The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-07-08

THB FOURTH At KAwAIAHAo-The Grafton
and other exercises arranged by the Commit
tee, for the Fourth, took place at KawSiahao
at 10 O'Clock on Saturday morning. The
church was prettily dressed with wrcsths Of
evergreen, and the desk of the pulpit covered
with the American Flag.
The President OF the day, Col 2. S.
Spauldiug. Acting Minister-ResideDI made
the following Introductory remarks:
Fsl,o,r Undergraduates asd Gentlemen:
To the accidental absence Of our Minister
Resident, who Is unfortunately prevented by
severe illness from returning 10 his post. /
owe the high honor Of being called TO pre-
side over your rvjoicings here to-day.
Cpon an occasion like this. when you as
Americans. and friends of America, are
gathered together TO commemorate the day
that gave birth to our nation, and TO cele-
brate the anniversary of an act by which :" life,
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness" were
guaranteed TO untold millions, it is fitting
that be who is charged and empowered by
our Government with the care Of her in
tersis and the protection Of her citizens upon
these Islands, should congratulate you upon
the prosperous close Of an old, and the aus
picious opening Of 4 new ycSr in the history
Of our beloved country. II Is, Therefore,
with the consciousness that j represent,
however unworthily, the Minister Resident,
upon whom you are accustomed 10 look as
the representative of the justice, dignity and
power Of our country, and that but express
his sentiments when say 10 you that feel
lit is good TO be here"
This is no unmeaning show. No idle or
curious motive calls you forth from the du-
ties of business or the pleasures Ct home
-
event in the annals Of history.
II means that the principles declared nine
ty-two years ago to-day, when that immortal
band of ffty-six patriots set their hands TO
the Declaration Of Independence, are just as
dear to Americans now IS then. II means
that the experiment OF self-government has
not failed, that the Republican bubble has
not burst; that, tried by the fiery ordeal of
civil war. our country has COME forth with =
new lustre and glory to her friends, and a
warning 10 her foes II means that you.
Americans. always loyal TO the Government
under which you live, fail not Ia your deyo-
ton 10 the land Of your birth, and TO that
proud emblem Of liberty and union, now
and forever. one and insepzrSble." II shows
that you heartily respond, from these rock
ribbed Islands of the Pacific, TO the praises
and thsnksciviags for the past, and the hopes
and PRAYERS for the future Of our beloved
country, which to-day are offered up from
Maine 10 California, and from the ST. Law
renee 10 the Gulf, by forty millions Of free
men, standing together upon the broad plat
form Of equal rights, and believing in thst
simple but beautiful creed, "the voice of the
people is the voice Of God" You are as
sembled here to-day. not &c do honor TO any
earthly prince or poteniSte, but TO celebrate
the Anniversary Of our nstionsi birth and
Independence Let Us not forget our indebt-
edness 10 Divine Providence for dis wafchful
care over the earlier growth of our nation,
surrounded as il Was by difficulties which
made its progress doubtful, but which is
now made sure by the exhibition of His
power in the miraculous liberation of four
millions Of souls, thus removing from our
councils the only element that could breed
trouble in orr body polite.
Fellow couniryneni Think not that our
country looks with indifference upon her
children in foreign lands. Especially pleas
ing IS the contemplation Of these Hawaiian
Isles. where she may point with pride 10 the
labors Of her noble sons and daughters, who,
in the introduction Of religion. the civiliEs-
tioa of 8 rzee. the formation of language,
and the establishing Of = system Of unpArsl
ieied general education, within less than
half century, have written one Of the bright
est pages in the history OF the world, and
have caused Americans everywhere to feel
identified with this nation, through the ls-
bcrs OF their eountrymen.
Let the future record Of Americans be as
bright and shining as in the past; let the
principles We cherish be exemplifed in the
character Of our citizens, and our country
shall continue to hold her right TO the high
title she has gained among the nations Of
the earth, Ss ''the land Of the free, and the
home Of the brave
After the applause had subsidized, the Pres
ident announced the Prayer, BY Rev. s C.
Damon; followed by the reading OF the De-
elarztion of Independence, BY J. W Austin,
ESQ; the orstiou Of the day, By Rev L B.
Quick. and Benedietien, by Rev Il. r. Par
ker- The singing by the Choir, under the
direction Of A F. Judd, Esq, was the pieces,
" Coiumbis, the GEN of the Ocean," and
The Siar-Spsngled Banner"