The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1898-07-29

States. by the same act the TeSOlu-
tions passed into law.
The troubled career of Hawaii as
an independent power is therefore
practically at an end. So far as Chris
tendon is concerned, it began in 1855,
with the discovery of the islands by
the Spaniard, Juan Gaetano; it ends.
in 1898, with their absorption into the
territory Of the American common
wealth.
The islands, however, were lost for
two centuries after their first dis
covery. For the islands set down
by Gaetano on his charts were ten de-
grees too far east. It is assumed
that these were the Hawaiian isla nds,
but not until ITS did their consecu-
tive connection with the west begin.
In that year Capt. Cook landed on
Kauai and was looked upon by the
natives as an incarnation of the god
Lono. They considered his crew as
supernatural beings. Cook returned
the next year, but became involved in
disputes with the natives, and was
killed February IA, 1879.
From the beginning almost the
Hawaiians have sought protection
from Europeans, in which, of course,
are included the Americans. In 1894
the king, Kamehameha, and his chiefs
voluntarily placed themselves under the
protection of England, and the British
flag was hoisted in Hawaii. This
Kamehameha had secured supreme
power through sanguinary civil war,
lasting nine years. He was nephew
of King Kalaniopuu, whose son he
dispossessed and finally got assassin
ated. A civil war in the Leeward islands
gave Kamehameha chance to inter-
fere. He did so; reduced Oahu to sub
lection to himself, aud for the rest of
his days had peace. His domains in
cluded all the Hawaiian islands ex-
cept Kauai and Niihau, the extreme
western ones. But his work was not
yet done. In March, 1910, the last
king of Kauai was persuaded to pay
tribute to Kamehameha and hold his
island during the remainder of his life
as ficf of the king If Hawaii. In 1915
the Russians attempted to annex Kauai,
but the firmness of Kamehameha frus-
trated their designs. When he died, in
1919, he had consolidated the Hawaiian
islands into one strong kingdom.
His eldest son, Liholiho, succeeded
him and took the name of Kameham-
cha II. The reign of this prince was
distinguished by the introduction of
Christianity into the islands. But
the conversion of the Hawaiians oc-
Cured in perhaps the most curious
fashion in which such a change was
ever effected. Vancouver had visit
ed the islands several times during the
last part of the eighteenth century,
and is still remembered as "a wise and
generous benefactor of those islands,"
The words are taken from an Ha-
waiian document. He taught the Ha-
waiians many things, and among
others a dislike for their crude sys-
TENS of idolatry. The king went so
far as to ask him to send out mis-
sionaries from England, but Van
couver, in 1874, sailed away for the
last time, and no missionaries came.
However, his teachings were working
q reformation in Hawaii, and under
Kamehameha II. it came to head
of idols and burning of temples
CnTOuSuOut hdWuu. "A S'usAh u Vic
king, indeed, rallied the conservatives,
and civil war broke out, but in the
battle of Kuamoo, December 20, 1919,
he was defeated and slain.
The popularity of this reformation
is that il was purely negative. No mis-
sionaries had yet arrived. The island
ers were not establishing Christianity
They had simply sickened of their old
religion and had cast it out. They had
created religious vacuum; they were
q people without faith. and their
minds stood empty for the entrance OF
q new creed.
It came to them April 4, 1920, by the
arrival of the pioneer party OF Ameri-
can missionaries. THE missionaries
were well received" says Chambers,
"and the work of instruction was at
once begun. In less than 40 years they
had taught the whole Hawaiian peo-
pie to read and write, to cipher and
sew" "They soon reduced the Ian
guage to writing" says an official re.
port of the Hawaiian republic, land
commenced printing their first book
in January, 1882. They found the Ha.
waiians an amiable and highly recep
tive race, eager for knowledge and
easily Influenced for good or evil"
King kamehaineha H., with the queen
and six chiefs. embarked, November
81, 1923, for a voyage to England. The
king and queen never returned. They
died of measles in London after hav.
ing been shown royal honors. Their