The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-07
How the Kanakas Have Dwindled.

REV. C. S. Pond In Congregationalist.l
There seems to be biological formula
for the decline of an insular fauna and
people before the more vital stock OF con-
tinental plants, animals and men. Ger
tainly in the present instance the rate OF
depopulation has been melancholy in
deed. Capt. Cook and his companions:
from the multitudes who everywhere
thronged his vessels at various points
arong the coasts, estimated the inhabl-
tants at 100000. When the missionaries
began operations in 1920, and diffused
themselves over the islands, they insti-
tuted systematic observation of the
people, and in 1928 the number was COM
puted at IA, 900 loss in round numbers
of 100000 in 40 years. But even the
more conservative estimate of Jarves,
100000 in 1880, still leaves an annual
diminution Of 1000 people during the first
40 years.
The causes apparent for this reign of
death were war, famine, pestilence, OPP
preston and the vices of the white man.
Jarves speaks of the principal island,
Hawaii. as suffering in 1898 all the miser-
les of protraoted warfare, with food
scarce, many furnishing, some burnt
alive for stealing food for their perishing
families, 5000 of the troops of Kane
hameha already lost ands i'll larger num-
bers of the enemy. Pestilence follows in
the track of war and famine. For in
stance, anlepidemic of a peculiar character
broke out in Oahu in 1904, which spread.
over the island. Multitudes persisted,
among whom were some of the king s
chief counselors, and 800 dead bodies are
said to have been carried out to sea in
one day from Waikiki residence among
the people for 40 years: During the 40
years that have resided here have
known thousands of defenseless human
beings cruelty massacred in their exter-
minating wars, I have seen thousands
of my fellow beings offered in sacrifice to
| their idol gods. l have seen this large
island. once filed with inhabitants,
| dwindle down to it's present few num-
bers through wars and disease, and | am
persuaded that nothing but Christianity
can preserve them from total extinction"
So writes a companion and white subject
| of Kanlehameha.
Regarding the intercourse of whites
with natives, the unbridled license of
many accorded with the famous
savings Rof the buccaneers, s'There
is no God west of Cape Horn"
For 40 years whaler, sailor and
adventurer acted out their desires unre-
strained either by law or religion. There
were, indeed, some men of noole princi-
pies among those who during that period
visited the newly discovered paradise.
But the majority could see no reason for
the restraint Of virtue among savages.
| The result, in the words of Fernandez,
was death and indescribable misery to
the poor Hawaiians. y But the advent of
the American mission in 1920 soon
brought new era. The moral maXims
of the Bible, diligently inculcated by the
incoming teachers, before many years
rose to public authority. King and
chiefs forbade what had before been
freely allowed. and there TRANSFERRED a
moral revolution perhaps unparalleled
by any entire people beyond the bounds
Of the Pacific ocean.
1t is not claimed even at the present
| day the Hawaiians are immaculate.
| When we consider the plague spots in
| the cities of America and elsewhere we
| sorrowfully confess that the Anglo
Saxon, even, has little occasion to boast
though with the advantage of 1000 years
of Christian discipline We must give
| the Hawaiians time. But for the past 10
| years they have been purer, freer, hap
| pier and subject to a smaller percentage
! of annual loss of population.