, 1874-04-06
HAWAII AND THE. MISSIONARIES.

10 the Editor " 1h8 ChftuHn tribune:
s1n: In your issue Of Tuesday last. In an
editorial upon tho politics Of Hawaii, you quote
tho Language Of an American living In that co,ln-
try, to tho effect that the, missionaries Of tho
Islands arc an unsorupulous, money~making
band OF mon, who Lad exercised too much con-
troll In tho affairs Of Hsate; that thoro had beon,
In fact, q connection botweon Church md State,
which the prcBont King, Knama, "has taken
stopsto Hasor." ';
J. Hnvng recently spent several months In the
Sandwich islands, and, whilo thoro having care
fully studied thor political history md condition.
desire to correct two errors in this article
First. In reference to the character Of tho
missionaries; and, secondly, as to tho supposed
connection between Church and State.
Tho great work done IN those IHlands by the
Amorican Board Of Foreign Missions is known
to the world. It has gouo into history, and can
no moro ho impoaohed or denied thsn can any
other wel-ostablishcd historical fact.
Tint work consists In tho civilization and par
tial ChriHtianizing OF IN ontire people. Lot
those who aro disposod to undorvalue 1t reflect
ing, and tho difficulties in tho way Of succoss.
It Is but little more than half century Binco
those pooplo woro wallowing IN tho lowest depths
Of barbarisn:: 1do1atry, human sacrifices, and the
1owest form OF sorfdom prevailed. Tho people had
no rights whatovcr as against their priests and
Kings. They wero divided into Beparate tribes,
caoh undor Its Chief, who roignod with despotio
power. "Iheir principal ocoupation," says tho
Tho highlands were arrayod against the 10 wlands
robbora infested a1l tho public pnths or lur1scd
amid tito roceeses Of the forests. Tho smallest
trlllo Of property waa sufficient temptation to
murder; md no individual .waa safe away from
the immediate procinots OF his own yiilage.".
To-day. life and property are 'as safo there as
In any other country Of equal extont in tho world
Tie laws and institutions OF. civilized life have
takon tho place Of the barbarous customs Of
forrnor yoars. Peace md prosperity prevail,
whilo fair progress has been mado in the etlu-
cation Of all classes Of tho people.
What has caused this great chauge,-a ohauge
as complete and radical, probably aa ever took
place IN tho samo time In tue history Of any
people7
Other oausea have, 1t is true, co-oporated.
The Catholic priests. who came Mt a later day,
have done their Bllare to bring about this bonef-
cont result, and the amolorlting influences OF
trado and commerce are not to be overlooked.
But, aftor allowing for nll those, do not hesi-
tato to say that nineenths Of tho credit for this
grind result [s due to tho American Board, and
10 the earnest, self-aaoriaeing men aud women
sent BY them, who, abandoning home, frende,
and all tho comforts of civilization, took up
thofr abode III that distant region.
as TO the missionaries still rcHiding In the
Island: they arc mostly mon advanced in yoara-
ported partly by Q small stipend still paid them
by tho Board. A considerable portion of tho
ministers are supported by the local churches.
Tho missionaries, II s truo, are in comfortable
years. with their families, they ilayo succeeded
In surrounding themselves with many Of the
comforts Of life, Of which they we're so many
years deprived. But thoy are not wealthy. Tho
large sugar-plautatlon8 arc not oWnod by them;
not, 30 far as now remember, in single in-
stance.
There is no connection between Church and
State. Tho Constitution is modelled aftor tilat
~ A1,nG G&oIc0 0r1f -, 1f,;1r1