Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

it, then to leave them to their own convictions and inclinations; but the employment of any kind of coercion to induce men to become Christians, was contrary to the principles of our religion.'

The people of Raiatea adopted a code of laws prepared by Mr. Williams and Mr. Threlkeld. In that instrument, the wisdom and humanity of the missionaries shine beautifully forth. The facts, as rehearsed by Williams, are so very precious, as to demand transcription in his own words:- "The laws were but few in number, and drawn up in the plainest and most perspicuous language, entirely devoid of all the technicalities and repetitions by which the statutes of enlightened and civilized countries are too frequently rendered obscure and perplexing: for it appeared to us of the greatest importance that they should be so simply and clearly expressed, that they might be easily understood by the people for whom they were framed. We determined, also, as far as possible, to lay a permanent foundation for the civil liberties of the people, by instituting at once that greatest barrier to oppression, trial by jury. The same code, a little modified, was, after much deliberation and consultation, adopted by the chiefs and people of Rarotonga; and thus we trust that the reign of despotism, tyranny, and private revenge, under which the inhabitants of this secluded garden had so long groaned, has for ever terminated."†

These sentiments become an Englishman and a Christian missionary. The value of such a code may, by unthinking men, be deemed very small; but they ought to remember, that the first step towards rational

* Williams, p. 92.

† Ibid., p. 35.

freedom, is a movement of unutterable importance. The rudest elements of a system of true liberty, form one of the noblest and most glorious objects that this world can present to an enlightened understanding. How barbarous a picture of a South Sea despot, is given by Williams in his account of Finau! When the missionary proposed that he should receive a teacher, the savage said, that "as to receiving the new teacher, he would speak his sentiments freely, and not deceive us. If he was placed at Vavau he would protect him, but he would neither embrace Christianity himself, nor allow his people; for he would put to death the very first person, man, woman, or child, who did so."*

Such was the spirit that ruled in the breast of many a ferocious chief; and that spirit must be quelled, before free churches and free governments could be established in Polynesia. Matetau and Finau adopted and acted upon the same principle; they only differed in its practical application: the former said he would "make" his people attend to the religion of the Son of God; the latter declared that he would put to death the very first person who "embraced" it. Englishmen there are, of worth and learning, who hold this principle with a tenacious grasp, while they deprecate the employment of the power of the magistrate to uphold error, and would have it wielded only on the side of truth. They appear not to be rightly apprized of the difficulty, contradiction, and perplexity, inseparable from their theory. Some such there are who actually ascribe the progress of Christianity, in the South Sea Islands, to the aid which it derived from the civil power; the

* Williams, p. 82.

their

power of such men as Matetau and Finau! Mr. Williams has most happily, as well as instructively, settled this point. "Now this statement is not founded in truth. Having witnessed the introduction of Christianity into a greater number of islands than any other missionary, I can safely affirm, that, in no single instance, has the civil power been employed in its propagation. It is true that the moral influence of the chiefs has, in many instances, been most beneficially exerted. in behalf of Christianity; but never, to my knowledge, have they employed coercion to induce their subjects to embrace it. And I feel satisfied, that, in few cases, has the beautiful prediction been more strikingly accomplished, And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mothers.' Had the missionaries desired the exercise of that power, the chiefs were not in a condition to gratify them; for they had to defend themselves against the fury of a large portion of their own subjects, by whom they were so fiercely attacked. I am, moreover, happy in being able to contradict the assertion of Dr. Lee, because, were it true, it would have detracted from the honour of Christ, by the interposition of whose providence the great work has been effected: His own arm hath gotten him the victory.' Dr. Lee, and those who adopt his views, would do well to ponder such passages as the following, relative to regal interference. When the introduction of ardent spirits threatened the ruin of Otaheite, the parliament, or representative body, which Christianity had called into existence, assembled to consider the case; and, as it was new, they sent a message to the

* Williams, p. 50.

queen to know upon what principles they were to act. What was her reply? As head, not of the church, but of the state, she returned a copy of the New Testament, with this injunction, "Let the principles contained in that book be the foundation of all your proceedings." In Otaheite, the laws were framed according to Christianity; in Europe, Christianity has been moulded according to the laws.

But the wonders wrought by the gospel of Christ, are not confined to the moral and political economy of the several islands, considered apart. The best principles of international law, are fully brought to bear upon many of them. What Africa has long been to the impious and cruel nations of Europe, Manua was to the group of which it formed a part. "The inhabitants of Manua are regarded as a conquered people, and are, in consequence, despised and oppressed by the other islanders. Indeed, in most of the groups of the Pacific, one island was subject to peculiar oppression, and supplied the others with human sacrifices and slaves; and in single islands, particular districts were thus subjected. This was the case with the district of Arorangi, at Rarotonga, the chief and people of which dwelt in the mountains."* The demon of cruelty that reigned in those regions, retired at the sound of the footsteps of the servants of Christ. Those principles which excited abhorrence in the breasts of the islanders against human sacrifices, were equally efficient in the destruction of slavery. Indeed, the Christian islanders discovered, what the nations of Europe and the republics of America have still to learn, namely, that

* Williams, p. 125.

[ocr errors]

human sacrifice and slavery are but two sides of the same object, two degrees of the same crime; in the one case the murder is immediate, in the other it is prolonged; in both, the end is death! How reproachful to the slave-holding states, both of the Old World and the New, is the example of the chief of the Friendly Islands! On hearing that "Slavery was inconsistent with Christianity," he immediately emancipated all his slaves. Surely this man will rise in judgment against the inhuman planters of America, whose fields are watered with tears and blood, and whose groves are vocal with the groans of oppressed millions!

The laws which provide for life and liberty, always suffice to secure property. In former letters, we have heard the grateful testimony of the people to their emancipation from the thraldom in which they were held by the chiefs, and to the accompanying security of personal property which they enjoyed. Formerly, in many instances, the chief claimed a right in every thing that was acquired by his people; and the people, in their turn, seized as their own whatever belonged to strangers. The gospel put an end to this system of rapine. How striking and valuable, as illustrative of this and other points, is the language of Malietoa to Mr. Williams, when he inquired if the chief would protect the wives and property of English missionaries, in the event of their arrival. "Why," said the indignant chief, "why do you ask that question? have I not fulfilled my promises? I assured you that I would terminate the war as soon as possible; this I did, and there has been no war since. I gave you my word that I would assist in erecting a chapel; it is finished. I told you I would place myself under instruction, and I

« НазадПродовжити »