The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-07-11
Them followed the
Grafton by Rev. l.. IL. GuIick.

~Low-CIuZE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMER
IcA We to-day celebrate the completion Of the
pinety-second year OF American Independence. Every
emblem Of American nationality on all this earth,
to-day futters in the air and rejoices in the light of
Heaven. From the Atlantic TO the Pacific, from the
risings Of the Mississippi 10 Florida's coral girt shores.
and wherever on this rolling globe an American is
found, there to-day the Stars and Stripes are waving
their proud joy. The crowded centres Of European
civilization and Conservatism to-day re-echo to the
glad shout Of American freemen, no less than the
cocoa-shaded shores Of many n sunny island of the sea.
We do well, Fellow Citizens of America, in re-
spending TO the call of the Acting American Minister
for n celebration Of this day. The official representa-
tives Of America should ever be leaders in developing
and consolidating heightened national sentiment
among American citizens On Hawaii nei.
Our hearts beat the more proudly also to-day from
the privilege Of extending u Fourth of July welcome
90 Capt Simpson and all the gallant Officers of the
.MoAoago-a welcome which transfers to them what
we so recently rendered TO the patriotic Commander
and Officers of the L0csal1anna.
The Fourth of July celebrates one of the most truly
glorious of all the epochs in the history Of nations
an epoch Of intensest interest, not only to all who
hold the high birth-right Of American citizenship,
but TO every man who breathes- The Fourth of July
is n jubilee for all Of every nationality who rejoice in
Freedom and Progress. All history has been modi-
fed, and will be more and more affected by that De
claration Of Independence adopted by the original
thirteen United States of America on the 4th day of
July, 1776i There is no inhabitant Of the earth
whose interests have not been, and will not be in
CrcdeluKly, bucclcu Dy n DlrlQ anu prORrcsS OI lad
erty in America Those who set themselves athvart
the line Of human progress, have reason for taking
IN interest, full Of fear, in the country and in the
history this day represents and all who would, I'M
der any form Of government, further the advance Of
the people in intelligence, virtue, and power Of self
government, will instinctiyely join with US to-day in
gathering lessons from recent American history.
With what enthusiasm, then, may We " to the manor
born" take n rapid survey of American politics dur
ing the three years Of peace since the great rebellion,
with n few notes on the recent advances Of Freedom
in other nations.
Lassitude and political inhdelity have been de-
elArcd the necessary consequences Of revolutionary
struggles IL need not be denied that America ex-
pericnces las=itude from over-exertion, and something
u the political inhielity TO principle, incident on a
bloody war But We unhesitatingly assert that there
has been far less Of depression and exhaustion than
ever before followed such n struggle.
Notwithstanding all the admixiures Of wicked mo-
tive, which neei not be denied. the war Of the great
rebellion was more truly and more purely one OF
principle than wars 81 such magnitude have ever
been and the winning side had still. when posce
arrived, their principles 20 sustain and guide them.
Great and unparalleled leniency has indeed been
shOsTn towards political criminals ; as it came, how
ever. not from supineness, but from true forbearance
%(whsther wise or unwise), We refuse TO charge ii TO
the nations disadvantage.
From n nation Of shOP-kecpers and farmers, they
suddenly became n nation Of soldiers and when the
end % the war WAS gained, they Transformed their
swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning
hooks, and fastening back To their farms and shops
were ready for the still more testing struggles Of po-
Etical reconstruction. No essential point Of right has
been slice yielded through inadveTtance or supine-
ne-S. On the contrary, in the face Of great obstacles,
the nation has moved steadily on in the line Of Free
dom. and has securei even more IN three years Of
peace than during four glorious years Of war.
As Americans We have reason To glory in the ret