The Hawaiian gazette., 1880-12-01
NATToNAL LIFE.

copy the1sof is herewith placed at your service.
Yours sincerely, A. o. FORBES.
NATIONAL LIFE.
A Thanksgiving Discourse delivered in Fort
Street Church. Honolu1u, Nov. 20, 1880,
by Rev. A. O. Forbes.
Acrs xviii "a e6 and PRovERBs xiv, a." God, that
made the world and all things therein hath
made OF blood ali nations of for to dwell on all
fore appointed and the bounds Of their habiatiou.
righteousness exalfeth a milton, but sin is re-
proach to any people,"
We meet to-day to observe custom which is not
only most appropriate in itself, but also fraught
with hallowed associations.
While it is most fitting that men should offer
public thanksgiving to the Almighty and overflow
ing Heavenly Father for His many bentfcent gifts,
there ara to those of us whose birth and early
training in the land of the glorious old Star
Spangled Banner, many precious memories run
ming back to Thanksgiving Day. with its customary
sermon, and its festal gathering of tho family
.ribe under the old roof-tree. And doubt not
many of you to-day are in thought journeying back
to the old homestead with a loving smile and
warm greeting in your hearts for the dear ones
gathered there
How fitting therefore that we should meet here
to give expression to those thoughts, and to unite
with the loved ones far away IN the beautiful
tribute of praise and thanks to the common Father
of eli, whose children are, whose loving kind
ness and tender mercies are SO abundant toward
us, who has given US SO beautiful world as this
turn to the great Eternal Thanksgiving in the bliss
full Heavenly Home.
Thus meeting here on these beautiful isles of the
ocean, 1t seems little strange at first to miss the
wintry breath of the northern cline, which in the
home land proclaims the advent of thanksgiving
time, and thus gives to this observance an epochal
significance as marking the transition from sum-
mer fullness and autumnal glory to~wlnters cold
brilliance of ice and snow. But surely we have
cause for thanksgiving in this mild and delightful
climate; these hills and valleys clad IN perpetual
Al -Nsn.E- r III
piling the clouds in massive grandeur around our
noble mountains, and these wonderful lessons in
molten rock which ever and anon unfold them
selves before our eyes as if to paint IN matchless
strength and power upon our mountain sides the
greatness and majesty of God that we may realize
the lttleness and feebleness of man. If there are
lessons IN stones and sermons in running brooks,
surely there are greater ones In blllows of liquid
rock and roaring torrents of solid fire. And if it
be privilege to 81. at the feet of earthly masters
for our education, surely it is much greater one
TO receive these sublime lessons from the Great
Teacher of all.
might go on to speak of the many other reasons
for gratitude in the prevalence of peace, the estab
lshment of the principles of justice and good gov
eminent, the progress of sound educatlon the diff
fusion of Christian light and influence and the
increase of material prosperity in this Island
Kingdom in which we are privileged to dwell. But
it is not necessary. prefer to-day to call your
attention to some thoughts suggested by the words
of my text.
We have in these verses the announcement
that God that made the world and all things
therein, hath made of one blood all nations of
men for to dwell all the face of the earth, and
hath determined the times before appointed, aud the
bounds of their habitdtion."
Here we have declared the general doctrine of
the essential unity of mankind, and of the exist
ence of the nations "parts of the worlds provi-
Dental order" And in the verse from Proverbs,
righteousness exalteth nation. but sin is a re-
proach to any people" we have given the true
source of national life and prosperity.
While, on occasion like this, We do not desire
to enter into political discussion, yet cannot ig
more the fact of our individual interest In and re-
sponsbiity for the welfare of the Hawaiian nation
and government, within whose territory and under
whose laws we live. An0 it is usual to give pat
riotic turn on the utterances on these occasions,
trust it will not be thought amiss if to-day we
dwell for while on the subject of National Life.
