The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-08
Honolulu Morality.

Mr. EDIToR-A good heading, some one abroad
may say, after all that has been done for the Hawai-
ian nation in the years gone past, and is doing at the
present by Christian men and women and [, as one
old resident, c~heerfully endorse the fact that great
good has been done and is being done to the nation
but what 1 want to get at now is morality in Homo
lulu-the social morals of Honolulu land it may be
before I get through, my remarks may apply to other
places in these islands. Now l wish to start on a good
foundation, 1 commence with the law of the land, and
l find that We have one law, and a very good one if
properly enforced, wherein it is plainly set forth,
that it is unlawful for any one to live in a state of
adultery, and a penalty is attached to it for those
who break this law.
1 for one have made these islands my home, mar
ried a Hawaiian, and have a family of children, and
think that | can say that l am trying my best to
train and bring up my family Alright. But what
must my children think when they come to years Of
discretion, when as they walk around and through
this town, nay, at their very door almost, they see
this house and that house occupied by this and that
man and jointly occupied by a woman or women,
and whom they must know are not leading a virtuous
life. Why? because they are not married. 1t may
be said, and is said that children have no right and
are not supposed to know these things but l main
tain they have Il right (by reason Of the respect and
love they bear their mother) and ought to know
tia there is a wide difference between the married
and adulterous life else how are they to know and
who the better fitted to lay this knowledge before
them than their parents. More people are ruined by
hiding the truth from them when young, than we are
apt to think. And how hard a matter it is-and here
let every man, married as l am. bear witness-to
avow and define the line between these states of
living. God knows, the line ought TO be broad enough.
when the adulterous life is so emblushingly and evil
IDENTIFY without any sense of shame INDUCED in. As |
said In starting, a great good has been done and is
being done for this people, but alas, how has it been
undermined and scohed at by the conduct of foreign
es Young men in particular, who, thank God, 1 do
believe have yet one item of shame still remaining
that they would not on any account, that a beloved
mother or a dear sister should know of their manner
OF living In Honolulu. Yet the fact remains, and is
an outrage on our social life, that men and women
live together in a state of adultery, setting at defiance
all law, human and divine. And why is this
Because the men living in this state are tolerated in
respectable society received within the family and
social circle, and the outrage calmly wiuked at. And
again, 1t exists because it is greatly encouraged and
iostered by men (save the mark, wen call them men,
VINO own houses. Houses? no, shanties, novels. No,
we will call them by a palmer ~name.-Brothels.
Mind you, they do not own brothels oh dear, no,
absurd-but IS cottages" which they lease, and they
know well the style of life that is led in them, because
one of these owners of cottages has been heard 90
speak on our streets of the extra convenience OF his
cottages over rooms in a hotel, he stated, as l under
stand, wherein the extra convenience existed, but
need not go any further. But let US see II we
cannot find a remedy. One grand one would be for
every mother to shut her doors. and keep them shut,
OA Z LA14 nus oS5
inside the social virtuous circle. Another : for every
mother, (and 1 refer now particularly to our foreign
ladies) to exert her best influence on her sons now
growing up into manhood, not merely the ordinary
home influence, but by courageously and womanly
asserting her position as a virtuous woman, and dis
countenancing by all the means in her power the
associating Of her daughters and sons with those who
are leading Icentious lives. My remarks on this
glaring outrage on common decency, are no doubt
crude and rough spoken, but l speak as | think and
as the state of society at present demands. 1t is high
time that these things came TO an end, and let those
better able take up the cudgel and beat this abomin-
alton out of our social life, so that it shall be an
understood thing, that if men tciiI live the life of lust
and shame, they must do it out of sight, and not
boldly parade their vileness in the face of our wives
and daughters. And IN conclusion, I solemnly call
on every man of foreign birth who has made these
islands his home aud is striving to bring up his
family in a God fearing and virtuous manner, to
assert his position, and in every way strive to put
down this sdulterous abomination.
Honolulu, June q, 1871. AyeLo HkwAHGs.