The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-19
COL. PARK ER'S OPINION.


an interview of its representative with
Colonel Parker, on the social condi-
tions here. AS might have been eX-
pected it contains much vigorous
thought. No one visiting the Islands
as a professional educator, could bet
ter present than he external views
of the needs of the races here. Brief as
his visit was he made a quick and
close analysis of the situation, al
though not wholly correct. His esti-
mate of the native character and capa-
city is extremely complimentary to the
natives, though further experience
would modify his estimates very ma
teriaIly.
He claims that the missionaries were
mistaken in their diagnosis of the ma
tive character. He uses these words:
"They saw no good in the native and
tried to graft on them their own type
aof Christianity. They failed. The ma
tives were in the end broken in spirit
and became indoIent."
This statement involves two PROPOSE
tions, one of which is probably true.
The other is not true or does not con
tain the whole truth.
The missionaries accepted the preva-
lent theological doctrine of the times
in which they lived. Man was believed
to have fallen through Adams trans
gression and there was no good in him.
STba tbooryy of Gin accent
ed in full by the churches that support
ed the missionaries. In their opinion
there was but one way to save" the
natives, as we'll as the New Englander,
and that was by accepting belief in the
Atonement. Racial instincts, the tradi-
lions of centuries, the iron grasp of
superstitions, it was believed, would
disappear at once almost, on the ac-
ceptance of this belief. Conversion was
not so much a question of growth, but
OF a great transformation through
Divine interposition. The intellectual
side counted for little For if it had,
the first and most difficult step would
have been taken, that is, the close
study of the native nature and mental
processes. This would have been fol-
lowed by scheme of education which
would have driven, first of all, by Sc
cular education, the superstitions,
that is, the ignorance out of the native
mind, and cleared ,Ae way for a bet
ter natural religion to be followed by
the teachings of a revealed religion.
This process would have made the ma
tive better than he was, as the best
Indian missionaries now say they seek
to make good Indian, and not a good
Yankee out Of the Redman.
The missionaries were well abreast
of the best theological thought of their
generation That thought ignored
Psychology and the modern theory of
evolution.
The reason why the natives were
broken spirit and became indolent'
are many, but the errors of the mis-
sionaries were not the cause of it.
1t may be justly said that the mis-
sionaries gave to the natives their con-
excellent examples of self denial and
right living The chiefs fully recog-
nized this.
But the country that sent the mis-
substantially submerged them under
wave of uebauchery and RIGHTEOUSNESS.
The white winged" messengers of
commerce were freighted with disease
and rum. A handful of American mis-
sionaries were matched against some
thousands of reckless and dissolute
American whalers, many of them being
men of superior intelligence. These,
with many Of the traders, struck at the
Hawaiian home and wrecked it with
widespread ruin. The story is pitiable.
To meet the ravages of disease-this
back handed gift of civilization-the
native fled TO his kahuna, through his
racial habits and sentiments. In his
uneven fight with the vicious energies
OF civilization, the native became
broken in spirit, and indolent."
There were other causes at work that
brought the natives to their present
condition. We have now no space for
considering them. The causes that
have operated here to shape the I'M
fortunate destiny of the native are the
same that have operated elsewhere,
whenever the rude energy of the An
glo-Saxon has grappled with the softer
faculties of the weaker races.
IT Is UNDERSTOOD.