The Polynesian. [volume], January 30, 1841, Page 134, Image 2

About The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841

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131
House.) Hut, Mr. Speaker, it is not ltlif
inaccurate reporthing that 1 so much com
plain, as of the circumstance ol'lhe rep uther
having made mo spake in italics. Koars
of laughter, which continued for some; time.)
1 appeal to you, Sir, and to those lion. Miui
bcrs who heard me, whether 1 upoko in
italics. (Renewed hursts of laughter from
all parts of the House.) Vnu know, Mr.
Speaker, and so docs every ginth min in this
I louse, that 1 never spake in italics, at all at
all. (Shouts of hiughter.) Iut, Sir, allow
mo to suy, that this, had as it is, is not worst
of the matter. Will you belave it, Sir? will
onv hon. Mimber in the House belave it
that when 1 went to the reporlhor to nsk for
mi explanation, he told me, with tin? most
perfect coolness, that if 1 K it myself nggrio
ved, I knew my remedy, at tin; same time
handing inc his card, Sir? The short and
long of it is, Sir,.that this reporther wants to
light a duel with me." Peals of laughter,
such as were never before or have been since
heard within the walls of Parliament, follow
ed the conclusion of Mr. Martin's speech.
When these had in some measure subsided,
he moved that Mr. O'D be called to the
bar of the House for having committed a
breach of the privileges of the I louse; but
there being no one to second the motion, it
of course fell to the ground.
1'ioin Cliaimins's S-Ur-Ciilti're.'"
h.' died that otic; of t!i: cau s of the pros-1
perity I witnessed, v;is the disuse of ar
dent spirits by the people. And this re
formation we may le assured wrought
something higher than outward prosper
ity. In almost every family so impiovcd,
we cannot doubt that the capacities of the
parent for intellectual and moral improve
ment were enlarged, ami the means of ed
ucation made more effectual to the child.
I call on working men to take hold of the
cause of temperance as peculiarly their
cause. These remarks are the more need
ed, in coi:scUcncc of the efforts made far
ami wide, to annul at the present moment
a recent law for the suppression of the
sale of ardent spirits in such quantities as
faor intemperance. I know, that there
are intelligent and good men, who believe,
that, in enacting this law, government
transcended its limils, left its trim path,
and established a precedent for legislative
interference with all our pursuits and
pleasures. No one here looks more jeal
ously on irovcrnment than mvself. Put
I maintain, that this is a case which
stands by itself, which can be confounded
with no other, and on which government
from its verv nature and end is peculiarly
bound to act. Let it never be forgotten,
that the great end of government, its high-
MI K POLYNESIAN.
THE POLYNESIAN.
SATUUDAV, JAN. ao, KS11.
Jam
In thi number we shall bring to a close,
our remarks on the intlucnce of foreigners
upon the natives of Polynesia. The many
dki'erent circumstances under which it has
been extended, with the diversity of opinions
pievalcnt upon the subject, has led us much J
farther than we originally intended, and the
field grows more extensive as we advance.
Vet it would he impossible to do it full jus
tice within the small space of our columns,
without inclining the charge of prolixity,
sameness, and crowding out other matter of
more general interest. To sonic it would
he interesting to examine into the subject
more in detail, and to trace the gradual de-
elopement ot that incipient civilization
which now exists among the tribes of the
Pacilie. Wo have endeavored in previous
essays, brieJly to show its connection with
commerce, and those engaged more partic
ularly in that pursuit; we shall in this, revert
in general terms to the labors of missiona
ries, and their influence in developing this
principle.
On tln ir arrival they found the islanders
uctiuis to most cruel and debasing supeisli-,
lions. These the untiring dibits of veais'
have uprooted to a great ,etent, wjlh their
accompanying vices ami crimes, and planted
in their Mead the woiship of the one .leho-J
a!i. Religious institution occupied their
I proceed to another important means
of Self-Culture, and this is the control of. est function, is. not to make roads, grant
the animal appetites. To raise the mor-1 charters, originate improvements, but to
nl and intellectual nature, we must put : prevent or repress crime against individ
down the animal. Sensuality is the abvss j nal rights and social order. For this eiul
in which verv m.iiiv souls are idun?ed it ordains a ticnal code, erects masons.
and lost. Anion" the most nrosnerous t and millets fearful ! 'imishnients. Nw il l iU,rll,i"M mostly at first, but as soon as the
classes, what a vast amount of intellcctu-it be true, that a vast proportion of the j ,," ,!,(' lVt,l1: had I.ccoiho familiar j
nl life is drowned in luxurious excesses. 'dimes, which government is instituted to j with d .ctiiues of the liible, schools and'
It is one great curse of wealth, that it is! pit vent ami r press, have their origin in j -.'uirwrios were oiabli.died, in which all the!
