The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-07-09
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
JUL o.

~ II
The Fourth of July.
IL Honolulu has become renowned for an
one thing more than another, it is for the en-.
thusiastic manner in which the anniversary oil
American Independence has always been kept
here 1t is observed as a holiday not simply by
Americans, but citizens of every country and
nation join in with a cordially which seems
to say that it is not alone the anniversary
of American Liberty but of universal freedom
Away back in the misty past, forty and fifty
years ago, ere newspapers and reporters had
elbowed themselves into Hawaiian civilization, the
day was honOred and kept as no other day was.
And the fact which we record Of the day here, IS
equally true of almost every other country in the
world. In China. Japan, India, Sydney and
Melbourne, in Chile and Peru, and even in the
European Commercial centers, the 4th of July
has become a great day. Last year, London
and Liverpool are said to have given the appear
ance of American ports from the immense
number of flags and ensigns displayed aAoat and
ashore on the 4th of July; predominant among
all which was the American, in honor of which
nation the day was kept. Dinner parties, with
toasts and speeches, were held there too.
But to return to our own city. As announced
IN the programme, at sunrise there was a salute
of IL consolidating the original number at
the formation of the United States. At 10
o'clock, a large and appreciative audience assem-
bled at the Fort Street Church, which had been
t~astefully decorated with flags. Above the pull
pit were displayed the Hawaiian and British,
while n new and gorgeous silk American FLAG
was spread over the pulpit desk. The exercises
opened with a voluntary and singing. The
choir consisted of thirteen young ladies and a
number of gentlemen, and the national ode of
" America" was beautifully sung by them. We
copy the first verse
My country, tits of thee.
Sweet land of liberty,
OF thee / sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land Of the Pilgrims pride,
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring
The Rev. 5. e. Damon followed in a PRAYER
full of earnestness, which found a response in
every breast. Rev. E. Corwin then delivered an
grafton which occupied some thirty minutes in
its delivery. 1t was intensely interesting, and
met with frequent and enthusiastic applause.
We have not heard a dissenting voice from the
opinion that the Grafton was one of the finest
delivered before a Honolulu audience. 1t was
the topic of the day. We understand it
will be published in pamphlet form. 1t was
followed by the national ode of
Hail Columbia.
Hail Columbia, happy land,
Hail, we heroes, heavn born band,
Who fought and bei in freedoms cause,
Who fought and bIed in freedoms cause,
And when the storm of war was gone,
Enjoyed the peace your valor won!
Let independence be our beast,
Ever mindful what it cost.
Ever grateful for the prize,
Let its altar reach the skies.
Firm, united, let us he.
RalIying round our Liberty?
As band of brothers joined,
Peace and safety we shall find, &c, &c
The exercises closed with a benediction by
the Rev. Rufus Anderson, u. D., of Boston.
Among those present we noticed all the Judges
of our court, their Honors E. II. Allen, G. NJ.
j. Ii and r.. G. Davis. Every for
representative, we believe, was also present,
Messrs. M'Bride, Synge, Varigny, Won
Holt, Heuck, Stapenhorst, Pauger, Caldwell,
Cartwright, Waterman, Shaefer, Wicke and
others.
There were numerous festive gatherings during
the after part OF the day, several of the most
prominent of which we will notice.
Picnic at Punahou College.
This was under the direction of the committee
Of thirteen, of whom DIR. r. W. Wood was
chairman, and was the only gathering open to
ladies' and children. After the proceedings at
the Church had closed, the road to Punahou
appeared alive with vehicles, and owing to the
liberal provision of the committee, ample con-
7eyances were had for all who wished to ride.
About II o'clock, a magnificent American flag
Was hoisted on Il pole erected for it on the Col
eye grounds, the choir and assembled multitude
inging the soul-stirring ode of
The Star-Spangled Banner.
say, can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we haiId at the twiight's last cleaning
whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
Der the ramparts we watched, were so calamity streaming h,
md rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
proof through the night that our flag was still there
say, does that Star-SpangIed Banner yet wave /
FER the land Of the Free and home of the Brave? q
The Declaration of Independence was next
cad by A. B. Bates, Esq, who introduced it with
very timely remarks on the circumstances 1
hat led to it's PRONUNCIATION in 1776. L
No more appropriate spot could have been f
hosen than the College, the ample grounds
round it a~fording an abundance of room for V
isitors, their horses and carriages. Under the s
irections of the committee Of arrangements, n C
lrge tent had been erected in front of the r
'ollege, beneath which were spread three long i