Source: Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu: Thursday, February 28, 1861.
[The following letter ought to have been received by the mail before this, but from some cause appears to have been delayed. It will be read with none of the less interest, however.]
MY DEAR COMMERCIAL: -In my last waif, I promised myself the pleasure of another gossip with my old friends, your readers, “after haying” -and here is Winter, with his white robes knocking, at the door as I sit down to fulfill my promise. The otium cum dignitate which “Friend” Damon pictures me as enjoying, does not afford leisure for letter-writing, and I know of no class to find less of that commodity than the Yankee farmers. At the date of my last letter, the excitement of the presidential election had just commenced. The campaign is now over, and with its torch-light processions, its parade of Rail-splitters, Little Giants and Belligerents, and its fearful long-winded speeches, is a thing of the past. The battle is fought, the decisive victory won, and “Honest old Abe” is our President elect. But the effervescence in the political cauldron has not subsided as usual, and the side that is nearest the fire is boiling over. The South, or rather the State of South Carolina, is furious at the election of a Republican President, and determined to secede from the Union. The fact of the supremacy of a party adverse to increasing the area of slavery is considered an encroachment upon the rights of the South, and a sufficient justification for her dissolving the Union. And though Lincoln is elected by constitutional means, and will have a majority in both houses opposed to him, so that Southern rights will not be endangered by his administration, yet the political leaders in the slave States are determined, if possible, to precipitate the country into the horrors of a revolution rather than endure defeat. To the misrepresentations and foul mouth calumnies of the rabid politicians of all parties, and the fearful license which party presses take with the truth, is mainly owing the present excited state to feeling which threatens the dismemberment of this glorious Union. The Vice-President elect, Hannibal Hamlin, a senator in Congress, has been represented in the south as a mulatto, and this report, aided by his unfortunate praenomen, which can neither be called Christian or proper, but is decidedly African, is very generally believed. The “Cotton States” are bent upon secession, and are arming for the forcible accomplishment of their purpose, if a peaceable separation cannot be effected -and though it is clearly demonstrated by their own conservative writers, that the evils of which they complain will not be obviated by secession, yet they refuse to listen to reason, and are rushing blindly into the horrors of revolution. A few months will decide the fate of our country. Congress is about to assemble, and a stormy session is anticipated. The “irrepressible conflict” is at hand, and the momentous issue will soon be decided, whether our country shall be preserved by patriots or perish by partisans. God save the Republic!
Our friends in “the tight little isle” across the ocean seem to be very much pleased at the reception given by his Yankee cousins to the Heir Apparent, on his recent visit to his Uncle Sam. It was, indeed a hearty, unstudied, spontaneous burst of enthusiasm which everyone welcomed the son of Queen Victoria, and was according to him as a tribute of respect and esteem universally felt for her by the American people. The Prince is a very unassuming, well behaved youth, and bore being bored with a commendable spirit of resignation. The general opinion among the masses seemed to be that for a youth who had not had “the advantage of an American education,” he appeared uncommonly well. One feature in the progress of the Royal party through the United States was as novel as it was refreshing, i.e., the absence of speechmaking. This peculiarly Yankee institution, which generally forms the staple of our public receptions, was entirely dispensed with, and the omission was attended with the happiest results. It is to be hoped the example will be more generally followed on future occasions.
The friends of Hawaii have learned with great sorrow of the sudden death of Mr. Armstrong. The nation can ill afford to lose such men from their councils, nor can his place at the head of the educational institutions of the country be easily supplied. The appointment of his successor will be awaited with interest. Mr. Armstrong seemed to be the only connecting link between the government and its early and faithful friends, the American Missionaries, and though the latter may not always have used their influence judiciously, it may well be questioned whether the record of the present dynasty exhibits any higher order of statesmanship on the part of those with taking their place in the confidence of the councils of the Aupuni. It is certain that the Government never has had more devoted, single-hearted, capable supporters, than those who rallied round it in the troublous times of French and English aggressions during the reign of Kamehameha III, and who by their firmness and prudence, saved the ship of state from becoming a mere tender to some European liner. Though the different classes and conflicting interests of the foreign community of Hawaii at the present day, require to be more fully represented than formerly, yet the Puritan element is still needed and should have a prominent place in the national councils, and it will be a sad day for the King and the people when it shall be denied its rightful and well-earned position.
A few days ago, I strolled into the Fair in Boston for the benefit of the “Sailors Snug Harbor” and my attention was attracted to a display of Polynesian curiosities, conspicuous among which, was one of the elegant feather capes which formerly were much prized insignia of rank among the Hawaiian mobility. These curiosities were presented to the Fair by Capt. John Percival, U.S. Navy, or “mad Jack” as he is familiarly known, whose career at the Islands as commander of the Dolphin is so well remembered by the older residents. There was also one of the fine grass malos from the Fijis, the nature and uses of which I was requested to explain by the Fair attendants. When I informed them that the article in question was a full dress suit of a Fiji Islander, no further questions were asked, though they were evidently of the opinion that a person who could be so easily suited must have a good deal of the old Adam in his composition.
I congratulate the R.H.A.S. on their successful attempt to import birds into the Islands through the kind offices of the owners of the R. W. Wood. I saw some time since a notice of a subject for discussion before one of our rural agricultural societies, which I commend to their attention. It was, “which is the most conducive to happiness, the cultivation of flowers or the manufacture of butter?” On the latter point I believe each member was expected to speak, in his churn.
MAIKELA
No comments:
Post a Comment