The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-12-06

an independent sovereign. Happily he lived to
see this principle established and acknowledged
by America and European nations; hence, when
HE Majesty negotiated the Reciprocity Treaty
with the United States Government, other nations
had nothing to say so long as treaties with those
countries were not infringed.
The 28th Of November, 1913, may be observed
as the date Of Hawaiian independence, but 1t was
many a long year before the Island-hIngdom was
treated as fuHy independent. On that day, how
ever, it was that England and France did " en-
gage reeiprOoaAy to consider the Sandwich Isl
ands an independent State
III. ScIEScE.-lnternational reciprocity in mat
tiers relating to science is a most interesting
subject of contemplation. If IN some astronomical
observatory in Europe the discovery of a new
planet is made, the fact is Immediately tele-
graphed to all the other obseryatories OF the
globe. When any important discovery is made
in the science of chemistry, or geology, botany,
OF mineralogy, the whole scientific world is made
acquainted with the facts, and soon the reading
public enioy the publicity. How rapidly the
marvellous discoveries of Edison have been pub
lished throughout the world. Advances In every
department of science are published and repub-
lished until they become familiar to the friends of
science in all lands.
1t is a most interesting fact that in times of
war among nations, the stern and bloody rules
Of belIigerents sometimes yield to the mandates
of science. When Napoleon was at the height of
his power and all Englishmea were prohibited
from travelling on the continent OF Europe at the
peril of arrest and imprisonment, an exception
was made in favor of one mana man Of science
Sir Humphrey Davy, the chemist and discover
er of the miners safety lamp. Perhaps the fol-
lowing example is still more Noteworthy During
the Revolutionary war, when the Americans were
battling for their independence, DIR. Franklin,
the American Plenipotentiary Ambassador at the
Court of France, forbade American privateers
molesting any of the squadron Of ships under
Eapfain TnnE-a command in his scientific v0vaOa
around the globe. France and Spain are report
ed to have imposed a similar interdict upon their
cruisers. Ia acknowledgment of Franklin's
magnanimity, the British Admiralty, in the name
of the King, presented DIR. Franklin with a copy
of Cooks Voyages and a gold medal. One more
most striking illustration of this point: Some
hundred years ago, when France and England
were at war, and while the first Eddystone light
house was in process Of erection, a boats crew
of English workmen were taken prisoners. They
were Immediately sent back by the French mon
arch, with the laconic message that he was
waging war with the King of England, not with
mankind.
1t was no ordinary compliment which Agassiz
paid to the scientific and liberal views of America
when he left the Old World and cast in his lot
among the inhabitants of the New World.
Having been sent to America by the Prussian
Government to execute a scientific commission,
he met with such kindness and liberality, espe-
cially among the promoters of the coast survey,
that afterwards no tempting offers from any
European court, university or scientific society
could tempt him to return and relinquish his
home in America. He was q enabled to push his
scientific researches on all shores from Maine to
Texas, as well as along the Pacific. 1t bore him
up the Amazon and around Cape Horn" For
years he employed Mr.. Garrett to collect speci-
mems of natural history in our island waters, and
was better acquainted with the fish in our ocean
than any other living scientist.
The history of efforts IN pxOlOra the cold
regions surrounding the North Pole, and the
recent astronomical observations relating to the
transit of Venus, indicate the incalculable benefits
of international reciprocity in scientific matters.
But in no department may this subject be seen in
q more favorable light than in that series of
International Expositions, commencing with that
of England in 1851, under the patronage of the
Prince Consort. and followed by the Expositions
of France, Austria, and Americas grand Centen-
NAL, and to be succeeded by others in Europe,
Australia and Japan. The influence and results
of these exhibitions of skill in manufactures and
displays of scientific research are something abb
solutely wonderful. They are revolutionizing
the world Of art, mechanics and science. Scien-
tiic and useful knowledge is thereby spreading all
over the habitable globe, even penetrating the
old and conservative nations of China, Siam, In
dia and Japan. What is more remarkable, the
dark continent of Africa is receiving a portion of
these rays of scientific light. From the report of
DR.. Means at the late meeting of the American
Board OF Missions, held last month in Syracuse,
N. Y, we learn that not less than a h~alf-score Of
scientific societies in Europe are pushing their
researches on the continent of Africa. One
French journal remarks that : = the African Ques-
ton preoccupies all minds, - while the same jour
nal quotes the remark of 81 one Of the greatest
poets of the world" " In the nineteenth century
the white man has made a man out OF the black
in the twentieth century Europe will make a
world out of Africa Adds DIR. Means " Ger
many, France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, all have
their parties of scientific explorers penetrating
the vast unknown, while commercial companies
are organizing for manufacturing, for traffic, and
for communication by canals, railroads, telegraph
lines, STEAMBOATS, and elephant trains" Africa
that stronghold of ignorance, heathenism and
savagery-is now being attacked in the north,
east, south and west. Both scientific men and
missionaries are resolutely determined to storm
this citadel of ignorance, superstition and slavery.
In the grand assault many noble men may fall,
but the command has been given to close up and
push forward. The news comes that the noble
Mullens, of the London Missionary Society, has
fallen while penetrating to the interior, but other
missionaries and explorers will follow in the foot
steps of Livingstone, Stanley and their compeers.
The world is now Just beginning to witness the
grand results growing out of Livingstone's tolls
and labors. What a noble career, and how sub
timely it terminated. Penetrating as far as his
failing strength will allow, he kneels alone and
dies-for his body was actually found in that
position Lis remains are rudely but carefully
embalmed by his faithful and devoted servants,
and borne more than a thousand miles on their
shoulders, through jungles and morasses, over the
hills and rivers of Africa, to Zanzibar, from
thence to be conveyed to England, where they
were finally taken to Westminster Abbey, there
to receive the highest honors which could be paid
to them. What a life What a death! What
a burial! Science and Christianity may well
clasp hapds over the earthly remains Of the noble
explorer and humble missionary
Ill. LITERATURE.-Reciprocity in literature
among different nationalities is a most delightful
subject for review. Our thoughts are elevated
above material interests, and we are invited to
witness the action and reaction of mental aspira-
tons in the realm of genius. A book of genius
IS Uncle Toms CABIN" for examples publish
ed, and in a very few months it is translated and
published in perhaps twenty different languages,
and read by millions. The writings of some pop
ular authors are as extensively circulated in other
and parts of the world as in the Ian
guage and part OF the world where they originally
Scott, Dickens, Macaulay, Longfellow
and many other authors are known throughout
the literary circles of oil civilized lands. Dean
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