The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-18
A HERO DEFENDED.
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SPEAKS
FOR FATHER DAMIEN

FOR FATHER DAMIEN
A RavoltinR Accusation from the Rev. O
M.HTds ana tho Rev. DR.. II. n. oage-Mr
Stevenson Overthrovs Their Calunnies
and JustIaes tho Sainted Martyr.
SYDNEY. Feb. as 1890.
Sir: It may probably occur to you that we
have met and Visited and oonversed: on my
aide with interest You may remember that
you have done me several courtesies for which
was prepared to be grateful. But there are
duties which come before gratitude and Of
fences which Justly divide friends, far more
acuuaintances. Your letter to the Rev. H. B.
Gage ia a document which. in my sight II you
had filed me with bread when was starving.
II you had sat up to nurse my father when he
lay a-dyinR, would yet absolve me from tho
bonds OF gratitude. You know enough, doubt
less, OF the process OF canonization, to be
aware that, q hundred years after the death Of
Damien. there will appear a man charged with
the painful Office OF the DEVILS advocate. After
that noble brother OF mine. and OF all frail clay,
shall have lain a century at rest one shall ac-
cuse. ono defend him. Tho circumstance is
unusual that the Devils advocate should be q
volunteer, should be q member Of a sect lmme-
diately rival, and should make haste to take
upon himself his ugly office ere the bones are
cold: unusual. and OF taste which
shall leave my readers free to qualify;
unusual. and to me inspiring. II l have
at all learned the trade Of using words to con-
vey truth and TO arouse emotion, you have at
last furnished me with subject. For it is in
the interest OF all mankind and the cause OF
public decency in every quarter Of the world.
not only that Damien should he righted but
TINT you and your letter should be- displayed
in their true colors to the public eye.
To do this properly. must begin BY quoting
~ \ hail At.
vour uttorance from several noin,s NJ v,sv Al
v,ne and human. IN tho course NJ which sbnlI
attemnt 70 draw apain and with mora snecia.
cation tho character OF the dead saint whom II
has pleased Won to yillfy: so much being done.
/ shall say farewell to you forever.
HoSotuLu, Aug 2 1880.
Ren H. B. Gage
v.,h.r n"n,,sn ean ony r.nv mn, Va nno aOUus
~. snrnrI',a A. ~. .,,ray,S.n, n.r,nOn.rI",.
,on, ss no was mos. ssny Tn.
simple truth ia he was a coarse dirty man hoAdstrong
and bigoted He was not sent to MolokuL but went
,h.,. ,hout orders, did NOT s,Av n, ,bs lamar ,.Is
ment 'oe,oFs nc oa1 pS. ereu,a,oa
devoted the lepers) and he often Honolulu.
lie had no hand in the reforms and improvements in.
Vo. ..oni,.d M r,san. ,So.. U-o.,n., w.
as occasion required ana means were PROVIDED lie
the eproSy which he died should attributed to his
vices and caressnesa Others have done much for the
eper gu. own ministers ,ho Government physicians
ana DO iortn ou' ue '' 'n0 e~'noii' iuea Oh merit
a ~ o's ana, ot,- n,,n ,o... w. a., n'"N
must draw at the outset on NV nrirsts Hnov,.
edge Of the signatory and his sect 1t NAV
ofIend others. scarcaIv Won who baya hs.n a.
oneno otnets, ecSi ,,, ,ou' VINO nave oeen 30
your rivals. And this Is perhaps the moment
,vhan nav hast oYnl.in 70 Won tha oharno,ns
OF what you are to read: conceive you as q
man quite beyond and below the roticences of
Siviity IN WIN " wnas measure you mete. with
that shall 1t be measured you again: with you
at last rejoice to feel the button Off the foil
ana 10 plum e homeai And II IN auGht thatl
nn. say whom Si0 resnect and your e1
aIeOti t t cun Uut UIiea thei my regret
ior o nter.s az fa pr1 1v n ed
srst ha nG.sd trne b snyennG from me me
The main WITH which hev ren vomr WIZ
is not ,t6s haacman. but the Criminal. that
YnHM hnInng ar - ,Ie saot ha,.vo
and that in Which, my ancestors iaSoeedywbcH
centionei adyantaEe in the issnds Of H AN
ihe tirst missionSries cams: they found tne
iaith they were embrsced. almost on tbeiT ar
rival. with enthusiasm; what troubles they
n HaWaaps and to Sese o ast WINES s tnaa
lin a rough fpureI In the shoes OF God This ia
not the place 10 enter into the degree or causes
OF their failure such as IL ia Onn elenent
alone is pertinent and must here be pIainIy
dealt with. In the course OF their eyangeIical
calling, they-or too many OF tLemNprew rial
1t may be news to you that the houses OF mia
sion aries are a cause Of knocking on the streets
OF Honolulu. Ii will at least be news TO Won
that when returned your civil visit the driver |
OF my cab commented on the siHe the taste
and the comfort OF your home. ii would have
been news certainly to myself had any one told |
mo that afternoon that / should 1.-Two 10 drag
such matter into print. But you see. sir. how |
you degrade better men to your own level: and |
IL is need lul that those who are to nudge he |
twiXt you and mo, betwixt Damien and the
devils advocate should understand your let
ter to have been penned In a house which
could raise and that very iustly the envy ami
the comments Of the passers-by, / link 10
employ Il rhrase OF yours which | admirel II
shOuld be attributed TO Won that Won have
neIer visited the scene OF Dnmion's life and
death. Ii you had, and had recalled it. and
looked nhont yoIIr fIoasnnt rooms evan vnnr
nen erhans would have been sthyed ~" 'Ou-
our sect and remrmber, as lar Hs anv sect
avowI me- il Is min al has not done iii in n world
Iy sense in tile Hawaiian kinxdoiu. When