As Israel in ancient times sat weeping by the waters of Babylon listening to the plaintive songs which arose from their singers, so sits Hawaii in grief and mourning to-day and to Her our bard sings:

I had a dream, I saw a vision pass before me,
Long ages past arose in swift array,
Adown the stream of time my fleeting fancy bore me
From age to age unto the present day,
Far o’er the southern sea I saw brave ships a-sailing
From isle to isle, till at Hawaii’s shore
They touched, and soon with joy the natives came, them hailing
With pious awe, incarnate Gods of yore,
From all the land they flocked with speed to see the stranger,
Adoring gave their gifts both rich and rare,
But time brought fuller knowledge, knowledge brought its dangers
And Captain Cook’s life paid the forfeit there.
And down the stream still visions came a-floating;
Vancouver came unto this race so brave;
Restored the friendship Cook had lost; while noting
That Britain ne’er would hold them as her slave.
Still swept the vision on with flight so speedy;
One ship alone this time comes into view—
America’s gift unto these islands needy,
Peace, love, goodwill—and Christianity too.
Right lovingly was welcomed each new teacher,
The people flocked to hear good news so true,
That more and more it seemed to every preacher,
The harvest plenteous, but the laborers few.
And time flew by on wings. The isles grew fair, and fairer;
One Briton thought to seize them for his land,
But Britain’s Admiral, our independence bearer,
Restored the flag midst praise from every hand,
The years passed by. Through all the land there rose the steeple—
The preacher controlled all with kindly hand;
Give land and constitution to your people!
(O King! Give heed!) and God will bless your land.
Year followed year. Changed Kings and constitution.
The stranger increased: took mortgages on land:
Kept Hawaii’s daughters, sisters, wives in prostitution:
Spread poverty and vice around on ev’ry hand.
Still years rolled on. With sugar now grown wealthy,
The foreign Christians lifts his eye around,
And says: “For me no doubt the climate is most healthy,
“Tho’ poor and dying Hawaii’s native sons are found.
“Some seventy years ago we gave this land the Bible
“And tried to teach them then its use,
“(To say we’ve showed them poor examples is no libel)
“And fair exchange ‘t will be to cook their goose.
“Their cries for right and justice soon we’ll stifle:
“Take for ourselves this Paradise on earth.
“If they object, we’ll each one tap our rifle,
“And call for help upon our land of birth.
“Unfit to rule with all these years of training—
“(We’ll spread the lie around on every hand,)
“You’ll see they’ll let us do it, uncomplaining,
“For they have got our Bible, and so we’ll take their land.”
At this a noise awoke me, and in wonder
I saw the very instance of my dream.
Hawaii’s Queen and Natives were put under
To bolster up their money-getting scheme
And now forth from them goes across the waters
One last appeal for Justice and for Right.
Preserving peace, Hawaii’s gen’rous sons and daughters,
Before God’s throne on high, in prayer unite:
“Great God! the Judge of All! The records thou art keeping!
“Look down in mercy on our sad estate!
“Be kind unto us! Hear our voice of weeping!
“Till thou restore, grant us in peace to wait.
“And thou, great nation! home of truth and bravery!
“Freedom’s defender! we pray thee us O, hear!
“Restore our Queen and us; now, as in slavery,
“Held by usurper’s armed fear.
“Restore our rights and help us to maintain them!
“O let our prayer be crowned with success!
“Our conduct and your friendship will retain them,
“The God of nations will for ever bless.”

[This mele was probably composed by Kahikina Kelekona, J. G. M. Sheldon.

The image taken from the microfilm is hard to make out at the bottom. Hopefully there will be funding found to have the Hawaiian-Language Newspapers be unbound and rescanned clearly. How can you get to all the pearls stored in the newspapers if you can’t make out the words?]

(Hawaii Holomua, puka pule, 1/28/1893, p. 4)

Hawaii Holomua (Puka Pule), Buke III, Helu 5, Aoao 4. Ianuari 28, 1893.