The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-02-02

Wv 1~f'
Mr.. Gibson spoke in the Hawaiian language
substantially as follows
Friends and fellow citizens of Lahaina
This day which commentaries the first land
ing Of Captain Cook on our shores should be
celebrated by every christianized and civilized
Hawaiian, and furthermore by the representa-
tives of every civilized nationality now finding a
home in this Kingdom. l cannot understand
why some should say, that only Englishmen
should celebrate this day, because Cook was
their countryman, any more than that only
Spaniards should commemorate the discovery of
America. We celebrate the introduction of
civilization and not the Discoverer although |
have no question in my mind, about the perfect
claim Of Cook to the discovery of these Islands.
When this great navigator was prosecuting his
researches throughout partially explored oceans,
it was then appreciated by several enlightened
nations that his enterprise was in behalf of
humanity, and though these nations were then
at war with each other their Governments issued
commands to their officers by land and sea that
the navigator Cook should be permitted to voy-
age in peace, and if needed be even helped on
his way and thus America, my country, and also
France took part by their protection of the Eng
lish Captain Cook, in the discovery OF these
Islands therefore all nationalities should take a
part in the cOmmemoration of a completed
period in the history of a nation and an archi-
pelago, which were wrested from oblivion in the
broad ocean, and introduced to civilization on
this day one hundred years ago.
| regret to notice the lukewarm or rather in
different feeling in regard to this occasion
throughout the country. l appealed in vain to
the Legislature of 1876 and to the Ministry then
in office, that some provision be made to COM
memorate our centennial. There were d few
honorable exceptions to this Indifference, but the
majority Of our public men seemed to regard
Hawaii as a prospecting ground without Il his
tory to commemorate, or a hope among the ma
k,o,, a~l tlnk H.. r,nk,lo eLN,o1 --~.-I-
fields of opportunity for transient Adventures to
fill their purses, and then 60 back to their old
homes. But [ rejoice that an interest is felt here
to commemorate Hawaii's Century here in
Lahaina, the once IS Ku!dnakauhahe Ain" the
ROYAL City. This was the home of Kahekili, of
kamehameha, of Liholiho, of kauIkeaouli, and
Vt all the Great Chiefs of Hawaiian history.
nd though her pride and beauty arc gone, her
| 0nging people are departed and she sits des-
ola ;, as a city, in her decay by the sea shore;
yet there is i remnant full Of national spirit and
hope, and who rejoice with our enlightened Gov
ernor Moehonua IN being permitted to take a
part in the of Hawaii's compile
ton of her first great cycle of history under the
era of civilization.
And what do we celebrate!
That you Hawaiians, who numbered no doubt
at least one quarter of a million of souls, when
the Discoverer came, have dwindled down during
the century to less than one fifth of that mum
Der? Shall we celebrate your decline to day,
and at the end of the next century your final ex-
tinction? Alas there are many thoughtless
men, coming and going throughout your noble
islands, who would have it, that this is all that a
Hawaiian centennial of discovery can signify.
They ask what could Il commemoration of Euro
pean discovery signify to the red men of
America ? Not much l dare say, to the root and
reptile eating Paiute of the Pacific Coast not
much to the swamp hiding Seminole of Florida
not much to the rude ice bound Patagonian
but what shall the Cherokee, and the Greek and
the Choctaw with their churches and schools,
and cultured sons and daughters. say or what
would the Aztec say, who finds solace in the pro-
lection of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, and
who behOlds at the same time the bloody sacrif-
cial stone of his foretathers, lying harmlcssly
now, 4 relic of the dark and bloody era, in the
Plaza of the city of Mexico These red men of the
continent may join with you, civilized and chris
TANNED Hawailans and say, that man lives not
by food alone that mere flesh and blood and bone
and sinew are not the whole of life and that
human life and nations are blessed, when knowl-
edge brings peace, the love of our fellow man,
and the hope of q better world and that these
things are more than savage strength, ferocity
and numbers, and it is for the hope and share in
these things that we assemble and commemorate
a period when first the light of knowledge had
an opportunity to dawn. But though | talk of
decline of numbers, | do not speak of any de-
cline of national power or spirit. Far from it.
The fifty thousand Hawaiians of to-day are
worth far more than the quarter Of a million of
a hundred years ago. What were the throngs
then lining these shores were they your fore
fathers any thing more than animals Look at
them crouching under the club of the chief or
the knife of the priest not daring to claim an
ownership in anything, not even their own lives
and then look at you, with your houses and
lands, and your right to choose your own rulers.
You are a nation. They were a horde. And one
thousand of you, with your knowledge and
equipments, would be more than Il match for all
the host of Kamehameha. Therefore, though
there is much to regret in the past hundred
years, there is much to celebrate.
Yet whilst we celebrate the era of civilization,
We must emember that the savage age brought
forth the greatest man of the century. The life
of Kamehameha fills the first quarter of one
cycle, and his name will be enrolled henceforth
among the great warriors and organizers of the
earth, dc stands forth pre-eninent among red
men there is not his peer to be found upon the
continent OF America, or among all the multitudin-
part of Hawaii. like Egbert the English chief of
q part OF England, fought like the latter against,
| may say, a heptarchy of other petty warning
chiefs, for the consolidation and pacifcation Of
his country. And when opposing forces were all
destroyed, the Hawaiian conqueror like the
Anglo Saxon, imposed laws upon all, even upon
himself, SO that peace prevailed through isles once
given up to rapine, and terror and the aged and
the little ones now lay down unharmed in the
highways.
AT the dawn of the century we celebrate,
Kamehameha was a brave and enterprising
youth, seeking like David of Israel to 60 to the
front, and take a part in action of high enter
prise. He was with his old uncle King Kalani-
Opu, or So Tereeoboo,'' the sam who received
Capt. Cook at Kealakeakua but at this time on
Maui, and here at this town of Lahaina, when
the Navigator, who had first touched on Kauai,
on the day VIC celebrate, came sailing along by
the shores OF this island. The English Captain
had airendy passed by the shores of Molokaf and
Lanai on either board without observing any
thing to attract his attention. But now he sees
the shores OF Maui fringed with the lovely
groves of Lahaina. The silvery sheen of the
candienut blends beautifully with the deeper yer-
dure Of the palmate foliage of the bread fruit.
Above all towers the lofty palms. And now are
heard the tattoo OF the native drum, and sounds
of savage reyelry. Soon a canoe appears bound
ing over the calm waters that are sheltered by
the lofty SUBMITS that overtop our town. In
this canoe is u comely youth of commanding