relations, but l do most partic-
ularly object TO entirely sinking the Hawaiian
schools. as has been proposed, for l have no idea
but that the Hawaiian language will be spoken by
the bulk OF the people as long as my race lasts.
This appears but natural to me, for l hear that in
Wales there are many people who cannot speak
English, and in some districts in the United States
even there are populations who talk only German.
Another set of writers lay all the blame on our
poor Constitution, and wish to sink that so that the
race may recover It's former health and f~ecundity.
1t appears to me hat the Constitution, seeing that
1t IS n boy of but twelve years old, receives but scant
justice at the hands of these critics. They surely
ought to know that the decrease in the populat ion
dates from n much earlier time and during the later
years Of the parriarchial period. of which they are
SO fond, the decrease went on at 81 greater ra;e than
it has Zone since.
: Along with the Constitution. the Legislature, and
especially the popular branch thereof, comes in for
curses loud and deep. and principally, a it seems to
me, because for the last two or three sessions that
body has had objections to spend money it did not
have, and has refused 10 open the traffic in spirit
uous liquors to US Hawaiians. The first oGense is
inexcusable; as 10 the second, | dare say the Repre-
will be more reasonable just as soon rs a
majority of IA Iawaiians want TO have the privilege;
then We must bear the grievious distinction.
Now that | have lightly touched on what our
many friends and doctors have to shy for US, l pre-
sumo that | ought to state what appears to me to be
reasonable view Of the situation.
1t is a melancholy fact that my race has been de
creasing for years, and even threatens TO become
extinct, bat I yet have hopes. 1t is not necessary
lUT me 10 go III the causes u tlAI uecEeaSe, Tor
they are well known; but it is a satisfaction
that perhaps one of the most provocative and de-
stroying influences no longer exists, and that the
country now depends upon its own honest industry
Tor It's progress, instead OF depending upon a preca-
rious business somewhiT ike that of a hotel keeper
som ething worse attached.
This influence gone, the people have turned their
to staying at home and to the cultivation
of their lands, instead of focking to Honolulu, and
in districts where they have the opportunity they
Are improving their lands aud increasing their pro-
lucts. 1t is unfortunate that from climatic reasons
and want of capital, they are unable 10 produce
more generally articles of export, and if the govern
nent had any spare money to give a start in some
Of the districts by erecting a sugar mill or two after
- Patria's'' plan, it might help matters along,
though l think mills planted by private parties
would be much more profitable for all concerned.
To stay the sad ravages that are still made among
the people by quacks and disease. it is to be hoped
the next Legislature will make further provision
for medical aid for the poorer classes throughout the
and, will aid literally the Queens Hospital, and
establish like institutions on the other islands; will
appropriate sufficient for the carrying out of the
much abused sanitary law, enacted, by the by, by
same do-nothing. stupid, blind Legislature, that
meets to . : exhaust itself in sound and gesture"
Ind TO "a provide for the deple ion of the Treasury"
All this | would 30 even if another word of English
sas not taught for two years TO come. Let us have
,lean bodies first, and [ had very nearly written
a then try your hand On the minds and souls;' but
hat would not be right, so | will not say SO.
Yours, &c. HAWAIIAN.