Polynesian. [volume], June 01, 1844, Page 6, Image 2

About Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864

Image provided by: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI

                
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V
T H K P 0 L V N K S I AN.
f.llNT.,
HONOLULU, SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1844.
Sufficient perhaps has already been said to
explain the objects of the Polynesian. Yet
a few words more may not be amiss. We
are aware that there exists in the community
an erroneous judgment of our purposes and
designs a feeling of suspicion, as if the
paper was to be an instrument of evil, a thing
of doubtful good. This we conceive to bo
premature, and though we prefer to be judg
ed according to our works, yet we shall
devote a few lines to briefly stating what our
aims shall be.
Since the year 1840, great and radical
changes have occurred. The Hawaiian
people have been raised to a rank among
earth's nations. A general elevation of char
acter, a greater increase and diffusion of
wealth, and the luxuries and enjoyments of
life have accompanied, or more properly
speaking have been some of the causes of
this moral revolution. In the general increase
of knowledge, the foreign community has
also participated. In wealth, numbers, re
finement, and that which makes civilization
pleasant and desirable its advance has been
rapid. The progress of all classes has been
onward. Isolated as we are, this community,
while it possesses some advantages peculiar
to its situation, has also its disadvantages.
No civilized or even semi-barbarous com
munity of the present age considers its means
of communication with other communities
perfect, until it has its newspaper, that be
ing universally allowed as the best medium
for rapid interchanges of thought and com
munication of news. It is proper and neces
sary th.it the wants, feelings and actions of
the natives or denizens here, should be rep
resented abroad, and so represented that they
shall command the respect of other nations,
particularly those with which there exist com
mercial relations. This is one of the ob jects
of the paper. To lessen as far as is practi
cable that degree of isolation which has hith
erto existed. To accomplish this however,
the aid of intelligent and liberal-minded men
must bo invoked, and articles of real and
permanent interest prepared. As the paper
is sustained in this respect so will the repu
tation of the islands be enhanced abroad.
The sentiment which has so lonjr existed,
that the Sandwich Islands are barbarous,
will then exist no longer.
Among ourselves, it has uses no less valu
able. The news that interests one can readily
be conveyed to all; the same with any dis
covery or invention serviceable to the agri
culturist or mechanic. It is particularly de
sirable that the experience of those engaged in
developing the vegetable resources of the
kingdom should be mutually examined and
compared, the wheat silted from the kernel,
and what has really proved useful to one or
many bo recorded for the advantage of all.
Every public-spirited man will rejoice in the
opportunity to be beneficial to his fellow men.
We trust arid hope that a praiseworthy emu
lation will be effectually aroused to dcvclopc
the resources of soil or talent which arc now
lying to great extent fallow. Pride should
be felt for the country in which we reside.
To add to its beauty, to increase its advanta
ges moral, social and physical and to
feel a deep interest in renovating its inhabi
tants, are all objects worthy of the best anion"
us. If the Polynesian is calculated for
such purposes, we know that it will receive
the cordial support of nil who have the abili
ty to appreciate its designs. As an individ
ual the editor can have no greater interest in
such matters than others, but his best ener
gies will be given to such ends, and he bes
those who are the most prompt to detect er
rors in its columns, to unite charity to their
criticism, and aid him in sustaining a journal
which shall "do good in its day and genera
tion."
we would observe that in this respect we fol
low the example of standard journals in Eu
rope and America, and the same rule exist
ed in the old Polynesian. Moreover it is a
just one the marriage of private individuals
is of concern only to their friends. It has not
even half the interest to the community that
exists in a new advertisement of goods. The
object with the parties concerned is purely a
personal one ; to make known to their friends
that a life-copartnership has been formed.
To do this by letter -would occasion a great
outlay of time and trouble. By the payment
of a dollar the news is conveyed at once to
all interested, and in the cheapest and most
expeditious manner. It is as reasonable that
the printer should be paid for his time and
labor, as that anv other class should receive
a recompense for their.-. As soon as the
contrary is proved, we will cheerfully alter
? We have been given to understand that
exception has been taken at our rule in re
gard to the publication of marriages. To
those who are determined to be captious wo
have nothing to say but to our subscribers
the regulation.
The '.21th. ult. was the Birth day of Her
Majesty Queen Victoria. Long may she live
to reign over that glorious country, whose
flag has braved the breeze and battled the
storm tor a thousand years. On this occa
sion the Modesto, Capt.. Bailly, now lying in
our harbor, was tastefully decorated with
banners and flags, and at noon her guns
pealed forth their thunder in commemoration
of the glixd event. II. B. M. Consul Cene-
al W. Miller, Esq. gave a dinner enter
tainment, which added much to the pleasures
of the day. Two parties enhanced the gaie
ties of the evening.
