The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-04-14


Although we are not prepared to
assert that even they are lacking in
vim, it would not be quite judicious
to proclaim their enterprise in un-
qualified terms. The thriftessness
of the negro is certainly notorious,
but in that respect he is not much
worse than the average Hawaiian.
Either of the two, African or Ha-
waiian, possesses the faculty of
enduring only present ills, aud not
flying to other ills he knows not Of,
as well as taking all the good the
gods afford, while it lasts. Looking
into and providing for the future are
not characteristic of either race.
No doubt, the antecedents and sur
roundings of the people have mostly
to do with their want of enterprise.
The Hawaiian, though physically
and mentally superior to the African,
is like him in one respect-he is one
of the human products of the tropics,
and the greatest Developments of
invention, energy and enterprise
have always thrived best in climates
of more or less severity; and when
such shoots appear within the tro-
pics, they are invariably transplants
from abroad. Inhabitants of a
country, like Hawaii, who can look
out over their cultivated lands, any
day in the year, and see ample sup
plies of food and other products
covering the earth, are not so likely
to be kept on their mcttle to provide
themselves with the means of sub
sistence, as the denizens of countries
in which, for several months of every
year, the whole land, however fertile
in its season, is divested of every
shred of vegetation. 1t is in those
severer climates, however, that man s
greatest achievements in industry,
art and science, are effected. In
them, too, the best developed social
conditions are found. Whether in
industrial and commercial activity,
in intellectual development, inven-
tive genius or social standing, the
afflicted people of the more rigorous
climates excel; but their having
already done so is no reason why
others more highly favored as TO
sun and air should not be able to
give an equally good account of
themselves, in time. Commerce,
learning, genius and society may
flourish under the tropics as well as
elsewhere and the same means en-
| ployed in other lands may be counted
on, if adopted, to produce the same
effects here.
The Hawaiian has been led, by
force of circumstances, to feel as il
the responsibility of directing affairs
rests wholly on foreign shoulders.
And no better test of progress car
be had than to see the race rising tC
due appreciation of the responsi.
blities of citizenship of a free
country, and of the immense value
of sustained individual industry
Whenever the native race develop:
sufficient capacity to get out ot
leading strings, value political in
stitutions at something more thar
the price of tax certificate, ant
realize that the highest conditions o,
social life are as attainable by then
as by other races; there will be ;
Hawaiian nationality in fact as wei
as in name. The Hawaiian is ia
enough beyond the primitive stag
to strive after the attainment of
much higher status than he holds a
present in his own country. 1t can
not be said of him as of Professo
Whites negro, that he is 'failur
as a skilled laborer," or that he i
illiterate. AS race, the Hawaiian
are possessed of much better mate
rial than has hitherto been full
utilized. And the elevation of tn
native race ought to be, if it is not
the greatest problem with which tn
legislature of this kingdom shoul
be called upon to grapple. Whethe
the approaching session will be
meeting of assembled wisdom " O