The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-06-03

m tho Tongaus. nor the Maoris II New Zealand,
nor even the Zu'us, have q library in their own IAN
guage At all comparable TO thai which the HaWanans
possess. And yet the mission 20 Tahiti was com
menced as early as 1879. and since 1916 that island
has been under the protectorate Of the nation which
calls itself - the champion Of civilization "hie
the mission to New Zealand was commenced in 1910,
and the island has been q British colony since 1871
We challenge any one 10 show an institution IN
either Of those countries equal to the much abused
Lahainaluns Seminary. Intelligent Observers with
good opportunities for judging, have told the writer
thst the Hawaiians, in their opinion, were a whole
generation in advance Of the Tahitians and other
South Sea Islanders in general civilization. This Is
owing in a great degree 10 our system OF common
schools, which has made the Hawaiians emphatcally
a reading people, so that neither the French nor
the English peasantry are TO be compared with
them in this respect. An enlightened Government
would take advantage of this fact to enlarge and en-
rich the literature Of the people, not only by new
school-books, but books on general subjects, contain
ing practical information in their own language
In regard to family boarding schools for girls. and
industrial schools. the American mission did all that
was done until within a few years. The most intel
lisent, industrious and influential natives all over
the islands are generally graduates Of their indus
trial schools at Lahainaluna. HiIo and Waioli. The
INDUSTRIAL SELF supporting sCIcoI at 'aiauH "hSh
was commenced in 1910 by Mr.. Locke, was one Of
the most interesting experiments ever made on the
islands, resembling in its principles Felenberg's ag-
riculsural school a, Hofwyl. 1t was cut short by the
lamented death Of its principal, in 1S43. In some
districts, as the Island of Molokai for example, the
missionaries at one time succeeded in connecting a
system Of manual labor with the schools. by which
the scholars betrayed the expenses of their books and
clothing. This plan was strongly recommended to
the Board of Education, by its late Secretary, MIR.
Low, and it is to be hoped that it will yet be
adopted.
as for female neutrality-suspicious.. they are nothing
new in the history Of this nation. Far be it from
me to disparage the motives or labors Of the " Sis
ters." Rather do l hope that their exertons may
stir up others to good works. But | am obliged TO
say that it was not candid or fair 10 ignore all that
others have done and are doing for the education Of
Hawaiian females. We might justly ask who first
taught the women Of the nation how to sew. For
the amo unit of labor which was performed by the Ia
die Of the Protestant II ission, in their quiet, unpre-
tending way, will never be fully known till the day
OF Judgment. Many Of them, at the risk of their
own children, brought up native girls in their fam
lies. During the thirteen years that the Waikiki
female seminary was in operation, and during the
ten years continuance of Mrs. Coan's female school
at Hilo, several hundred Hawaiian girls received a
training in virtuous civilized habits through the
medium of their own language. Undoubtedly more
should have been done in this direction, but the mis-
sionaries in a few years were convinced Of their err
ror in disseminating the Waikiki seminary, and
they had taken steps towards the establishment of
family schools even before the arrival of the Roman
Catholic '. Sisters of the Sacred Heart" Their fam
lily schools led the way, and served as models from
which their rivals have been glad to copy. The
Makiki school, for example, was founded in the early
part of 1859, and family boarding schools had been
opened at Lahaina and koloa at least a year before.
After all that has been said to their disparage-
ment, the American missionaries are at this moment
educating as many Hawaiian girls in family board
ing-schools as both the Roman Catholics and Reform
ed Catholics put together.
Be it remembered that what is most needed is not
a class of schools which will transform Hawaiian
girls into English or American bred young women,
but schools in which they will be prepared for the
humble and laborious duties Of Hawaiian mothers,
Hawaiian teachers. and especially of Hawaiian pas
tors wives.
The Bishop, it seems, sis startled to read
that Oahu College is 9 one of the more important
of safety and prosperity for the Hawai-
ian nation, - and adds There are generally two
or three Hawaiians attending it, though none. / am
told, at this present moment" In an erratum, at
the end Of his pamphlet, he states that there are
i,ro, besides several ~halfwbites." Now the Bishop.
as q member of the Board of Education, had ample
means of informing himself accurately about Oahu
College. During the year ending January l, 1865,
here were four Hawaiians attending the school, be-
sides five or six half-whites. Since then one Of the
most promising of the Hawaiian pupils has been re-
moved by death, but the rest are still in regular at
The school is open TO all, Of every race
and color, who are of suitable character and attain
nents, and no distinctions Of color are tolerated {
within it. But if the system OF preparatory English u
schools is destroyed, as seems to be the prospect at
present, it is hard to tell where its Hawaiian pupils =
ire TO come from in future. Nearly all its teachers
md scholars were born and brought up on the '
and are identified with the nation, not only .,
" birth, but by feeling and education. No wonder, p
hen, if they are - startled TO find that a stranger, !,
,ut lately arrived in their country, regards them as
liens, in whose education, forsooth, the nation has
10 interest. Even we're the institution exclusively /
or whites. which is far from being the case, it might |
lstly be considered an " important element of safety
,rote, - This institution must determine the char
not only of the rising generation of whites, but,
$ education proceeds downward and not upward, Y
lso that of the natives
This is not meIe theory, but history. The good
fleets Of the institution are already seen all over the
lands, and are known and read of all men," 1t
as no reason to blush for its graduates, either here
abroad. His Majesty does not possess a more
yal or useful class of subjects. Besides, the very
;a,.,ra If sr,b ,p rCtsr,t;nD hoe lo,t oil -, Ioa,