used to pamper the senses; and among ! the use of ardent spa: its ; if our poor-hous- : common branches of education w ere taught', j
the poorer classes, though luxury is wunt-jt's, work-houses jails ami penitentiaries nt nnoio mis couw m ioue, tlio language
ing, yet a gross feeding often prevails, un- 'are tenanted in a great degree by those, was to be reduced to writing, and books
der which the spirit is whelmed. It is a I whose first and chief impulse to crime j translated, a Work of labor, little appreciated,
sad sight to walk through our streets, and Came from the distillery and dram-shop ; hut arduous in the extreme. The transla
to sec how many countenances bear ! 'murder and theft, the most fearful out- lion of the Bible is in itself a monument of
marks of a lethargy and a brutal coaise-: rages on property and life, sire most fre-: industry. The missionaries have always
ncss, induced by unrestrained indulgence, i quently the issues 'ami consummation of j iurnished gratuitous medical advice and
Whoever would cultivate; the soul, must intemperance, is not government, bound j medicines to the natives, and have endeav
rcstrnin the appetites. lam not an ;id- to restrain by legislation the vending nfmrcd to destroy their barbarous custom of
vocate for the doctrine, that animal food , the stimulus tollies;.' u niblc social wrongs; . treating diseases, bv the dissemination of
Is government never to act sis si parent.
-
never to remove the causes or occasions
of wrong doing? lias it but one instru-
was not meant for man ; but that this is
used among us to excess, that as a people
vc should gain much in cheerfulness, ac
tivity, and buoyancy of mind, by less
gross and stimulating food, I sun strongly
inclined to believe. Above all, let me
urge on those, who would bring out undid"1' it wander beyond its sphere, bv im
elevate their nature, to abstain from the i posing restraints on an article, which does
correct knowledge upon this subject. Too
little credit has been given them for the at
tempt to teach the mechanical arts, and in-
i i' . . : . . . i ii- i
incui lor icpiessmgci....e,nan.eiy. pumie, tUHuc0 agricultural improvements. A far
luminous piiiusii'iieiii, sin cvu omy mie
rior to crime ? Is government si usurper.
use of spirituous liquors. This bad hsib
it is distinguished from all others by tin;
ravages it makes on the reason, the intel
lect ; and this effect is produced to a
mournful extent, even when drunkenness
is escaped. Not a few men, called tem
perate, and who have thought themselves
fuch, have learned, on abstaining . from
the use of ardent spirits, that for years
no imaginable good, which can plead no
benefit conferred on body or mind, which
unfits the citizen for the discharge of his
duty to his country, and which, above sill,
niersuid his family were among the liist body
of missionaries that arrived at Hawaii, but
owing to the indifference of tin; chiefs, were
obliged to suspend their labors and return
home.
Many of the mechanics that we have met
with were instructed by missionaries, and in
. .i i- 1 conscouenco woi e able to earn si rood livin".
stirs up men to the pcrpctralion ot most!,.,, ' . , , , ,
are rigidly enforced. Tables, scats
pleads, suitiible clothing, and regular '
with their teachers, take the placu o'K,'
and the calabash. It is by exnininin.r j,
the minutix of the daily life of tho.
these ami similar influence, and cMiijMr
it with the uninstructed, that we can rj..',
judge what has been accomplished.
is needless to descend further ind) ,ar,-'
bus. The hibors of the tnissinntirv r
been directly employed in christianizing
natives, and indirectly in civilizing j,
they have done this, smd that the restdta
gratifying in the extreme, none can !,,
They also are educating them, smd lllv,
troduccd the same system of lioe mI,,,
which hsis raised New England t lnrln
pitch of intellectual power. Coiiiiun nsli
hsivc from the most free and ciilin
countries, and educated in the bosom of
democratic church, their intlucnce has l
to extend human liberty and thought and
introduce those institutions which k,
crowned their native lands with so ,,,
honor. They have laid a broad fotinda;.
ibr national hap)incss and grcsitnrss, a
their inlluence, whether upon natives
whites will cease only with the end of
things. Their character, like that ot t
Puritans, will leave its impress upon a:'
ages, and there are few of the present
do not award that sect the just praise
sowing those seeds of individual and nati.
freedom, which hsivc operated so powcrii,
in rendering America what she is. We
not mean to say that their system is faultlt
or that, what has been done in some iiR
ccs might not have been done better. 1
same truth holds good of all other Inn
means; imperfection and decay arc bur
closely united with humanity.
