The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-14
REPLY TO Mr. THEO. DAVIES.


No direct or extended reply will be
here presented to the very courteous
and friendly observations of Mr..
Davies. 1t was absolutely impossible
for him to have anticipated the
present state of affairs, with the re-
suits of recent actions, and the dis
closures attending them. We have
all begun to learn much. ItwOuld be
ungenerous, if not unfair, to press the
advantage which this obviously gives
my side of this controversy. Six
weeks ago I should myself hardly
have contested Mr.. Davies dismissal
of the question of annexation from
the sphere of practical politics." so
far as any immediate or speedy action
was in question. Now we find our
selves, as it were, living in another
world. The controversies of the past
are themselves largely becoming I'M
practical.
Much survives, however, as to the
general duty of Loyalty. 1t is I'M
doubtedly true of that particular class
of Hawaiian citizens to which / be-
long that, for good and sufficient
reasons, any remains of that very
earnest loyalty which was formerly
ours towards the Hawaiian monarchy
had several years ago ceased to exist.
In loyalty, however, to Hawaii itself,
to the well-being and to the honor
of our dear native land, we are not
lacking. Neither do we lack loyal
and tender regard to the welfare of
the native race whom our fathers
came here to uplift so successfully as
they did into the light and freedom of
Christian civilization. Of late years
we have continually seen, with dis
may, both the honor of Hawaii and
the moral well-being of the natives
brutality trOdden into the mire by
monarchy blindly bent on maintain
ing its arbitrary power, and I'M
scrupulous in using the vilest means
to that end. n
For myself, I will say that among
all the great advantages which | be-
lieve will accompany the annexation
of Hawaii to the United States, there
is no advantage so welcome in the
prospect as that of the immense rein
forcement that it will bring to higher
and better influences for the elevation
of the native Hawaiians The sue
cessors to the work of the old mission
aries, in all their efforts to foster and
develop worthy Christian character
in the native churches founded by our
fathers, have found seemingly hope
less obstacle in the heatheniZinp
efforts of Royalty. From the Palace
has, for the last fifteen years espe-
cially, and for thirty years in all, pro-
ceeded an organized and vigorous
system of endeavors to corrupt the
churches as well as the whole of the
native people with the allied practices
ofsorcery, idolatry and the hula.
The object of this system of heath
enizing effort, the chief activity in
which was Kalakaua's, was a politi-
cal one. His aim was, first, last and
always, to exercise absolute and arbi-
trary power, despite all constitutional
limitations. To this end the voters
must be controlled. They must be
held in personal fear of himself and
his satellites. ] The ancient rulers of
the Hawaiians held the people in
thrall by the arts of the sorcerers or
kahunas. Kalakaua was determined
to do the same. He did not originate
this policy, but inherited it from Ka-
mehahams. ", and greatly developed
it. He became himself a leading
sorcerer. He made himself god, and
was frequently propitiated by sacri-
fees and oblations. The private court
etiquette was modified by forms in
acknowledgment of Kalakaua's divin-
ity. In 1886, through the Legislature
which was entirely his creature, he
established by law a Hawaiian
Board of HEALTH" which was simply
legalized corps of kahuna sorcerers,
to whom he thus lent an enormous
additional authority to terrorize the
common people. He also by fraud
and deception secured at the same
time from his Privy Council, charter
incorporating the "Hale Naua." This
association has posed before foreigners
as species of Masonry, with quasi
masonic forms and regalia. 1t is
really a strong and widely ramified
organization for the propagation of
idolatry and sorceryr including adora-
ton and sacrifices to the new and
great god at the palace.
To recount the half of the late kings
known actions in this direction would
take too much space. One of the most
unpleasant features of his work was
his systematic corrupting and terror
izing of our Protestant native
churches through their lunas or dea-
cons.
In illustration of this system of his,
/ will take the nearest case, that of
Kaumakapili Church in this city. As
the result of royal heathenizing, there
is probably not one member in five,
perhaps not one in ten, of that church
who does not live in mortal dread of
the powers of the kahunas, and who
does not occasionally perform acts of
idolatry. The reputed chief agent in
terroriZing this large and important
church, has been their leading deacon,
Alapai, who has held important and
profitable civil offices by the kings
favor. He is the person recently
specified by Mr.. j. S. Emerson as the
husband of the noted sorceress Maria
| Alapai, who keeps an unihipili, OF
familiar spirit of great and deadly
powers.
The pastor of the church is very
devout and prudent man. He has for
long years, painfully and perhaps too
timOrously combated this CHASTITY
enemy, which was supported by the
whole force of the neighboring Palace.
The late Rev. James Bicknell con-
tributed most essentially to the reve-
lation of the painful state of things in
that church. To bring Alapai to trial
for his crime of idolatry before the
church, was practically impossible