The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-03-20

planted and established, with the free
consent and eager encouragement o.
those natives and without the shed.
ding Of blood, the Christian ordinance
Of marriage, supplanting polygamy; q
reverance fer the character of women
and a respect for their rights; the
Christian Sabbath and freedom OF
religious faith and worship, as foun-
datiOns of society and of the state;
universal education, including the
kings aud the peasantry; temperance
in place of the orgies of drunkenness
that were all-pervading; and the sep
arate holdings of lands upon which
the people built their homes. In do
ing these benevolent works the Amer.
lean missionary did not attempt to
assume the powers and functions of
political government. AS education,
enlightenment, and the evident bene-
fits of civilization revealed to those in
authority the necessity of wise and
faithful cOunsels in building up and
regulating the government TO meet
those new conditions, the kings in-
vited some of the best qualified and
most trusted of these worthy men to
aid them in developing and conduct
. ing the civil government. As a predi-
cate for this work they freely consent
ed 10 and even suggested the giving
up OF some of their absolute powers
and 10 place others under the con-
straint of constitutional limitations.
They created an advisory council and
legislature and converted Hawaii
from an absolute despotism into Il
land of law. The cabinet ministers
thus chosen from the missionary
element were retained in Office DUR
ing very long periods, thus estab-
fishing the confidence of the kings
and the people in their integrity,
wisdom and loyalty to the Govern
ment. No charge of detection or dis
honesty was ever made against any of
these public servants during the reign
of the Kamehamehas, nor indeed at
any time. They acquired property in
moderate values by honest means,
and labored to exhibit to the people
the advantages of industry, frugality,
economy and thrift.
The progressive elevation of the
country and OF the people from the
very depravity of paganism into an
enlightened and educated common
wealth and the growth of their indus
tries and wealth will be seen at a
a glance in the statements of the most
important events and in the tables
showing the most important results
of their work and influence, which
are set forth in the evidence accom-
panying this report. This array of I'M
disputed facts shows that, with Chris
tianity and education as the basis,
fhnFa Il Iyax ha
rapid and successful improvement in
political, industrial and commercial
conditions that has marked the course
of any people in Christendom.
In the message of President Tyler to
Congress he says:
"The condition of those islands has
excited good deal of interest, which
is increasing by every successive proof
that their inhabitants are making
progress in civilization and becoming
more and more competent to maintain
regular and orderly government.
They lie in the Pacific Ocean, much |
nearer to this continent than the other,
and have become an important place |
for the refitment and provisioning of |
and European vessels
lowing to their locality and to the |
course of the winds which prevail in |
this quarter of the world the Sandwich |
Islands are the stopping place for al
most all vessels passing from con-
tinent to continent across the Pacific |
Ocean. They are especially resorted |
to by the great numbers of vessels of |
the United States which are engaged |
in the whale fishery in those seas.
The number of vessels of all sorts and
The amount of property owned by citi-
zens of the United States which are
ound in those islands in the course of
| year are stated probably with suffi-
:ient accuracy in the letter of the
agents.
Just emerging from a state of bar
)arism, the Government of the islands
s as yet feeble; but its dispositions
appear to be just and pacific, and it
eems anxious to improve the condi-
ions of its people by the introduction
# knowledge, of religious and moral
means of education, and |
he arts of civilized life.n
In the House of Representatives this |
ubject was referred to the Committee
N Foreign Affairs, and Hon. John @.
adams, in concluding his report upon |
NC oupJSCti say
at is subject of cheering contem-
lation to the friends of human i'm {
and virtue that, by the
mild and gentle influence of Christian
harity, dispensed by humble mission ,
ries of the gospel, unarmed with sec
lar power, within the last quarter of
century the people of this group of
Stands have been converted from the {
1west debasement of idOlotry to the
lessings of the Christian gospel;
nited under one balanced govern S
leDt; rallied to the fold of civilization f
y written language and constitu- l
on, providing security for the rights ]
persons, property, and mind, and |
lvested with all the elements of right /
nd power which can entitle them to Q
e acknowledged by their brethren of C
ne human race as a separate and in e
ependent community. To the con- i
of their Acknowledgement b
lie people of the North American &
Mon are urged by an interest of their L
Wn deeper than that of any other C
1rtion of the inhabitants of the earth e
by virtual right of conquest, not L
yer the freedom of their brother man e
Y the brutal arm of nhvsical nouar |