The first number of our paper was given
to our distributor to be left at the places.of
business of all the Foreign residents. If any
were omitted it was through the neglect of
the native whom we employed, and if they
will give us information, we shall be happy to
supply them.
A TvroGRAPHicAi. Curiosity. We have
in our possession, a book to which the atten
tion of the curious is invited. It is a Latin
work printed in 149.3, but forty years after
the invention of printing. Both in type and
paper it far transcends many modern works,
and is in excellent preservation. The pages
are not numbered, and the title and imprint
as was the custom then, are at the end of the
book.
trpWe nre requested to state that Le
leiohoku, or William Pitt, has been ap
pointed acting Governor of Hawaii, Gov.
Kuakixi being too ill to attend to the duties
of his station. It is feared that ho will not
long survive.
rcy T. A. I jAitKi.N, Esq. has been appoint
ed by the President of the United States,
Consul for the port of Monterey, California.
Bladen Foruxst, Esq. for Chagres.
JiC AVir. The U. S. ship Levant, Capt.
Page, left Callao 1 days since, for this
place, via Tahiti, and may shortly be ex
pected. ICThe Annual Conference of the Mis
sionaries of the American Board, will com
mence shortly. Most of their number have
already assembled from their several stations.
Compliment to New England. In a speech
made by Mr. Lyell, the eminent geologist, at a late
meeting of the British Geological Association, ho
said :
" Were I ever so unfortunate as to quit
my native land, to reside permanently else
where, I should, without hesitation, choose
the United States for my second country, es
pecially New England, where a population of
more than two millions enjoys a higher aver
age standard of prosperity and intellectual
advancement, than any other population of
equal amount on tho globe."
New Article of Export to China.
Two passengers per ship Bazaar, Captain
Kilham, who sailed a few days since from
New York for Canton, have taken with them
forty tons measurement of "Connecticut
clocfor
For Vic Polynesian.
W O M A N .
AN ESSAY IN THE STYLE OK C H AT AUHil 1 A N n.
I low imperfect was the plan of creation,
when man was formed sole but social in his
nature: possessing thought and feeling and
sentiment, with the power of communicating
his ideas, and of imparting us well as receiv
ing happiness, otherwise than by the hardier
energies of his physical body. His ability
was unlimited among the other wonders of
divine workmanship. He could subdue and
tame the tribes with which he was surround
ed, who regarded him as their unquestioned
master; could cultivate the soil and adorn it
with botanic splendor. The materials for in
ventTvc genius were furnished to his hand
and the field for its exercise was exhaustless
and as yd untried. Much rare knowledge
and amusement were expressly concealed
from his senses, that thev might stimulate
him to employ means for their developernent.
Sound was yet to be accorded into music;
color, combined into printing; the quarry to
be wrought into polished marble; the beauty
of his form was yet to be enriched with other
forms of beauty. Courage, vigilance and
activity, doubtless in constant requisition to
keep the subordinate creation in their places
with regard to himself and his happiness, must j
have tended to employments greatly conge- ;
nial with his comfort, and may have suggest- j
ed the idea of Government. With all these
the prerogative of speech was also indispens
able, since the thoughts which they produced,
must have been infinite: for, with the eye to
see, the ear to hear, and the mind to think,
the human intellect, without vocal organiza
tion, must have exploded. The cares of his
minutely various charge would have found
no alleviation, and man would have been a
brute, encasing within himself, like the deaf,
dumb and blind, a divine intelligence, con
sciousness of himself, with reason, judgment
and skill, and the power of applying them;
but without a visible object. The power of
God had not yet extended to this, nor had it
yet been determined, whether it was good for
man to be alone in his representation of the
Divine Image. He, like the vegetable king
dom, could have been formed bisexous and
perfect in himself for all the purposes of per
petuity; the pleasures of mental refinement
dispensed with and the admiration of beauty
in the form and color of surrounding objects
rendered unavailing. But thus isolated, he
would have had no use for those emotions
and passions, which now furnish most delight
to the human race. Cheerfulness, joy a'.id
gladness, would perhaps have given place,
even in Eden, to the counter emotions of
melancholy, sorrow, grief and discontent;
reverence and adoration would have clung
to man, but by the holiness in which he was
created. "It was not good for man to be
alone."
