The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-12-11
AUVEkIINEk NUFfuHIWhN |

under 'tbat terrible malady which becloudcd hIs
reason for 20 many years, but was carefully
nursed'oy his ever faithful friends Mrs. Irwin
and Rev. John Newton. Hume had but one
year mere Of life, dying in l776. while Goldsmith
had passed away IN l1T4. Gibbon ~as writing
the history Of the Decline and Fall Of the Roman
Empire, 80 was Robertson that Of America.
Paley was a fellow with Pitt az cambridge, while
Lord Nelson was q midshipman OF seventeen.
Before crossing the Atlantic to glance ar affairs
IN America, / desire TO call your attention TO four
boys who were each six years old in the year
II1J. At the mention Of their names, what
visions OF war, carnage, revolution and progress
rise to view /, Their historic names are Napoleon
Bonaparte, Duke Of Wellington, Mohammed Ali
Of Egypt, and the philosopher Humboldt, author
Of q" Cosmos In the year I775 Napoleon was
a youth in Corsica, the Duke Of Wellington an
Irish lad, MOhammed Ali a shepherd youth in
regions Of Albania, and humboldt was study
ing in the primary schools Of Germany. In
l77j, who could have foretold the illustrious
careers OF those tour bows The first destined TO
dictate terms to all the courts IF Europe and
overthrow thrones long established. but erelOng
to be conquered by the second and find his grave
on u lone island in tire Atlantic, while the third
made the Turkish empire 10 tOtter, and unless he
had been restrained by the combined fleets OF
Europe, might have himself become master Of the
Sublime Porte" IL was the destiny Of the
fourth to become the great explorer of nature in
the new world and to die honored by kings and
scholars.
The middle Of the latter half of the eighteenth
century was a period Of great religious depres-
sion and inactivity in England, except ar the
dead Journalism of the Church of England and the
Deism OF the age were assailed by Whitfield,
Wesley and their associates.
AMERICAN COLONIES. l775.
Let us now In Imagination leave the old world,
and crossing the Atlantic endeayor to form a cor
rect idea of the state Of political affairs in Amer
!ca. The battles of Lexington, Concord and
Bunker Hill were fought during the year l775.
and their centennial celebrations have awakened an
unwOnted spirit of enthusiasm and LOYALTY among
the American people. So far as the size Of
armies and the number of soldiers slain upon the
battle fields are concerned, those were small and
inferior engagements, but still they were deci-
sive battles. Great issues resulted from those
conflicts they commenced a bloody struggle des-
tined TO sever forever the thirteen colonies from
the mother country and establish the new repub-
lie Of America. Insignificant as those battles
may have been compared with the great battles
of Europe and subsequent battles in America.
yet they were the birth-throes of n great
nation struggling to gain an existence among the
nations of the earth. Bear in mind, however.
that the Declaration of Independence had not
been written the continental congress was in
secret session in Philadelphia. Washington had
left the quiet fields of Mount Vernon and was in
command Of the undisciplined army gathered
around Boston, b%eseiging the British troops in
that city, from which they dare not venture
forth. The autumn of 1875, or iust one century
ago, was a most dark and gloomy season for both
the Golonists and the army sent over TO enforce
obedience. Neither party knew what to do.
The period of negotiation and compromise was at
an end, yet who was able to lead forth the thir-
teen colonies to the land of Promise? There
were three million of people full of enthusiasm
and patriotism, yet they were without a national
and central organization they were without mill
tary leaders or the sinews of war. They had form
ed no foreign alliances, but were resolved however
to be free, yet how was the grand achievement to
be accomplished? A peep beneath the surface
of society often gives Il correct idea of what is
passing in public affairs. On the 9th of Noyem-
Der, 1775, Mrs. Adams, the wife of John Adams.
subsequently, President of the United States, thus
wrote in a private letter to her husband, then a
member of the continental congress in Philadel-
phia the letter was written from Braintree,
Mass, within hearing of the booming guns of
the English army in Boston If we separate
from Great Britain, what code of laws shall be
established? How shall We be governed SO as to
retain our liberty? Can any government be free
which is not administered by general stated laws?
Who shall form our laws? Who shall give them
force and energy? 1t is true your resolutions as
a body have hitherto had the force of laws. But
will they continue to have them? When | con-
slider these things and the preiudices of the peo-
pie in favor of ancient customs and regulations,
l feel anxious for the fate of our monarchy or
democracy, or whatever is to take place. |
soon get lost in a labyrinth of perplexities, but
whatever shall take place, may justice and right
eousness be the stability of our times, and order
rise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be
surmounted by patience and perseverance,"
Mr.. Adams replies AS TO what passes in
congress, | am tied fast by my honor to commu-
nicate nothing. But l never will come here
again without you, if | can persuade you to come
with me. We will bring master Johnny with
US, and we will be as happy as Mr.. Hancock and
his lady. Thank John for his letters John
writes like a hero glowing with the ardor of his
country and burning with Indignation against
her enemies o
The Johnny here referred to was none other
than John Quincy, who was then a lad in his
teens. All the dread realities of a civil war were
pressing heavily upon the colonists in their state
of disorder. They were hopeful and enthusiastic,
but still somewhat bewildered. As the year 1875
drew to a close the clouds settled down thicker,
gloomier and heavier. An expedition, fitted out
to conquer Canada, had proved Il failure under
the leadership of Benedict Arnold. The sad news
of defeat vac accompanied with the intelligence
of the death of General Montgomery, one of the
most POPULAR generals in the American army. At
the news of his death, IT is said, " the whole city
of Philadelphia was in tears. Congress pro-
claimed abroad bis valor and virtues, and caused
TO be reared a marble monument TO Richard
Montgomery. Burke in parliament pronounced
upon him a noble eulogium. Yet. replied
Lord North, Il cannot join in lamenting the
death of Montgomery rs a public loss. lie was
brave, he was able, he was humane, he was gen.
erous but still he was only a brave, able, hui
name and generous rebel. Curse on his virtues
they've undone his country" Fox retorted ::
The term rebel is no certain mark of disgrace.
All the great a~sserters of liberty, the saviours of
their country, the benetactors of mankind in all
ages, have been called rebels. We owe the con-
%stitution which enables us TO sit in this house, to
Il rebellion"
As we partially raise the historic curtain ant.
glance at passing events on both sides of the AT
lantic, during the year l775, we see many b I've
and noble men taking a part in that .lghty
struggle, which was not TO end until America
should achieve her independence. As an IIlustra-