The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-16
THE PACIFIC
q ommertial Aobert1ser
SATURDAY DECEMBER 1e. 1882

In answer to some criticisms, Mr.. w. n.
Armstrong has written to a contemporary
a very sensible and judicious letter. We
have pleasure in reproducing in our own
columns this document, which ~emanating
as it does from one who was not looked
upon as n successful politician and Minister
here, nevertheless shows a clear and sensible
insight into, and a correct appreciation of
the affairs of this county. He puts forward
with great Perspicuity certain plain facts
which the party represented by the journal
he was addressing constantly pretend to
ignore, although they are thoroughly well
acquainted with them, and chafe under
them sorely.
Mr.. Armstrong, however, make a con-
trast between an assumed 5000 native voters
and 500 white voters and residents which is
too strongly worded. 1t may be quite true
that it took the men of Anglo-Saxon race 500
years to acquire correct principles of politi-
cal government, and the habit of acting up
to them. But we must remember the
difference in the "start" they had from
that which has been given to the Hawaiian.
They had to work upwards out of all the
turmoil and ignorance of the dark ages,
with everything that was, humanity speak
- @NA AAAN
inoN1~ They had to evolve, as
,s+ - new know.
il were, out of themselves TINS DO
| ledge, and to learn by experience not only
what they needed, but also how to secure
it and keep it. Things have been very
different with the Hawaiian. These 500
with whom Mr.. Armstrong contrasts them,
have brought-they and their predecessors
here-the difficulty acquired political lore
with them. Among them there have been
some one hundred and fifty or more who
came here specially as missionaries, to teach
both Christianity and that social and .polit-
icaI order which the AnglO-SaxOu mind has
evolved under Christian teaching. The
latest and best of all Anglo-SaxOn develop
ment was brought here by men who were
themselves the Z" heirs of all the ages in the
foremost ranks of time" Receiving thus
directly, from men possessed of all these
advantages, instruction in political order
and the science of popular government, the
Hawaiian needs no 500 years of slow
development in which to learn these les
sons. The race that comes as n teacher
NAV have spent all that time in sclf-in-
struction. but now it should and can teach
all it knows in fifty years. Just so the
the general outline of the sciences which
have.taken thousands of years, ami the CO.
operating and consecutive labor of thou
sands of great minds, to bring to their pre-
sent condition.. can he learnt by anyone i'm
the days of his own youth.
Til re- 0u.ht not To he all the difficulty ia
the way that Mr.. Armstrong assumes.
There ought surely, if we read Alright the
Si.ns of the times, to he sufficient possibi-
lity of mutual understanding. Hawaiians
are speedily acquiring the English lam
guage and nave clearly shown by their
votes in the Assembly and by the petitions
to that body which came from all quarters
of the Islands that they desire that their
children should have an English education.
We nope to see the opportunity arrive for
writers to discuss SOCIAL and political sub
jects with the HaWaiiaus through the col
umns of newspapers published i'm the Eng
Iish language. And for the time being it
certainly is but wise and thoughtful on the
part of persons having charge OF the adj
ADMINISTRATION of affairs-of the task of crea-
ting and fostering a "healthy public senti-
mant"-it is but their duty in fact to take
always and in all things especial pains to
spread correct views and TO harmonic mat
tiers between the peoples. This we say is
the wise, the thoughtful course, the mani
fest dictate of duty, but it has not been fol-
lowed. This gentleman himself who speaks
so judiciously and appropriately on the sub
ject of the natives of these islands, who
claimed in one of his published u%tterances
that he inherited a love for the race-what
did he and his very able brother, General
Armstrong do in their late %sojourns in this
country ? Both cOntented themselves with
declaring in the English language that the
Kanaka is doomed and has not before him
more than fifty years of race life. He ~ho
I'm an after dinner speech during his tour
with His Majesty spoke of having played
as a bay with the King, should he not IN
returning to his native islands and the pen
ple of his inherited affection, have taken
pains to communicate Will these people to
address them, to appeal to them i'm their