Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-27


would within another few years num-
Der majority of the people of the
Islands among its adherents. Catholic
and Protestant missionaries had done
a great work among the natives of Ha-
wafi, said the Bishop, but these Chris
tam institutions had no means where
by they might bring condign punish-
ment upon polygamous offenders, and
even the courts were finding it diff
cult to get evidence; but he hoped all
the churches would so awaken. TO the
danger of Mormonism that deter
mined and united effort against II
would be made. He went on:
The elders are teaching these SIM
pie people that the flesh Is the real
sanctuary of God, and that tn more
children born the greater will. be the
reward of parents. They preach po-
iygamy In the native tongue. and limit
the number of wives one man may
have to his capacity for supporting
them. In the remote districts where
women as well as men work in the
fields, raise taro. make mats and
brooms and curios. it is very easy for
the Hawaiian to figure ont that the
number Of wives he may possess is
only limited by tho number Of women
who will consent to live in his house:
FOR here they do not pretend as in
Utah, Idaho and. wyoming. to have a.
separate house for each wife, but herd
them together like concubines."
The Past.
Al ~.1...
campaign against Mormonism fully
realize that the nature of the natives
of Hawaii is the best possible ground
for the rapid growth of the seeds OF
poiygamy It is only hundred years
some place 1t as late as 1S50-that
free love was the rule among ma
jority of this brown race. Feastings,
dances. reyeIry and song were the chief
amusements of the people. while lin
temperance among both sexes was
widespread
Marriages were contracted in the.
most free and easy manner imagin
able. Young Hawaiian girls at ages
OF IL to 16 were considered legitimate
barter to Chinese and other Orientals,
who had come to the Islands and pros
pered. while an almost general loose-
ness of morals prevailed.
The established churches fought
drunkenness and easy living at every
turn and from one years end to an
other and much Improvement in con-
ditions was apparent. Under the mon
archy. however, the liberal laws were
even more literally construed and APP
piled. and the penal Institutions scarce
ly knew what it was to receive pris-
oner sent there by the courts for the
lnfraction of laws framed for the pro-
lection of women, although crimes that
In other countries would stir the peo-
pie to the exercise of lynch rule were
of almost daily occurrence.
No Attention Paid.
And even today, though vast adj
vances have been made in the appre-
hending and conviction of offenders.
less attention is paid offenses Of this
character than perhaps in any other
civilized community
THE Mormon church authorities
have seized upon these weaknesses of
the easy-going natives of the Islands,
said Territorial official yesterday
an Island Utah in the Pacific. The
majority of the voters OF Hawaii are
full blood natives and half-whites. and
with Brigham Youngs doctrines fol-
lowed by the larger number of these
it would only be question of a few
years when the civil government, in
Guiding everything perhaps but the
higher courts-the judges of which are
appointed from Washington-wouid be
in their hands. This would but mean
the hurrying of the day when Federal
commission would govern the Terri
tory: change from the present form
that has been already much advocated
because of Hawaii's prominent posi-
ton.
THE commission idea of govern
ment has been strongly opposed by a
majority of whites, half whites and
browns. but with Mormonism growing |
from day to day more strongly the |
people who have the best interests of |
the Territory at heart will be de- |
Federal control in civil as well as mill |
tary affairs.
Rampant Mormonism. with its fear |
full doctrine of the sanetity of plural +
marriages and free love, will not be /
by the $4,000 whites, who are
that this country so blest
above all others by nature shall not
De land where moral or industrial i
may grow and flourish"