The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-12-22


Morality says Etasrs0n, IN the object Of
government. We want a state Of thingE m which
crime will not pay. state of things which allows
every man the largest liberty cnmpesble with the
liberty of every other man. IRIS not free instita-
tions, tbs not democracy that Is the end-no,
these are only the means- Has the experiment
Of a free, constitutional government for this Ha-
vaiian Kingdom been successful in attaining this
end? Or must we confess that morally il is a
failure; and a fraud, if this Hawaiian nation is
represented as an instance of people, once bar
barous. now self-coverned, exemplary and hon
orable in their ideas and actions This question
comes IN anew IN view of the published statement
that in The trial of d. Mamaki, at Lahaina, for
embezziing public money, jury Of ten respectable
men could unanimously acquit criminal. In face
of abundant acknowledgment and proof of the
crime There are some, perhaps there are many,
ready TO believe and say, There, that shows how
unworthy of any confidence Hawaiians are, and
what farce is the administration OF justice, the
enactment Of laws, the management of public
affairs, in this Hawaiian Kingdom
1t is too true that there may be Hawaiian juries,
who disregard their plighted word to give true
verdict according 20 the evidence, and Hawai1an
witnesses ready TO swear for or against a man
according to the pay they may get. But such mis-
conduct IS not peculiar to this people or these
Islands Those familiar with the management OF
affairs in the Southern States, know that In those
communities, demoralized by the iniquitous sys-
tenn of negro slavery, not only juries, but Judges
lawyers, and people alike have shown utter disre-
gard of the solemn obligations of truth and
righteousness Is the state of things In this com
munity any new development of Hawaiian weak,
ness Is it chargeable upon the physical condi-
tion of the race and because of their physical de
terioration is any improvement morally hopeless
and no remedy available Do our wise men say
that this people is in moribund state and all that
can be done is TO make them comfortable as
circumstances will allow? What says true phi
vi.
We need a re-statement of the old question OF
science and religion, Christianity and civilization
in its application 10 this problem OF Christian
duty and Hawaiian destiny.
Those who biougnt the light of the Gospel &c
these Islhds believed that Christianity is system
of redemption. They did not suppose that i'm
proved hygiene or extirpation of physical faint
would make any people live better, do better
morally. Let the brain be ever so vigorous, and
the nerves as quick possible to receive and
transmit vibrations the moral choices are moi
identical with these physical operations and may
all be wrong. Morality Is no more quality of the
brain than purpose to kill an enemy is quality
of the muscles and nerves in the arm that strikes
the blow. One nerve vibration is as good as
another, so far any standard of morality Ii
concerned. Neither an individual criminal nor a
guilty nation plead physical constitution as q
bar against penalties human or divine
Is it to the glory of Christianity that it has built
hospitals and asylums, and provided the means
for prolonging the existence of those TO whom
otherwise the relentless laws of nature would have
brought speedy end |? Was Christs mission un.
worthy of God of wisdom as we'll as love, because
He came to seek and to save the lost, not merely
the weak and ignorant but the degraded and the
lost! There is something in every human being
more than his bones and muscles and nerves
something that allies him to God and makes hi:
individual destiny matter of eternal importance
This Hawaiian people need to be brought anew
under the influence of these truths that take hold
of eternity, and fit men for useful and honorable
life in this world by fitting them for eternal com
spirits and the Former of our bodies. PoSo.
Honolulu. Dec. 18th, 1880