New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-09
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

MISSIONARY WORK AMONG THE NATIvEs-wHAT
HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN FIFTY YEARS
A MISSIONARIES SOLUTION OF THE CHINESE
PROBLEM
BosToN, Aug. 6-The Rev. Mr.. Damon, Chap
lain OF tho Boston Seamans Friend Society, who had
been stationed at Honolulu Sandwich Islands for nearly
% years has recently returned to this country on visit
10 his friends in this section and lac gives very compact
and interesting OF the missionary work on the
Islands since It's inception about 80 years ago. Unlike
most missionaries he has tho rare gift OF condensng his
statements and Of giving definite results without giving
an account Of preliminary work and thousands Of details
This Is his account Of
THE FIRST HALF or THE WORK.
when the missionaries went 20 the Sandwich isanos
half century ago, they found about 10000 inhabitants
among whom they were TO commence their dcult work
and they OF course first mastered the language In the
usual manner; then followed the work Of ransatng the
scriptures and relgous books Of kinds and the
fight between hight and darkness was begun Their work
not eneonTang Tor ten oT eeR p IN as
Influence IL continued for three or four years and AT
had been converted and gave every promise OF becoming
faithful and consistent Christians. The establishment OF
bathscbo0s was Of course part OF the missionary work
and native preachers and teachers were found TO ava In
the good cause, while the missionaries We're lie.
enforced at intervals by preachers from the United
States.
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.
good work was progressing and entered 1t actively him
self Now the population OF the Islands is only sixty
seven or sxtyeight thousand, OF which number about
five thousand foreigners. divided as follows; Two
thousand American five hundred German, I'VE hundred
of other nations, and two thousand Chinese lheTe are
forty missions I'm different parts OF the Islands and the
present number OF Christian nations Is estimated at
about eighteen thousand The condition OF the natives
has been vastly improved in these fifty years When the
missionaries began their labor the King and Chiefs who
rule In that limited monarchy thought mat the common
peope had no right TO hold lands, and pracced what
they preached most consistently by Keeping inc same IN
their own hands But within the last twenty-five years
they given up that idea, and the people are IN bet
circumstances and the possible on ands
which Is composed Of the Chiefs and representatives.
chosen by the people meets once In Two years anu 9s
and acts upon measures calculated TO enhance the
good OF the people In much the same manner as does ha'
those Of the sandwich Islands when they get Interested
in discussiOs rarely know when TO stop but tho KING
has power prOrOgue when he thinks the public good
demands such STEP and he Is not forced 10 wait till the
legislators express Willingness 10 leave as Is the case
and schools are now in nourlshing condition. and near
Honolulu there has been established what Is termed
aes arc fitted to enter such Universities Harvard Cot
lege In the Honolulu establishment. however which
| has permanent accommodations for fifty pupils and
many day scholars young are well qualified for all
| OF the enployments known on the Islands.
THE CHINESE PROBLEM.
The reverend gentlemen truly says that this Is compar
atiyely new question cast OF the Rocky Mountains and
the completion Of the Pacific Railroad has pushed it into
significance at much quicker rate than the rails
laid West OF the Rocky Mountains tine matter has been
for some time and the gous people OF tina
| section have concluded what they will do, and have
adopted pocy-the Methodiss, Baptists Presbyterans
and Epscopaans having united In movement 70 eacl
them the Gospel and convert them 70 the Christian be
lief They have already organized have raised funds
with which 20 begin the work. and their teachers have
begun 10 enghten John Chinaman with Will AS ha
been mentioned above there about 1900 OF the Chi
nese on the Sandwich Islands, and they have made
progress In the matter Of civilization. Mr. Damon left
1,bnaman In his pupit when he came home ana he wa
preaching most acceptably The Chinese there have
cbnrch ORGANIZATION of their own, and being
VeTted rapidly They a thrifty and well behavei
neons and the general tone OF Mr. Damon's sentiment
COMEDIES with that OF Raphael Pumpey who On JUL
shown in their enterprise and energy as o0onizers,
ina the democratic idea Of the equality OF man. III the
teal decentralization Of their government ana IN tn
universally OF education, and the making OF education
necessary qualification for office II In harmony with tn
spirit of the present age IL will certainly be more cor
yenen for the missionaries 10 have the Chinese reyers
the usual programme and come here for enlightenment
Instead of remaining at home, and forcing them TO BRAY
sickness and death in the prosecution OF their great worn
hat he Christian organizations east OF the Rocky Nom
ains will follow the example OF their brethren Of IN
West seems fOregOne conclusions and II the Catholic
are as discerning Mr. Parton says they are will the
NOT 90 into this work with their accustomed energy
s safe 10 assume that they WILL and that the Churche
will be as active politicians IN studying the impendn
Chinese problem.