Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-01-11

fifty in width and forty in height Their
canoes are large, we'll cauked and painted,
safe and swift. Their mariners have good
knowledge of the consultations, and readily
undertake voyages of thousand miles, steer
ing by the stars They divide the horizon
into twenty-eight points, instead Of the thirty
wo Of our compasses, giving each name.
Their artisans weave in loom, from the fbres
of the banana plant, the neat and many
colored tinctures which form the native dress.
They have kind Of wiring symbols to
represent or recall names and events. They
have even a currency--discs Of shell, strung to-
gether likethecopper cash ofthe Chinese. Their
land mostly is in private ownership, by clearly
defined titles. They have not only settled gov
ernments in the different islands and groups, |
but an international code, or ''law of peace and |
war, better regarded and more humane than
that OF ancient Greece or modern Europe. No
war must be commenced without formal decla- |
ration, made by herald. The conqueror must
not destroy the fruittrees, which are the life Of
the vanquished. Women at all times are treat
ed with jealous respect, and hold in social es-
teen and usage an equal position with men.
All this is civilization, in its substance and
primary elements; and when we seek its origin,
we have not far to look. Northwest Of Micro
nesa, at no great distance, lie the Loo Choo
Islands and Japan, where we find all the traits
Of these islanders, combined with the wider
culture which the surroundings have made pos
sible; and when we see that the religion Of the
Micronesians is totally different from the fero-
cious superstitions which prevail elsewhere in
the Pacific, and is exactly the primitive rel-
gion of eastern Asia-=the worship of ancestral
spirts-we have no difficulty in tracing this
insular civilization to its natural source.
The seizure of these islands by any foreign
power is an act utterly without excuse Their
5 own governments amply sufficient for all
purposes for which governments are establish
ed. Most Of the islands have already been
Christianized by American missionaries; but
even in the heather groups, foreigners reside
with less fear Of peril than they would feel in
q Berlin or Madrid. The lowest order of states
! manship, which look only at what will pay,
iuot SVhuSihi aes5 hSSStOh. WIN dll lHGlI
natural beauty, the islands are of no value for
colonization. Most of them are of the low coral
formation, yielding little besides breadfruit and
cocoanuts--mere fiat and monotonous specks
Il or stretches Of land, on which no white man,
: except selfsacrifcing missionary, will will
d ingly live. The dozen of 'high islands" are all
o small--not one of them supporting more than
" ten thousand inhabitants. Every foot of level
d ground is occupied. The missionaries have had
of difficulty in securing space for their buildings
S, Except by extermnating the natives, there is
L. no room for white population. Thei com
h merce is and must always be, insignificant
al The traffic Of all Micronesia would not sustain
Iy one first-class mercantile house in London OIL
N New York. The expense of colonial estab
,e lishment would be unprodnctive burden or
\. the power which sustained it. Such has evi
Mt IDENTIFY been the opinion of Spain, and Of al
s. other maritime countries, until Prince Bis
al mark-the most visionary and unscenti6c O
= quest-in his ridiculous quest for colonies
a among all the unsuitable portions Of the globe
has been attracted by these pretty but proftles.
IN Islands. The German people, when they scruti
III nize his absurd acquisitions, may we'll say, a.
IN poor Goldsmith wrote, when offered profes
t. sorship without salary,
Fl Ts like giving us rufies when wanting shirt.
What is peculiarly noticeable is the fact that Of
all the great maritime nations, the two which
N have done least for the exploration of.these
o groups are the two which are quarelling about
= them. France, Russia, England and United
u States have all sent surveying expeditions, at
- great expense, to make charts and open the
Il way to commerce in these islands. American
y missionaries, Jealous and devoted men and
d women of the highest education and refinement
that our churches and seminaries can produce.
J have lived and taught among these people, with
. excellent results, for more than thirty years.
Some English and American traders, with a
II few French and Germans--and not, so far as
e is known, single Spaniard--are established
e among them. The islanders are fast improving
= nall the branches Of knowledge that can be
c useful to them. Five or six of their languages
have been reduced to writing, and many thou.
: sthuS VI tiic ptoplc nave learned 10 read.
y An excellent example has been set to the
e world in another part Of the North Pacific.
The Sandwich Islands were discovered by an
English navigator--Captain Cools-and were
e surveyed by another-Vancouver A Hawaii
an king actually placed his dominions under
n the protection of the British Crown. But with
II magnanimity and wisdom which cannot be
too highly commended, the British Govern.
IS ment has refused to interfere with the indie
, pendence Of the group, which has now taken
!, a respectable place among civilized nations,
0 under the silent but well-unders;ood safeguard
+ of England and the United States. The Caro-
, line Islanders certainly equal, if they do not
i surpass, the Hawaiians in the qualities which
people require maintaining good govern
S ment. Why should not the maritime powers
combine to protect, in their harmless indie
pendence, the gentle and hospitable people Of
/, this oceanic Switzerland Historians are
e agreed in holding that the Spanish conquest of
e Peru was disastrous revolution, which de-
stroyed happier social system and higher
t civilization than it founded. The humanity Of
, lOur aoa which hae .bol;ehaJ tL. L.. -