The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-05
Peace and Prosperity.
BY HARRIS KNIGHT.

Sh pSesSS PAtASA
pies, and the people have prospered SC
vet a century since the missionaries
commenced the work of reclaiming
them from their wars and other savage
practices, they have now a constitu.
tional monarchy, an excellent civl!
code, a well observed Sabbath, good
public schools, and q more extensive
commerce in proportion to their pop
ulation than anNother country in the
world. In 1885 they exported S577
tons of sugar land the quantity Is
yearly increasingly, 1000 tons of rice,
and nearly 100000 worth of bananas,
while hides, wool, goat-skins, molasses
and coffee are largely exported. Hon.
olulu, the capital, has population OF
twenty thousand, and its buildings
will compare favorably with American
cities of the same size. The popula-
ton of the seven islands in 1888 was
S4.575, a little over one-half being OF
unmixed native blood. about quarter
Chinese, an eighth Portuguese, 1000
British and American, and the re-
miander Of various nationalities. In
the revolution that occurred in this
mixed population in 1888, although
their passions were violently aroused
on both sides for time, yet a radical
change in the constitution was arrang-
ed without the loss of a life or the FIR
ing of gun.
The Peace policy was not adopted in
this nation until some time after civili-
zation had spread considerably among
them, so that the government had
forts, soldiers, and war vessels; but
the late Titus Coan (who had charge
of the mission for over thirty years, ,
reports in 1888: "Our forts have all
been demolished and their material
utilized, and our war vessels have been
converted into commercial uses. The
nation has now only one small battery,
for saluting, on top of an ola crater,
behind Honolulu. Aoout
70, 900 communicants have been gather
ed: all the children from five to- six
teen wears old are in schools. and we
have high schools, select, and boarding
school, etc. We have five island evan
gelical association, one general assocla-
tion, and Hawaiian missionary board,
whose receipts for the past year were
S34. 600; and we have missions in tie
Marouesas, the Gilbert, and the Mar
shall Archipelagoes, with more than q
thousand converts.
These improvements have been &C.
complished under a Gospel preaching
that did not stifie its true sentiments
on the war question, for fear OF dis
pleasing influential hearers as is so fire.
ouently the case in more powerful ma
tions, where too many of the ministers
are las far as war is concerned) Ike
Isaiah's "dumb dogs that cannot
bark" lisa. Sc: 10y.
These peace principles have been put
to q severe test, for on three occasions
French government has attempted
to exact unjust demands military by
force. To protect their people from i'll
temperance the Hawaiian government
wisely prohibited the importation OF
intoxicants, and as the law interfered
with the ill-gotten gains of some
french merchants. and as Hawaii was
o weak kingdom, French force was
sent to demand the repeal OF this law,
and also of another law that was dls'
tasteful to them. They so terrified the
people by barbarous threats that
thew paid $40 900 as compensation for
supposed injuries and signed treaty
agreeing to repeal the laws that had
oiyen offence. The commander OF the
expedition probably did not threaten
any more than the rules OF war would
allow: but some irresponsible persons
made MANY of the more ignorant por-
tion of the people believe that their lit
tile children wonld be fired from the
cannons. and other outrages inflicted.
The consequence was thaG su1lclent
influence was brought on the govern
ment to induce compliance Win the
unjust demands made of them.
fhe French, however, soon Droke
their part of the obligation, which re-
leased the Hawaiian's from theirs /; and
thew accordingly re-enacted the laws
which were so necessary to the peace
and prosperity Of the people. The
French again sent q force to compel
the repeal of the new laws, but this
time the Hawaiians refused to submit
to their tyrannical enemies, and the
French destroyed several thousand
dollars worth of property III hopes OF
enforcing compliance. The Hawaiian
government, however, rigidly adhered
to their position, and would neither re-
peal the law nor make forcible resist
ance to the aggressors. There were
many of the people who urged an
armed resistance, but the government
prompted by the missonarles) sent . =
proclamation throughout the group OF
islands calling upon the churches and
people to pray for deliverance anu
avoid fighting. The French soon be-
came discouraged in continuing con-
test which would be sure to bring dls-
grace upon themselves, and did not ap-
pear likely to accomplish the o3]ect
thew had in view, so they retired.
ANY resistance would probably have
much increased the destruction OF pro-
perty. and would have decreased the
disgrace of the agressOrs.
The British, at another time, TOOK
possession of the islands with o small
fripate. but there was no resistance.
The invader was monarch for hVe
months, and the British flag fioated
over custom house, fort and post. But
public opinion in the islands and Eu-
rome brought down the British flag
and sent up the royal Hawaiian sig
nal.
To the Christian Readers of the Mes
senger OF Peace.
Ispend many sad hours in my lonely