The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-06-23
The Religions Press.

Last Saturday we read a most savage
letter in a weekly contemporary, denouncing
an the most uumeasured terms what the
writer was pleased To- call "the silent non
eommittal, cowardIy course pursued by the
alleged religious newspapers printed in
English here in Honolulu" They are taken
to task-for what? For not denOuncing the
coronation ceremonies; for not condemniug
the violation of the Sabbath, which the
writer intimates is a growing evil (not be
cause the post office is open on that day, or
that people ride to church or elsewhere, but
that 'Picnics," yachting parties" and
parades " are indulged inJ. The religious
press is abused because it did not mix itself
up in the Madras muddle, and finally be-
cause it did not sit down severely Oh the
Government that would dare to grant
liquor license for saloon opposite place
of worship In short, the English religious
press Is abused for not taking sides with
the opposition to the Government 1t is not
scolded because il chooses to remain neutral
on political questions, neither is it suggested
that il should lend its support to the up
holding of a constitutional government,
and strengthen the hands of those who are
doing all they can to carry out the instruc
tions of the Legislature of the Kingdom,
but Y. Y. II. loses his temper fearfulIy be-
cause the editors OF the Friend and Angii-
can Church Chronicle do not plunge into the
political puddle in which he croaks. We
do not know that We can echo the voice of
public opinion better than by quoting the
spologistic comments of the editor of the
journal in which Y. Y. rs letter appeared,
on the clustering tone of the communica-
ton. The comment is that Hundreds of
thousands of honest, honorable, able and
fearless men believe that churches and pas
tors and religious papers, Z such, ought not
to mix or NEEDLE in politics. with which We
agree; but we would like to add little
more. Suppose the pastos of IA church, who
happened to be the editor of public jour
nal, should be visiting the prison, and,
instead of confining himself to the task of
bettering the spiritual condition of the per
sons confined there, should dilate upon the
wickedness of a government that dared
deprive them of liberty, or should incite
the cOnviets te rebel against durance in
which they were placed, would any sensi-
BILE man think for "A moment of upholding
SUCH a minister that in his course? And
yet X. Y. Il. has just "a good reason for
carping at the religious editors for not do
ing this, Is he has for scOlding.t them for not
opposing the constitutional acts of the Gov
eminent in another form.
Suppose that one Of these ministers of the
gospel should visit the leper settlement and
there ineit. the unfortunate lepers TO rebel
against the confiuements they are subjected
to, who is there that would attempt to JUS
tify such all attempt? And yet, y. Y. y.
would have these ministers of the gospel
interfere IN other matters for political pur-
poses, and preach the doctrine of revolution
and resistance to- the law aud its admins
traitors here, aud thus st the example OF
insubOrdinatiOn to- hundreds who now rest
under the ban Of the law. 1t is true that re-
ligious, as well as secular papers should be
bold in uphOlding the right and condemn
ing the wrong; and it is especially true Of
the religious sheets that they should be
non-pdrtizaa. y. Y. II. would have those
publishers denounce certain things that he
points out. In doing 50 he may be carry
ing out Buffers notion, and
.-COndone the sins inclined TO
By damning those We have no mind to-