The two principles of Christianity antic
iliation, modifying each other, give b
edge and freedom to the world. Then
. I . ! .'I. I II 1
i ue cuoicesi gins oi I'lovuiencc lo man. a
his greatest happiness lies in the properi
ion of the two. For their advancement c
tinct professions arc necessary, though ta
is essential, to the healthy existence
the other. Mankind have moral ami
tellectual wants, as well as physical
Let not the professors of either nurr
down their views to the horizon ol'tl
selfish interests, but look about
the world as the common field oftl
labors, its improvement as their commune
Their pursuits are all necessary, nil ml
and should expand the soul, and inakt
grasp at brighter things than the mere p
sesions of some trilling gratification, or p
triumph to their particular opinions or
signs.
of the crimes, from which it is the highest
and most solemn office of government lo
protect society ?
It is chieilv through books that we en-
1'hey hae established manuiil-labor schools,
and their precepts and examples tend direct
ly to the encouragement of industry ami tin;
introduction of the' trades and manufactures
their minds hail been clouded, impaired Hoy inteiT-ourMMvitirsupc '''h '!" d"5 ieu.nlc seminary at
by moderate drinking, without their sus-1 these invaluable means of communication " um,KU. 111 g' ts are taught to
pecting the injury. Multitudes in this sire in the reach of all. In the best books, ssv W ,,ruu, l"it, and other employ
city arc bercft'of half their intellectual 'great men talk to us. give us their most ,,,('nts amiable to their sex. In sill the other
energy, by a degree of indulgence which I precious thoughts, anil pour their souls 1 s l'ouls' dese brunches are taught as far as
passes for innocent. Of sill the foes of
the working class, this is the deadliest.
Nothing has done more to keep down this
class, to destroy their self-respect, to rob
them of their just inlluence in the com
munity, to render profitless the means of
improvement within their reach, than the
use of ardent spirits as a drink. They
arc called on to withstand this prsictice,
as they regard their honor, and would
take their just place in society. They
arc under solemn obligations to give their
sanction to every cllbrt for its suppres
sion. They ought to regsird as their
worst enemies, (though unintentionally
such,) as the enemies of their rights, dig
nity, and inlluence, the men w ho desire
to Hood city and country with distilled
poison. I lately visited a nourishing vil
lage, and on expressing to one of the re
spected inhabitants the pleasure I felt in
witnessing so many signs of progress, he
tune will not enter my obscure dwi Ihng.
If the Sacred Writers will enter and take
. i i a i .
into ours, (iod he thiinked for books.!" J'vl,J usmmuuco unu encour-
They sire the voices of tin; distant and the j ,("lt"t h;.'s ,)(t'M to die natives, to
dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual , nia,iI diem to find a profitable market Ibr
life of past ages. liooks are the true lev- j d'ir produce, ami to cresite exports Ibr the
ellers. They give to all, who will faith- j P'"chase d' foreign goods. As far sis mis
fully use them, the society, the spiritual j ''""aries, without compromising their char
presence of the best smd greatest of our i acters as such, can go in affecting these de
race. No matter how poor lam. No ' h-!iblo changes, they have done so; but their
matter though the prosperous of my own J success depends more upon individual wants
and interests, and requires the co-operation
of the merchant and agriculturist. The mis-
up their abode under tnv roof, if Milton J sionary has endeavored to civilize the na-
will cross my threshold to sing to me of lives, by inducing theni to live in better
Paradise, and Shakspcaro to open to mej houses, and forsake their old habits. If any
the woilds of imagination and the work- i one doubts this, let him visit the habitations
ings of the human heart, ami Franklin to ; of those who are under their immediate in
enricli me with his practical wisdom, 1 j jhu nee, such as servants, schoolmasters,
shall not pine for want of intellectual com-; M ho bus and the like, and he will witness
piinionship, and I may. become si ullivsi-j the truth of the assertion. Look also at the
led" man though excluded from what is - imp-cd manner of living at the 1JM,
caljed the best society in the place where j Sclmol, smd all the boarding schools. yt.
' lsv' lllieieliud that the essentials of civilization
M'l. 11 .1 l . ii-
j no jxauuuiisi oruigs mieiugeiHT
the complete success of Captsiiu
in ascending Moiinsi Loa, with all tk'i
cessary apparatus for establishing an
servsitory on its .summit. It wsis up
task , siml re(piired the services f sevt
hundred men to transport the instiuiii'i1
small framed buildings, (which arc soo
strutted that they can be taken apart
put together in a few minutes.) tin'
stores, ev e. Hut the energy and
versince of the commander and his mini
overcame every dilliculty, and tin '
rcwanled by finding a field of even m"
interest than they anticipated, and al':
successfully accomplishing all the olf
of the expedition. It will add mtn'1
the laurels they have already won
the several departments of science,
though it may not be attended with
nine
tarctic
-'"n puonc generally, nesiucs
of great utility. The whole active vo
ic region of that portion of Hawaii Kt
been thoroughly explored, and the V C
heights and positions of the ntotii)1; 5
i
C
much eclat as the discovery of tlic:F:
tarctic Continent, it cannot fail of
. i I 11 1 I.Ai''