HAWAIIAN INTELLIGENCE

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 4, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 31.

HAWAIIAN INTELLIGENCE.

In a speech advocating Hawaiian annexation, Hon. Marion de Vries, of California, paid this tribute to the intelligence of the 109,000 people who have just been added to the citizenship of the United States:—

“The intelligence of a people has never been so recklessly mistaken or misstated as that of the Hawaiians. It seems we are accustomed to assume their ignorance, when, in fact, man for man, they are as well educated as almost any people on the globe. Indeed, their standard of education compares well with that of any State of the Union. Almost every adult Hawaiian can read, write, and speak the English language. That is the language taught in their schools. About one-half of the Portuguese on these islands are equally as well educated. The remarkable showing is made that their laws require compulsory education, and that of 14,286 eligibles, 14,023 children actually attended school in 1896. Their school system compares favorably with any of the world.

“Annexation, therefore, would not bring us a mongrel, ignorant race, but a race whose standard of education is good, and among whom are already established schoolhouses and a school system rarely excelled.”