The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-08-14

Patriotism, in California.

Mr.. EDITOR The Rev. T.. Starr King has, with
in a month, several times delivered a lecture Oh the
new nation to issue from the war, iIrich is stirring
the patriotic heart Of California to its depths. 1t is
a production, in several important particulars char
acteristic Of Mr.. Kings mind and heart.
\ series Of glowing pictures sparkling with rich
poetic and witty illustrations form the staple Of the
most of his lectures. This one is no exception.
There is a sufficient amount of historic fact to sus-
tain the interest, ana n warm glow Of enthusiasm
that keeps hands and feet in constant reouisition.
Peals of laughter and applause are the orators ever
recurring reward. No deep train of argumentatiye
climax sweeps the soul TO some high mount of vision
and holds it there until penetrated with a high sense
of duty and responsibility. Il is rather a beautiful
pagent that passes, de.ighting your soul and warm
ing your heart, without demanding any stern think
iny. or in any way taxing unpleasantly. MIR. King
would fail Of his purpose, and depart from his
appropriate function, were ne to attempt anv thing
more. His clear ringing voice assists very material
ly in imparting interest TO the composition. One
always hears, and that is n great point. There is a
want of f~exibility il his tones, and his manner is
not always the most graceful; but his full glittering
eye. firm hard lips. clcnehed fist and general defiant
attitude, with his piercing deep utterance of passages
Of scorn or stern purpose. are most admirable. His
o NN~"N --N+- ~ At Na
excellent; while his clocution in passages of a more
ETHEREAL and poetic cast CRATES horribly at times. In
"A vord--he is eloquent, instructive, fascinating, but
not a model.
The papers will give you details Of the patriotic
exhibitions on the Fourth. \ fine procession en-
bracing all the military. and a few of the fire com
Panics, vAh volunteers from various different trades,
particularly butchers and liquor sellers. paraded the
principal streets; after which an grafton was deliv-
cred, by one of the heroes of the Mexican war, of
more than usual merit. In the evening a beautiful
display of fireworks, costing 50 5000 0 was witnessed
by from thirty to fifty thousand patriots.
But to one who has not for eleven years mingled
in such celebrations, the most UNIQUE and thrilling
feature Of the day was the display Of bunting.
Oh Glory draped the city. 1t streameI from
innumerable poles over all the city, from church,
hotel, theatre. and private dwelling, and from all
the maSts along the wharves ami in the harbor. 1t
futterei from many a window, aud wreathei the
doors Of many mansions. 1t hung in immense un-
dulatious from cords stretched across the streets, and
gli,tered over the heads of a greater number Of the
horses that that day appeared. Soldiers and boys
bore it above them, and girls pinned it IN their bo-
sons. Platt's Hall where a splendid Panorama is
being exhibited, was gaudy with one thousand flags
No possible place but 'the red, white, and blue
appeared to make ones heart wild with patriotic joy.
On the evening Of July 10Th another celebration Of
a patriotic nature took place over the passage of the
Pacific Railroad Bill. \ t~orchlight procession near
y an hour long, was very inspiriting, and gave
g~linpses Of a glorious future for this city already so
wonderful in the ~rapidity of It's growth.
Let no one any more say there is not an American
nation. We are nj Inst a nationality. This war is