What needed he, surrounded by material
uses for his faculties? Man was spiritual ns
well as material. Could he not commune
with God and with etherial beings? Devo
tion would have been entire, but, without an
example and a measure. The passions and
emotions of the mind lose their stimulus,
when directed wholly to uncquals. Pride
and jealousy in the human heart, look up with
hatred; contempt and superiority, down with
dissatisfaction; and hopo and fear, are mea
sured by the physical and mental enjoyments
of life combined.
Man needed then an equal, formed in his
own image and endowed with all the wondrous
properties of his own mind. One, who could
participate with him the cares of life; ad
mire with him the beautiful and tho sublime,
and unfold his mind, by the richness and in
genuity of her own. The poetry of nature
was yet to be formed, and refinement and
taste taught man in the school of lo"e. To
give mutual respect and equality, tho being
in question, should be taken out of man and
self-interest would become his motive for her
defence. Her sphere should be created with
her, and strife precluded from the addition of
another intelligence by putting it out of her
power to usurp his dominions. Man exhibit-
ed the necessity of love, gratitude, sympathy
and hope; omnipotence resolved to create
association for their display, and thus give
birth to a new world of thought and feeling,
without which, incorporated mind would be
in exile.
'Till Hymen brought his lovc-delightod hour,
Thcro dwelt no joy in Eden's rosy bow'r.
In vain the viewless seraph ling'ring there,
At starry midnight, charmed tho silent air;
In vain the wildbird carrollcd on tho steep,
To hail the sun, slow-wheeling from tho deep; '
In vain, to soothe the solitary shade,
Aerial notes in mingling measures played;
The summer wind that shook the spangled tree.
The w himpering wave, the murmur of the bee;
Still slowly passed the melancholy day,
And still the stranger wist not where to stray;-
The world was sad! the garden was a wild!
And man, the hermit, sighed 'till woman smiled." '
Woman is the head of a social world adapt
ed to her government, for which the passions
are her peculiar reins. These, her intelli
gence is refined and polished to wield, in
subjecting mind and force to her dominion.
By combining mental strength with beauty,,
tenderness and delicacy, lovo smiled upon
the material world in her formation, and man
was taught order and propriety in his exter
nal person; refinement and modesty in
thought and feeling. He paid homage to the
soul which God had breathed, when behold
ing life and intelligence in the human coun
tenance, presented to his view in its most
beautiful shape With what rapidity must the
uses of surrounding objects have been ex
plained, and how eager must be have been to
point them out. The cooling shade now fur
nished him refreshment, for he had become
an admirer, and from its calm retreat could
partake the richness of Elysian landscape:
love was present to adorn it for him. The
verdure of nature became at once soft and
pleasant to the eye, and the herds that sport
ed there, gave the delight of a comparison.
The fruits of earth, had an additional relish,
the pleasure of participation. The music
of the woods became enchanting: the voice
of woman gave it symphony. The conveni
ences of life now had their uses, and he the
ob ject of their developernent. Pride and am
bition had their useful ends and heaven
descended to the comprehension of man, in
an exhibition of the living soul. Z.
New Publication.
In accordance with the editorial fashion
elsewhere, we shall notice, as they are sent
to us, new works, particularly those re
lating to this quarter of the globe, or whoso
subject-matter may prove of interest to our
readers. In this department of labor wo
should be thankful to receive the criticisms
of others who have time to write more ex
tended notices than we may be enabled to.
Remarks upon Coral formations in the Pacific;
with Suggestions as to the Causes of their
Msence in the same parallels of latitude on
the Coast of South America, By JosF.ru
P. Couthouv. Boston, 1842.
Our thanks urc due to the author for the
above valuable. tnntio Aon iv...
.. , 10 u, vumi juuiur
to science, Mr. Couthouy is doubly welcome,
for to accurncy of research and indefati
gable perseverance, he combines tho power
of presenting his subjects in clear and forci
ble language. In argument he is convin
cing,, nnd his descriptive powers are often
exceedingly good. Whatever he undertakes
is sure to be done well. His acquirements
both in literature and science are varied
and his mind thanks to a prodigious mem
orywell stored with knowledge. And yet
his former profession, that of a mariner, one
would have thought little favorable to the-
mirsillta iv1'nrli in dim li., I.. i
"- " nuvu uurno sucn good
fruit. He has always been a hard working
man, but by a diligent use of all the oppor
tunities to acquire information, he has made
himself what he is. In this respect he is a
worthy example to all, whether of his pro
fession or not. Put ship-masters in particu
lar have it in their power to aid tho ndvnnp-
mcnt of science nnd general diffusion of
knowledge, bv nntirinrr nf.i.iii.ofil -11 4i
a ' J t5 uwmuHii mi l J1C
varied phenomena and scenes which pass un
der their observation. By attending to these