The Hawaiian gazette., 1875-02-03
Interviewed.

Interviewed.
The members of the Royal Embassy seem to
have escaped the willy attacks of professional
newspaper interviewers, from their arrival at
San Franciscotill they reached Chicago. Here
they were set upon by one of the fraternity,
connected with the Chicago Tribune, who did
not even spare the King. His Majesty, how
ever, after civilly replying to the newspaporial
leech, excused himself by saying that, though
he did not wish to appear uncivil, he had
other business to attend to. Gov. Kapena,
however, fell into his wiles, and had his pri-
vate thoughts extracted from him as no one
but professional interviewer could do. In
the Chicago Tribune we have the whole report,
three columns in length, from which we ex-
tract the interview with Gov. Kapena:
Reporter-How do you account for the rapid fall.
ing of of your populations
Gov. Kapena-Well, there are very many causes.
Among them the undoubted one that civilization
the contact of the Caucasian with any other
almost inevitably produces the decay Of the latter.
This is the case with us. When Cook came to our
Islands we were barbarous but healthy. Our
habits were different In these days my people,
owing to their beautiful climate, wore very little
clothing.
THE MISSIONARIES
came first with the Bible, and they spoke Of fig
leaves and the indecency of being nude. Our peo
pie did not wish to shock the feelings OF the whites
and adopted their clothing. They dropped the ma
tive mantle which, in old times, used to shield
them from the occasional Pacific winds during our
short winter They wore the same light clothing
in winter as in summer after Cook came, and this
bred consumption,-all manner of lung Diseases
which carried them off by thousands. 1t is some
what remarkable that wherever the missionaries
camel will except
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS
depopulation followed.
Reporter-Why do you except the Roman Catho-
lies, Goyernorg
Gov. Kapeua-Well, because they have better
mode of dealing with the heather, we were call
ed. First of all, the Roman Catholic missionary
does not commence his spiritual labors by ramming
the Bible down unwilling threats. He begins by
teaching the people agriculture aud thrift, and
gradually he leads them until they learn to love
him. Then, with the dOclity of little children,
they listen TO his religious advice, and after time
embrace his glowing belief. which appears to suit
them better than the colder creeds of the Dissent
ers. The latter have been rather a failure in the
South Sea Islands.
Reporter-How do you account for it?
Gov. Kapena-Because they talked eternal Bible |
and nothing else. They were forever attending to
the spiritual wants of the people, but had care
for their temporal requirements, as the Roman
Catholics had. To prove what say, have only to
assert that in the islands where the Catholic faith
obtains, the population has not decreased with the
terrible rapidity which it has in Protestant sections.
/ know it appears strange, butt is so.
Reporter-What are the leading religions in your
country?
Gov Kapena-The Roman Catholic, Episcopal,
and Congregational There are Mormons, but we
do not recognize them.
Reporter-To which of the religions you have
does King Kalakaua belong, Governor?
Gov. Kapena-To nonel
Reporter-I hope it is not impertiuent on my part
to inquire which faith you profess?
The Governor laughed lightly, shrugged his
shoulders, and answered gaiy-" Oh, belong, like
all newspaper men. to the big Church."
Reporter-Have we the honor Of claiming you as
l brother journalist?
Gov. Kapena--You have. 1 edited two papers in
my time, and am not very old. My first paper
was the he Au Otod, which means in English, the
Nev Regime The other was the Ia MaHd,Cd which
S still in existence, although have no connection
With it now. l used to get the Chicago Tribune
ind other of your papers as exchanges
Reporter-Your newspapers were published in
he native tongue?
Gov. Kapena-Yes, but there are rival English
,apers at Honolulu.
Reporter-Pernit me 10 return to the subject of
Roman Catholicism, Governor. How do you ex.
,lain the decay of the South American Republics
md European States that are Roman Catholic?
Gov. Kapena-I cannot, of course, go into the
ubject at any length. My belief is. that, while (
pain, Italy, and some other countries were really
nd truly Catholic in spirit, they were most vigor
us France can hardly be called Catholic, in the
ull sense of the term, now. Spain has permitted I
Ter religion to degenerate, like her arms and her
olones Italy has become greatly alienated from {
he old Church Yet, in the days of their glory
hey were greatly Catholic; they spread their power
yer all the world, and were its civilizers. For my
art, 1 have the deepest respect for the Roman
atholic Church.
Reporter-You teach both English and Hawaiian Z
your schools, Governor. q
Gov. Bapena-Yes; the desire of every man, n
oman, and child in the Sandwich Islands is to be
ducated. Some of the schools, however, teach s
.nglish only. By the way, Mr.. Lyman a lawyer of c
our city, was born in Hawaii and used to go to a
choo with me. His father and family still reside t
here notice that he has changed to remarkable :
cgree during the dozen years lie has been away :
ON
Here the Governor was called out, and the
lterview appears to have ended