And whereas they found these
islanders a nation of half-naked savages, living in the surf and on
the sand, eating raw fish, fighting among themselves, tyrannized
over by feudal chiefs, and abandoned to sensuality, they now see
them decently clothed, recognizing the law of marriage, knowing
something of accounts, going to school and public worship more
regularly than the people do at home, and the more elevated of them
taking part in conducting the affairs of the constitutional monarchy
under which they live, holding seats on the judicial bench and in
the legislative chambers, and filling posts in the local
magistracies."
If space permitted, the testimony of "Mark Twain," given in
"Roughing It," might be added to the above, and the remaining
missionaries may well point to the visible results of their labours,
with the one word Circumspice!
A CHAPTER ON HAWAIIAN HISTORY.
In the pre-historic days of Hawaii, for 500 years, as the bards
sing, before Captain Cook landed, and indeed for some years
afterwards, each island had its king, chiefs, and internal
dissensions; and incessant wars, with a reckless waste of human
life, kept the whole group in turmoil. Chaotic and legendary as
early Hawaiian history is, there is enough to show that there must
have been regularly organized communities on the islands for a very
long period, with a civilization and polity which, though utterly
unworthy of Christianity, were enlightened and advanced for
Polynesian heathenism.
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