The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-08-16

acquiescence in the will Of kalaniopuu,
when ordered to retire to his own
estate and devote himself to the
sn,he terms rns T IN Which RekR he no.
lated to Kotzebue the Injurious conduct
OF certain Russian subjects, and the alarm
which their threats made in the name
amongst his people. These. and a score
OF other instances may be cited to show
.ne sef-control which this hero had ac-
opinion of his men of experience, which
was no doubt. one of the surest FONDA.
lions OF his power. OF the strong, sound
sense VIA. characterized his rule we
have many Instances. When he visited
his dominions, and went abroad with HIS
retainers, he saw how they ate up the
land iand, and then unlike other chiefs. he set
himself to correct this. He ordered the
cultivation OF fields so to provide be-
forehand for his own subsistence and that
OF me chiefs and people who accompa-
ana preservation of the country for his
posterity. When the sandal wood, which
formed at that time such source OF
riches to the country was being gath
cred, he commanded that the young sap
iings be preserved. His officers said: You
are old and must soon die, and we know
not whose VIII be the sandal-wood here
after He Indignantly replied Have I
not sons? To them belongs the young
| sandal-wood.' Had his successors been as
wise as he, this source of wealth might
I
day. Again, another instance of HIS at
| tention to the future. 1t was always n
great matter of interest to the Hawaiians
TO possess the beautiful feather cloaks
When the birds were caught for the sake
of the coveted feathers he would not al
low them TO be killed. He insisted that
they should be set free in order that their
feathers might grow again. and be there
Tor those who should come after him
HIS people recognized his wisdom and
moderation, and gave him their highest
In
how kamehamcha--this so-called barbar-
Gus chief-was quick to appreciate and to
seek to acquire for himself and his peo-
pie the skill Of the white men fin the me.
chanlcai arts, and especially in ship
building, from the moment that Il came
| under his notice. How quickly sprung
| up within him. as with Peter of Russia,
4 to acquire ships and to learn the art OF
constructing them. He goes himself, and
sends his young men to Vancouver to
| learn. He takes the shipwright's tools in
his own hands and assists and encour-
ages his young men in their work. Again,
! behold him when in the position of Caes-
ar. when he desired to invade Britain
when he too, wishes to invade another
| Island, ana has no war vessels. He goes
with Is own men into the forests; he ac-
companies and directs them as a MASTER
workman, and builds and launches
| fleet. Or again, when he stands on the
blum at Kohala, as represented in one of
| these tablets where he organizes and
| trains them, teaching them to form rap
luiy eHeCtlNe line OF battle from a
previous condition of apparent wreck His
character as a man I'm the domestic rela-
lions, Is most pleasingly set forth by Van
| couver In his account of the reconciliation
of kamehameha and Kaahumanu; of his
| loving articles to bring 1t about and his
| happy feelings at the reunion. His nag
nanimity Is shown In this instance. Ke-
Tan.an, /, a powerful chieftain. had
feated and he. with some followers were
brought into the presence of the conquer
! or. The vanquished chief said: Here we
are. and II you command us to lift up our
heads, we lift them up. II you say bow
down In the dust. then we bow down.
And II you say die. we die. kamehame-
ha bade his fallen foes return in peace to
| their homes. In no particular. however
Is the sagacious character of the hero of
Polynesia more markedly displayed than
IN MS relations with white men, and in
| his advice to his SUCCESSORS and followers
to maintain forever friendly relations
| with the new Corners. He, who had tens
or thousands of trained warriors at his
command, and saw the white man only
| as chance stranger, yet he understood
| and appreciated the power of the foreign
race. He would not oppose them I'm vain,
| like savage Indian and Asiatic chiefs. His
| prudence and self-command We're con-
spicuously shown in the case of n foreign
| commander who had, In revenge for an
injury done him, enticed alongside of his
vessel and wantonly destroyed a hundred
and twenty natives of Maui. When a
small vessel, which also belonged to this
man, had been seized by some of his peo-
| pie. and the crew with two executions
| massacred. he took compass care OF
the escaped men, and ordered that the
vessel itself should be hauled up on the
| beach and protected by awnings until its
owner should come to fetch II away.
Every characteristic of this Hawaiian
hero indicates a man of pre-eminent cour-
age, of prudent forecast of correct judg-
ment and humane spirit, and presents In
| fine the eminent character of one who
was an honor to the whole human race