The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-11-21


c. S. Kynnersley seconded that the
original motion be amended, viz,
"That the above resolution be en-
bodied in two memorials { y TO Her
Majesty the Queen ~ to the Legis-
lative Assembly of the Hawaiian
Kingdom, and that the President
be empowered to sign and forward
the same on behalf of the Diocesan
synod" Carried unanimously.
In moving the above resolution the
Rev. Mr.. Barnes said.
| wish to say few words on each
of the three heads of the proposed
resolution. First as to the necessity
of the authorization of remedial
measures. am fully aware that il
is claimed that the Board of Health
are doing their duty in this respect
in securing the services of resident
physician at the Settlement, and from
time to time OF specialist also.
But though they do so, it is the evil
dent and natural wish of the patients
themselves and of their friends, that
nothing should be left untried which
holds out the faintest hope for the
discovery of cure. 1t is not any
longer an article of medical faith
that the curative secrets of nature
have all been discovered, or that any
disease is to be considered as beyond
cure. Many persons, moreover, con-
fidently affirm that they have found
even leprosy amenable TO treatment.
But were the hope much less than
it is, there is most important rea-
son why the lepers should see and
believe, what at present they are I'M
able to Go, that the people of this
country are in earnest in their ex-
preston of sympathy. We know the
value of hope in our ordinary condi-
tons of life; we know that with
hope to sustain him man may Crap
pie bravely with the gravest Difficult
ties, and often wrest success out of
the arms of defeat. And in the case
of those suffering from this disease
it is much more essential that the af-
ficted person be not allowed to sink
into despair. Let man once regard
himself as doomed creature, in a
hopeless condition, that henceforth
and until death comes to release him
he must linger out most wretched
existence, a living death, how terri
bly, miserable is his condition. The
disease, with which if he had but a
ray Of hope Of ultimate recovery he
might have grappled and kept within
bounds, gains rapidly upon him and
the doom he breads yet cannot es-
cape draws speedily on, And too
often, if his latter days are not spent
in cursing his fate, in execrat-
ing the laws which have exiIed him
from his home and friends, and in
reviling his Maker, he sinks uto his
grave in a not less unhappy condition
of dull apathy and sullen despair.
OF no less importance is the second
point on which | ask an expression of
your opinion. The establishment of
the Kapiolani Home at Kakaako
followed by the Bishop Home at the
settlement rolled away much re-
proach. The devoted efforts of the
franciscan Sisters are beyond all
praise. But none are more ready
than the Sisters themselves to &C
knowledge their inability to save
from career of immortality the child.
rem when they reach certain age.
For the residence in the Homes is
voluntary, and the Sisters have no
authority to keep any who think
they are old enough to take care of
themselves. And what the Sisters
complain of is that their girls are
constantly enticed away for immoral
purposes, their very innocence being
reason why they are so enticed.
And the authorities declare them
selves helpless, and by way of en-
couraging the Sisters tell them that
it is useless for them to try to keep
the girls after they reach the age of
thirteen or fourteen, that they are
bound TO 60 astray. just think of it.
Children, little girls, are torn from
the protection of their homes, from
their natural guardians, and that is
the fate their parents must look
forward to for them. Set down in a
place which, added to its other
horrors, is hell of >lawlessness and
lust, and the Government of this
Christian country cannot prevent
their ruin! and it might happen to
some of our children.
But l must pass to the third point.
Surely at this age, it is an outrage to
common decency that person whose
only sign of leprosy may be muscu-
lar contraction shall be sent to
place, TO mix and associate with
those whose aspect is sufficient to
send shudder through the frame of
a healthy person.
My argument under this head is
the same as under the first. 1t is
acknowledged that for the ameliora
ton of this disease cheerful sur
roundings and hopeful condition of
mind are essential. How can a
person torn from home and friends,
q sense Of hardship and injustice