The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-08-15
FREAR'S INAUGURAL
CONTINUED from Page onel


catch, through the mist of uncertain
ty or even apparent gloom, vision
of the opening future
In no history is the philosophy OF
faith taught more clearly than in that
of Hawaii. 1t is a great history in
miniature. In small compass and the
short span of century it exhibits the
problems and their solutions that have
made up in large part the histories of
great nations of centuries growth
problems religious, educational, hy-
gienic, racial, social, political, indus
trial. For nearly a century Hawaii
has been a sociological experiment sta
ton or laboratory. The problems
have been those of the elevation of
an aboriginal race from a state Of
pagan barbarism to one of Christian
civilization and the realization of An
glo-Saxon ideals in a tropical environ
ment. The solution has been, not by
the slow process of self-evolution. nor
by the forced imposition of foreign
ideas, but by development through
the peaceful yet rapid introduction of
such ideas and their gradual but ready
assimilation by the native race-the
process of natural growth under arti-
fcially improved conditions. The
three main general agencies of modern
| civilization, the church, the school and
the printing press, were brought to Ha-
wall in 1920. The influences of the
better classes of whites coupled with
the receptiveness of the natives for
higher things and the recognition by
the wisest of their chiefs and common
people of the necessity of keeping pace
with swiftly changing conditions il
they would continue numbered among
the nations of the earth, produced re-
suits that cannot but excite marvel.
| The natives soon graduated from the
| field of missions, a Christian nation;
| they quickly became one of the least
illiterate of peoples; they rapidly ac-
| quired high moral, social and politi-
cal standards and have manifested in
creasing capacity for their attain
ment. There was swift transition from
a state of feudalism to one of indi-
vidual ownership of land; from a gov
eminent Of absolute despotism to one
Of limited constitutional monarchy
and further even before annexation,
to one of advanced republican form.
Industries were built up as circumstan-
ces required or permitted until Ha-
wall attained first rank in point of
| high development of one of the worlds
| greatest industries, and her inhabit-
ants became one of the most pros
| porous of peoples. These achievements
were due mainly to American influen-
ces; here, indeed, grew the only COM
munity American spirit on foreign soil
So quiet were the workings of these
influences that they permeated the
native mind and heart without violent
shock; so powerful, that the two races
soon found themselves akin in spirit
and aim; so rapid, that Hawaii,
though the much-coveted gem of the
Pacific, was enabled to preserve her
independence against designing nations
until manifest destiny required her
adoption by the Great Republic, and
then so thoroughly imbued was she
with American principles that she was
received as one of the family, and not
as a mere possession.
Let us not be deceived into suppos-
ing that all this was merely fortuitous.
The impression that comes from a
study of Hawaiian history is not mere
optimistic enthusiasm nor superstitious
hope for future good luck based upon
past fortune, but faith-faith that en-
ables us to cry, with the poet, 1.-THE
future l may dare to face, now l have
proved the past" One cannot read
that history intelligently and sympa-
thetically without being impressed by
the unfailing operation of the law Of
cause and effect The Hebrew seer
learned from history that, Righteous
ness exalteth a nation; but sin is a
reproach to any people" The strong
Kamehameha l went far toward dis
covering the same truth with the faint
light that he had amidst the darkness
of his own people and the godlessness
of most of the whites with whom he
came in contact. The magnanimous
Kamehameha III realized it when on
the restoration of independence he
gave to his people their national mot
to. High purposes, adaptability to
conditions, vigorous and united effort
these rather than favoring circum-
stances account for Hawaii's moral,
political and industrial progress. Bio
logists emphasize the factor of inherit
ance and the slowness of the evolution
airy process; biologists discourage with
their cons of time; but Hawaii's socio-
logical laboratory shows what man can
do through earnest and thoughtful en-
deavor just as her geological labora-
tory shows what nature can do under