American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-11-20
VOL. XIV.
add that the two conspicuous figures here
portrayed are Brigham Young and Walter
Murray Gibson?

The plan unfOlded by Gibson met Brig
hams fondest hopes, it being nothing els
than the conversion of the Polynesia
race to Mormonism. The work was t
commence in the Sandwich Islands ant
continue southwark. Gibson had cruise,
among the islands of the Malay Archi
pelago, in which are some of the larges
and finest islands in the world, includin,
BorneO, Sumatra, Java, Celebes, etc. HI
had acted in the capacity of Prime Min
lister to one of the native Princes, wal
well versed in native character and ma
ture, and had some knowledge Of the dia
lect and general information well fitting
him for the ambitious work in view. HI
| was besides warm admirer OF the Poly
nesians as race, and the Sandwich Isl
anders he considered as the Romans o.
that race. While talking over the grea
enterprise he did not fail to place Brigham
as the great central figure, upon whom
the glory and renown of the work would
fall, but in his secret heart he cherished
the idea that he himself would be hailed
as the mighty prophet of the Polynesians.
He was using Brigham for purpose, and
the Prophet was using his new and zeal
Gus convert for q purpose also. 1t was q
game worth playing for, ut least 80 il
seemed to the minds Of the two chief act
| Ors. If Gibson uiumphed, the strange
| ambition of his life would be realized
the only glory for which he cared on
/ earth would emblazon him with immor-
tality.
The scenes again change and are now
laid in the Eden of Hawaii, the pict.
| uresque and charming city of Honolulu
1t is delicious morning, one of those
tropical mornings which intoxicate the
soul with sensuOus aroma never expert
enced in colder chimes. Crowds of natives
are on the esplanade, laughing and chat
ting with all the innocent guile of blessed
little children. White men, in Official
pompousness, are idling shout, and now
and then coquettish half casts, with their
soft, black eyes and raven hair, hold con-
verse sweet with them. All are waiting
for the vessel from San Francisco to touch
the wharf, to meet or greet old friends,
procure the latest news and enjoy the sem
sations of the moment The natives, who
are acute judges of character, always
closely scrutinize the haoles (foreigners)
who for the first time visit the islands
They read each through, as the saying is,
like book. This is passion with them,
one of the joys of their lives. Among
the passengers by the vessel just arrived
is man destined to shake the Hawaiian
Kingdom to its foundation. He steps
toward him. It rs evident that
he is no ordinary tourist, for high
officials come to extend . welcome to
him. The natives gather about and make
their comments. {" He is tall, SO he can
see above and beyond other men," said
one philosophical Kanaka; "He is built
like a canoe which shoots through the
water, SO he can flee from his enemies, |"
exclaims another native; His forehead
people, ~ adds The third Kanaka. In the
meantime the white men, who are special
ly interested In the arrival of the stranger,
have been busily engaged in converting
with him. Having concluded their brief
interviews, a cafriAge conveys him to the
hotel, and he natives depart to loll under
the mango trees or rec1lne on their mats
and dfscuss the incidents Of theday They
heard that the name Of the stranger was
Gibson, and this they translated into
Kipikona, as being the sound nearest APP
preaching the English. 1t was intended
to be significant also, Is kipi means
rebel in the Hawaiian language, and kona
q storm; 30 Walter Murray Gibson was
christened by the natives as the Storm
Rebel (meaning the man who creates
storms or Discussions amongst Ms fellow
men). How well they read the character
of the newcomer remains to be seem.
In three months Nh. Gibson spoke the
Hawaiian language quite well; in six
months be af11reased native congregations
in their languagewith astonishing fiucncy.
Other missionaries had been on the
islands for twenty years, and but few of
them could address. the Kanakas in native;
some, like old Father Damon-One of the
Oldest Protestant missionaries on the
islands-could not speak it at all. Glib
sons mastery of the language in so short
a time was proof to the natives that he was
inspired, and they pointed to the fact
when his enemies brought charges against
him-for he already had his revilers-
with the same zeal that the Mohammedans
did when their prophet was reviled, wno
cried out: /" Behold the purity of the style
of the Koran is it not inspiration? There
is but one God, and Mohammed is. His
prophet" Kipikona looked upon this
idea of inspiration like all learned men
who know that inspiration means cease
less labor to accomplish acertain purpose.
But he did not argue metaphysics with
his followers, allowing them to indulge in
the delusion. He made converts rapidly.
The first four years of NIohammed's labor
brought him only four followers, while
the first four months of GibsOn's mission
ary work gathered to the fold $50 Hawai-
ian Arabs. He went on proselyting, but
all this time he continued to act under the
dispensatiOn of the Salt Lake Prophet
Brigham had already sent his missionaries
to the Sandwich Islands, and upon Glib
sons arrival there he found several Nor
mon settlements. The advent of Kipiko-
ma was to consolidate and increase the
number, prepare native Hawaiians for
missionary labors in the islands farther
south, and build up the kingdom of the
Lord amongst the barbarians. This he
continued to do, but kept steadily in mind
his daring ambition. He worked hard
and waited patiently-waitedf for years be-
fore he was able to make his bold strike
for supreme power. The time came and
he acted boldly.
: Having determined to cast off the
shackles which bound him to Brigham,
Kipikona announced to his followers that
he would retire for seven days and seven
nights to a secluded spot on the Island of
Lanai, where he intended to commune
with his own soul and the Kdhuaa ka
Lani. or prophet of heaven God. Then
he would return and bring them glad It'd
inPs He did return, pale and emaciated,
iron fasting and praying, and calling his
followers together he announced that he.
had received new revelations. God had
commanded him to obey Brigham Young
no longer; Kipikona was to be the only
Prophet; and there and then announced
himself as that prophet. A chorus of
amens, in solemn chant, greeted the an
nouncement. Gibson readily perceived
that he had made a ten strike, which he fol-
lowed up by making q twelve strike, in
the way of naming his twelve disciples
These he selected from the wealthiest and
most intelligent natives, for he knew full
we'll that wealth and intellect are power
among the savages as well as civilized
men. He sent them forth among the
islands of the archipelago and they
preached with great Success Gibson