The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-02-20
WHAT CORRESPONDENTS THINK
A Plea for the Much Abused Mis-
sionaries' Sons.


conclusions, they should consider
those Transactions in the light Of the
conditions which existed at the time
they took place and not Of decades
later.
As an instance Of the kind, may be
cited the well worn political clap trap
that, the missionaries" or mission
aries sons,n according TO the latest
version, have absorbed all the land
of the poor innocent natives for q
mere song"
Now, in view Of the fact that men
Of INSCRIPTIONS character are TO be
found in all parts OF the world, it may
be conceded as exceedingly probable
that the native has, in some instances,
been prevailed on, TO part with his
real estate for price below its actual
value. That such transactions are
chargeable 70 the "missionariesr or
missionaries Children the writer
will assume the responsibility of deny
ing. Every man, be he missionary or
missionaries son or ranting scoffer,
hiss the right TO make 8 purchase at
as low figure as he is able to secure
il, provided, land here is the crucial
test of honesty-provided that, in so
doing, he has not resorted 10 deception
or taken advantage OF paipable ignor-
ance TO reduce the consideration to a
figure which he knows to be far below
its real value. Who shall stand as
judge betwixt buyer and seller, of the
precise value of snyproperty of fluctu-
ating or unstable value?
That is entirely q matter for the two
parties TO decide between themselves,
and no man is without the privilege
of consulting friend, if he is unwill-
ing to rely on his own individual
judgement. But, TO come to the point
on the subject of frauds and land valu-
ationS. / will venture TO characterize
this hue and cry ostensibly made on
behalf of the "poor ignorant native"
as the Sheerest nonsense and TO assert
that, in the majority of cases he has
proved himself 10 be not only capable
of looking out for his own interests In
such matters, but in many cases, of
oyerstepping the bounds of sharp bust
ness practice and perpetrating deli
berate, premeditsted, cunningly de-
vised frauds and attempts to fraud,
not only on the foreigner whom
he might in his i'll will consider
fair game and who has with too
great credulity taken the "poor
guileless native "phantasm at its
repuied face value, but on his
own friends and nearest relatives,
without 3 twinge of conscience. Let
cane planters and others, missionaries,
some of them, in the sense that they
were at least kindly disposed toward
and -
honestly with him, relate their exper-
true charge of fraud lies
Let the carping critic take now into |
the values of lands in
the Hawaiian sovereignty, and bear |
III mind that when portion of the |
royal domain, as result of Emission
aryn influence, was first relinquished to |
the people and thrown on the market |
torty-five years ago, more or less, no |
industries had been estab-
.ished TO give value TO real estate. The |
abOrigine was not sufficiently enlight- |
aned TO appreciate the value of the
then offered him. That |
De bought land at all, was due in |
many cases 10 the urgent representa-
ions OF his much-abused friend, the
who further extended his
good offices in surveying these acres,
md in the capacity OF agent, seeing
hat the titles were duly recorded and
delivered.
The poor ignorant native paid al
he rate Of s.! cents 10 SLIGO an acre
nto the Government treasury for his
That they ever rose in
Talue was due to the enterprise of
missionaries children and other
aliens, who, it appears, should have
'een rigidly suppressed or graciously
,ermitted only to furnish brains,
,ravn and capital free gratis, for the
,ure enjoyment OF seeing the kanaka
evel in unezrned wealth. Since that
ime he has, as the spirit of bargain
ng, the pressure Of necessity, or desire |
Or unbridled indulgence, moved him,
old the same lands at prices ranging
rom 600 and upward, thirty wears
go, 10 upward Of $1,000 an acre with
q the past ten years, according TO the
ise in values caused by the industrial
above alluded to
Has the poor unsophisticated native
old his lands for song? Has their
ise IN value been due TO any enter
rlse or thrift Of his own? Has a
Fould-oe purchaser no right To offer
u1hclent lnduesment % the hOIier Of
esirzble property 10 AT with il? Is
not for the owner Of the same to
hoose between the ,nekels aul the
cal estzteZ i EO- the whole country |
enehtted 0y being Ia tine possession
! those who euhzHce its value by
making y p-Oductiye2 Does not the
alive reap largely o. this benefit?
81 /. Be noted that he has in many
zses lost his land D. simply sduander-
~ II Of his own free viii, and that
his habit Is q proyerbial trait Of
alive character. He knows no self
sstEzint, and whether he has Sill
ls pocket or 5000, he will get nd of
with about equal facility.
IL L 10 Be expected Of q certain class
people some Of whom, however Z
lueh travelled and enlightened they
lay DS, have never been able TO dis-
yyer Christian man in the course
their Esnderings over the globe, or q
see that missionary ever did any
hing bit live in idle luxury (ss thew
le2eH or IA Hfzez~u -rs-<rl =. /