The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-16

the common people should cross the
shadow of a chief. So the common
people lived in daily fear of their
lives, for If they disobeyed one of
these regulations, consciously or un-
consciously, they were in immediate
danger of being offered to the gods
as a sacrifice.
In spite of these regulations, how
ever and the constant warfare which
existed among the tribes, the Ha-
Waiians were excellent specimens of
stalwart race when Captain Cook and
his crew first discovered the islands.
Like the Indians of North America,
the Hawaiians mistook the early ad
Venturers for gods, and were gradual
ly disillusioned by bitter experience.
So bitter, indeed, was the disillusion-
ment that it resulted in the death of
Captain Cook.
After this Hawaii's isolation was
over. Other ships began to come.
but they left the islands unimpressed,
partly because their first disappoint-
-ment had been so great and partly
because they were at that time in
tensely occupied with their own af
fairs. A new and powerful chief had
risen and was subjugating the island
by conquest, aided by the goddess of
fire, Pele, who obligingly caused the
volcano, Kilauea, to erupt and de-
-stroy large part of his opponents
army The name of this favored chief
great man. How he gathered the
reins of government into his own
hands and consolidated the various
tribes into the one autocracy; how
he promoted the agriculture of the
islands and gave them a foreign pol
icy, and how he punished delinquents,
are all traditions of which any Ha-
waiian can tell you. But Kane
hameha's successors were too weak
to follow in his footsteps.
Upon his death the tabu system
crumbled. The people rose as a man
and smashed their gods, burned their
idols and declared themselves free
from any religion. Their faith>had
been destroyed by the foreigners who
defiled the gods and yet went I'M
punished. Followed a formative
period in which the island came I'M
der the influence of both missionaries
and INSCRIPTIONS foreign traders; in
which an educational system was
established, and laws enacted con-
corning rights of private property.
Heretofore, all property had belonged
to the chief, Gradually a government
was evolved, with executive, legisla-
tive and judicial departments, and a
liberal constitution was obtained by
the people. Hawaii might have been
a nation yet, had it not been for the
attempts of subsequent rulers to re-
pudiate this constitution. 1t was such
an attempt which caused Hawaffs last
queen Liliuokalani, to lose her crown,
and influenced the people to sue for
kannexation.
Now Hawaii still has its constitu-
ton but is governed by an American
governor There is little left of the
old Hawaii. Even the race itself is
slowly decreasing in numbers, while in
its place foreigners and half Hawaii
ans cultivate the sugar crops and
gather the pineapples. Indeed, Ha-
wall is today thoroughly American.
with its melting pot of many races; its
national guard and it's firm and I'M
/ mitigated hatred of the American
enemy.
| Questions on the above or any sub
| ject upon which the reader desires in
| formation. should be addressed the To-
peka State Journal Information Blu
reau. Frederic ]. Haskin. Director.
Washington, D. c., with a Scent
stamp enclosed for reply.