The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-05-28

kened some fine morning by a shaking which viii seEd the whole
precious batch on a pilgrimage, not to Hanalei and Hawaii, but to
land rendered classic by the pen of Milton, the paradise of
fools. " So mote it be" Yours,
Honolulu, May 20, 1864. SAAyEL-
Mr.. EDITOR The position of a foreign cores
pendent is always one of difficulty and delicacy,
even with the strongest determination TO be impair
tlal ; great care must be taken that facts and incl
dents are correctly stated, or the chances are very
great that injustice will be done to persons or parties
interested, and the writer may thus become an agi-
tator and a public nuisance.
All this may occur when the design is to be honest
and truthful, but is not likely to be the case unless
the writer is u comparative stranger in the commu-
nifty where he exercises his functions, or is in some
way so connected with parties or schemes as to pre-
dispose him to present these in favorable colors to
the disadvantage of those with whom they may
happen to be contrasted.
When both of the conditions exist and the produce
tons of the correspondent are published in places far
removed from the scenes depicted, and when replies
and corrections cannot be expected to reach it, it is
not strange that unpleasant feelings should be en-
gendered by such a course.
Such are some of the reflections suggested by read
ing the correspondence published in your last paper
and headed Sandwich Islands, the production
in part of a person lately made somewhat c~onspicu-
Gus, and in part of another, who although he has
never seen the country and people of whom he writes,
has yet made use of his official position as its Con-
sular representative abroad, to burlesque both in a
work on their history, manners and customs.
With some portions of these letters 1 have 10 disposition to
find fault. The description of the bereavement scenes at the
Palace are feeling and appropriate, and the statement of the
sympathizing love with which the deeply afflicted Queen is men,
toned. will be cordially endorsed by all.
Neither shall L DISPUTE the statement of the devotion Of His
late Majesty to his recently adopted religious connections for
him, Death has sealed the lips of crit cism, and he has passed
on to that tribunal in which the decisions of this world, whether
adverse or favorable. are oftentmes reversed.
In passing, it may however be right to say that a writer less
ambitious for effect, while claiming so much for his late Majesty's
literary production in the translating of the Book of Com
mon Prayer, might have been candid enough to have said that
all the Scriptural passages had before been made ready to his
hand, having long ago been translated by the teachers of that
same Congregationalism to which he is said to have been so
much opposed, and who. by the way, are the only teachers
who have ever given to this people the WORD OF Cop in their
own tongue.
1 think it more than likely that the Royal student meant
more than his teacher imagined, when he said that I" the waters
become purer as you approach the fountain" for he could
hardly have been ign prant of the phenomenon well stated by a
late writer, that the 8 Church of England with its apostolic
creeds and orders and sacraments, is to-day the most pestiferous
nest of Rationarsm in all Christendom." "A mountain stream
that ends in mud, methinks is melancholy"
1 would not discourage the writer's hope in regard to our
new Sovereign; for with such shining trophies of the new
Church about him as now find seats IN his Cabinet, he must
surely be satisfied that the old story of the " narrow way"
is only a fiction of " CongregationaIism."
In regard to the progress of this Mission, the writer does not
h estate in his opinion in what it consists. however he does no;
fully state, and whether singing songs at hula (heathen dance)
does much to promote public morals, may possibly admit OF a
question. In some departments it has however accomplished
much, and it is very likely = there never was a Mission which
in the short space of twelve months had accomplished more"
1t has ] believe prevailed upon the Government TO cast an IN
deserved and contemplate insult upon its best friends-men
whose best and most labOrious years have been freely devoted
to the elevation Of this people whose services probably date
back nearly or quite to the time when ct. n Honoiula" first saw
the daylight, and who have nsuer yet betrayed its interests.
Indeed so far has this pitiful snobbery been carried, that
when the Secretary of the American Board Of Foreign Missions
visited these Islands n year ago-a man venerable IN years aud
justly honOred by the good and great of both hem,spheres.
whose labors have accomplished more for this people than a
dozen English Missions Of this stamp can acc Ompiish in a thou
years, the Inequalities Of whose house and whose public
courtesies were cordially extended 10 the late aud present King
when on their visit TO the United States a few years ago-he
treated by some with an Indifference amounting TO positive
insult, and which would cause those responsible for it, if they
lad any appreciation of such a feeling, to hang :heir heads for
SHAME.
This may be one way Of attempting - to soften down national
feelings Of irritation" and possibly the King approved " it, |
hut for his sake l hope not, and am not willing to admit it, nor |
that the Heaven gathered in the Eastern world" had so "Ieavened
his whole lump :" a : to cause him to lose for a moment his DEL
sense of refinement and the obligations of politeness and
good breeding.
L come now to the closing plea of the letter, and here I
admire the candor that calls things by their RICH, names.
l nave long thought II IA her ridiculous 10 call such An e-
adjustment a - Cathedral" but supposed it was done for some
object, at least might crafty the feelings Of the " eldest son of
the Church " (hereD through whose liberal efforts it had been
provided, to have it published abroad that he had secured \
for the use Of the mission !" but it seems that
terms are varied as funds or ecLat are the objects sought for
and that's none Of your business nor mine, only won't YOU
please issue a corrected edition of your Commercial Register
and have the thing properly stated thus: Places of worship
ia Honolulu Catholic (Episcopal) Temporary
Cathedral g. miserable shed, , Kukui street
Whilom that building was a Methodist Church, and although
Il hap Wa. to fall upon troubous times. the premises at leas,
always well kept and bore the external marks of culture
and good taste but now with windows broken and shattered
Ike an old ale house after a midnights revel, its yard grown
1p into a jungle OF weeds and bushes. it reminds one OF the de-
'criPaon Of inspiration in Proverbs - so. 81: ~ trent By the
leId Of the siotfuI, and by the vineyard Of the man uoid Of
understanding, ana, 10. At tc4s all groen ouer Nth thoyns,