Nor should it be thought that in this observance
of distinctvely American day, our patriotism as
Americans need interfere in the least with our 10y
atty as Hawaiians
Cosmopolitan society here is, the citizens of
every nationality who reside the soil of Hawaii
nei, and yield obedience to her laws are just as
much part of the Hawaiian nation, and have Just
much right to the privileges of such claim, as
those who gather from every cline on England s
Shores or swarm out upon the broad acres of our
own beloved home land And, indeed, one of the
strongest safe guards this Hawaiian nation can
have, is that the distinctive patriotism of those
who come here from Germany and France and
England and America and other nations be kept
burning bright and clear in each breast.
1t has been well said that " the more strong and
hearty and pure the attachment one feels towards
his own nation, the more likely he is to sympathze
with the patriotic citizens of other nationso
The grand truth of these words must be patent
to every thoughtful mind. And it is this cultiva-
tion of the spirit of true patriotism which tends
most powerfully TO unity national life and exalt
the brotherhood of man.
Says the late F. d. Maurice, Z" If l, being an
Englishman, desire to be thoroughly an English
man, must respect every Frenchman who desires
to be thoroughly a Frenchman, every German who
n he fhnr0nOlalp a I rrQf i'm
more of the grandeur and worth of his position,
the more l estimate the worth and grandeur of my
own. Parting with our distinctive characteristics,
we become useless to each other; we run in each
others way; neither brings in his quota to the
common treasure of humanity
Beside such noble words as these how contempt
IDLY mean and dwarfsh all petty appeals to
mere self-conceit or to the still lower and more be-
hitting jealousies of race and prejudice of color.
Surely, only folly or ignorance or downright knav-
cry could stoop to pander to such base and mis-
chievous motives in the conduct of human affairs.
We then, as Americans, may justly adopt the sem
timents of the writer above quoted, and cordially
invite the citizens of all nationaties on these ISL
ands to unite with us in the lessons and good
cheer of this day. And let this Hawaiian nation,
from the King on his throne, to the humblest sub
ject IN his cot be assured that they have truer,
warmer friends, no more loyal and patriotic citi-
zen5 than the dwellers here from other countries
who are the most loyal to the patriotism of their
own native lands.
You will observe that have spoken of the uni
eleNdt10B influence OF true PATRIOTISM.
The qualifying adjective here is of great impor-
tance. for there is large amount of false patriot
ism among men. Mere sound and buster and ar
roSant strutting do not constitute patriotism any
more than they do courage. The mere braggado-
clo OF loyalty is as cheap the air through which
1t resoundS. The mere venting of epithets, and
loud mouthed cry of ''traitoi," and "rebel,''
hurled unfortunately at abiding men or com
munitles remind us of the pseudo-y -yirtuous cry of
stop thief " from the runaway pickpocket, and
Will pass for what they are worth, among all true
and sensible people. But all this is far from
PATRIOTS as the north pole is from the SOUTH The
genuine patriot is true to his manhood true to his
fellow men, true to the sacredness of Justice true
TO the behests of righteous government and true
70 the best interests of his country whether 1t be
his by birth or adoption. His is the patriotism of
principle, ever ready to stand forth in defence of
the right, and which in the hour of real danger is
ever the more steady that it is the more true.
And the higher the plane of principle in which
man moves, the higher and truer the motives that
actuate his patriotism So that may say without
fear OF contradiction, the truest patriot he whose
life Is most completely under the control of the
highest principles: he who is true, not merely to
man, but also TO God.
]. Ny first proposition to-day is that NATIONAL
LIFE Is EsEPARABLE FROM TRUE PATRIOTISM.
But what do we mean by a nation Ii is not
merely race or tribe inhabiting certain do
main. The lines of race are not always coincident
with those of nationality. England IS one nation
but how many different races are brought together
under her sway. The United States of North
America are one nation, vet what cornminplinp
OF various races constitute her population Our
own favored Hawaii nei is a nation, yet how many
different races are represented on her soil The
of communities within certain definite bounds of
TERRITORY. Acknowledging allepiancp In ono common