The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12

NoHuoT mNh kuoN H0lutAnllN VI tho NMNll INV
tory Of the native Hawaiian race, Of the civil
liking influence exerted by the first American
missionaries In tho early years Of the present
century, and OF the reaetionary end debasinR In
iuence exercised by tho late King David Kala-
kaua and his sister, the ex.Queen. These mat
tors are set forth by Lieut., Young In the earlier
chapters of his book. Tho islands are supposed
to have been discovered first In the sixteenth
century by Juan dc Gatan. the leader Of q Span
ish expedition. Ancient native traditions and
the evidences to be found In old and
charts seem to point to the fact that the Islands,
prior to their rediscovery by Capt. Cook in 1873.
had been visited from time to time by waite
people. IL will be remembered. though Lieut..
Young does not mention tho fact, that the great
navigator was surprised TO find that the natives
had some knowledge Of the use of iron instru-
mentB at the time OF his arrival. At tho time
Of their original discovery the Hawaiian Islands
wore inhabited by a Polyneslan race whose
primitive social organization In many respects
somble the foudal systoln Of Europe In the
tenth and eleventh centuries. These islanders
were ruled by kings who were served by vasssl
chiefs holding tenures in consideration OF mill
tary service, while the position Of the people
was analogous to that of the villeins or serfs.
Added to the arbitrary power OF the sovereign
was that OF a ~fanatical priesthood which exer-
cisco the rights OF the ureaueu 'laOu.
Tho Hawaiian religion. OF which these priests
or "Kahunas' were tho opponents, was a sys-
tenn of polythelsm involving human sacrifice
and many impure and idolatrous rites and tend
ing to the glorihcation OF animalism and
cruelty, lust and revenge. The race lived in alb
ject slavery to It's gods, and even the most pow
erful chiefs oboyod the dictates and dreaded the
vengeance Of the priesthood. The sea and the
air, the sky and the heavenly bodies. the vol
canoes and the valleys were, according to the
belief of the Hawaiian, peopled with malignant
and vindictive spirits who wero ready to do the
bidding of the DO werful "Kahunas'' or priests.
These latter formed the learned class. They
were divided into several hereditary orders,
they selected and executed the victims for hui
man sacrifice and through the medium Of the
terrible 'Tabu' they exercised absolute con-
troll over the people in the most minute details
Of daily life. Men and women alike Frustrated
themselves with faces in the dust before the
chiefs and the sacred priests when they walked
abroad. At times when n strict Tabu was de-
creed, every fire and light was extinguished, no
person could battle, no tapa be beaten or poi
pounded: no dog could bark, pig squeal or cock
crow. On these occasions the dogs and pigs
were muZzled and the fowls put under largo
calabashes."
Their burial rites involved secrecy and much
ceremony, and were invariably conducted in the
night. For several days after death the ghosts
Of the deceased werc supposed to haunt their
sepulchres, endeavoring to strangle their enc
mics, but growing weaker and weakerday byday.
The death Of n great chief was the occasion for
ssturnalia that almost beRgars description. The
whole community INDUCED in every species of
lust and barbarous cruelty. Men and women
rushed about absolutely naked, and every vice
yCa fnin1unl In araru rriD,n narnnfrntn n
Houses were burned, murders committed, prop
erty stolen, every savage instinct gratifed at
will and every long forgotten injury revcnged.
The great Kamehameha l., n powerful chief
from the island of Hawaii, was.the first Of the
native chiefs to conquer the whole group of ISL
ands, over which, in the early years OF the cen
fury. he ruled with wisdom and good sense.
He partially destroyed the power Of the heather
priests and paved the way for the introduction
of Christianity by american missionaries. who
first landed in 1920. less than u year after his
death. From the time Of the accession of
Kamehameha II. and tho advent OF the mission
aries, American influence has dominated over
that of all other foreign countries in Hawaiian
affairs. American institutions have been adopt
ed, the American school system inaugurated.
and American laws enacted and put in force.
AS early as 1923 Commodore Jones Of the
United Stntes Navy negotiated a treaty Of COIN
merce and navigation which, though not rati-
fed at Washington, was the first treaty ever
entered into by the Hawaiians with any foreign
power. In 1912 the independence OF the Isl.
ands was practically recognized by the United
States. the commercial agency was elevated to
a diplomatic position by the appointment OF a
Commissioner. and in 1863 the rank of the
United States diplomatic representative was
raised to that Of Minister Resident.