The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1881-07-06
The Fourth Of July.

The Fourth of July.
The national holiday of the Great Re
public broke pleasantly, and most of the
citizens were early aroused by the morn
ing salute fired from the battery at Fisher
mans Point. The first event of the day
was the procession of the Antiques and
Horribles " = the Boys" assembled in
Brewers yard about six o'clock-the route
was down Fort street, along King, Punch
bowl, Beretania, Richards, Hotel, and
Fort again, Emma and School streets,
Nuuanu Avenue, Judd street to General
Comly's, and returning by Judd street and
Nuuanu Avenue to the place of starting.
The houses along the route and in fact in
all parts of the city, were gay with bunt-
ing, and at the crossing of Fort and Hotel
streets, a pole, or rather a column of
Liberty had been erected, upon which
emblematical figures were painted and
tablets were hung from ropes upon which
were inscribed names of many of the
Presidents of the United States
The "Boys, though not so numerous
as they were '76, made good show and
there were some very comical dresses the
leader of the forces was especially dis
tinguished by his sword and enormous
spurs-Uncle Sam being carried along on
the back of his wife was very original, so
was DR.. Hombog, a German Physician
lately arrived in the Islands. Then there
were a pony and trap, which contained
very shy young negress, who told us she
couldn't drive any faster than she did be-
cause she always came against g Wall, "
two imps, Cinnamon, Indians, acrobats,
Uncle Sam, etc, ETC.; the tail end being
brought up by very brilliant, but lean
representative of Maud S. Cheers were
given at the houses of General Comfy and
His Excellency, Mr. H A. p Carter At
ten o'clock large assemblage of citizens
met at the Hotel to hear the Declaration
of Independence read, and orations made
by several gentlemen. The Hotel was APP
propriately decorated with evergreens and
flags, and a platform had been erected in
the centre of the grounds upon which were
seated, Dr. McGrew, the President of the
day, General Comfy, Mr.. S. B. Dole and
the American Minister Resident, General
Comfy, called DR.. McGrew to the chair,
making the following remarks:
"Before we enter upon the regular programme
of exercises, Mr.. Chairman, | wish on behalf of
my countrymen, to thank the Young gentlemen to
whom we are so much indebted for this beautiful
celebration of our countrys birthday. think it
may be called, speaking in the most dispassionate
manner, highly successful affair 1t warns the
heart to find in this far off beautiful country such
warm sentiments of regard for our native land.
We remember at the same time, to pay due res
pect to the memory of the eminent citizen whose
sad and painful death has recently shocked the
entire Kingdom. | have to announce to all pre-
sent that, while these public exercises do not seem
out of place, do not feel that 1t would be proper
IL TaNN
invitations have been accordingly withdrawn"
DR.. McGrew next addressed these intro
ductory remarks to the assembly:
FsIlor CouatrymsA, Citiseas Of the lrOrld ard
Friends of ABierica The Fourth of July
dawns upon us once more and we stand here to
commemorate the 1U5th Anniversary of American
Independence.
This is day of glorious recollections and sacred
memories and Is joined in by cOuntrymen
throughout the civilized world the same sentiment
and enthusiasm animated by the same Patriotic
Spirit" kindled at the same shrine, and burning
upon a common altar, pervades the heart of every
true American, wherever he may be found
will say to the young gentlemen who have Sc
lected me to preside on this occasion, that fully ap
preciate the compliment and feel honored by the
selection. 1t is on the young men, especially, of
the rising generation, that Our hopes centred,
for the future of our noble land America, they are
to be the master builders. Let then tine spirit of
the mighty dead in the conflicts of the past, and
which this holy day commentaries, animate them
always. Let their deeds and their examples spur
them to emulation, and to imitation, and so
may they live and grow more and more worthy of
the proud title, as they excaim,
81 AM An AMERICAN CITIZEN"
The Doctors remarks were followed by
music by the Hawaiian Band. Mr.. G. X.
Miller then read the Declaration of In
dependence. Mr.. Miller was dressed after
the fashion of the days of Washington, in
a blue coat, knee breeches, low shoes and
powdered wig After the reading, Mr.
Harnden led the " Star Spangled Banner"
which was vigorously applauded.
Mr. Dole next delivered this Grafton:
After century of Fourth of July addresses it
may be supposed that the resources of the subject
are pretty well exhausted. 1t is not so much that
a speaker on this day can say anything new that
his utterances are listened to, rs that Americans
ike 10 hear from time to time what they already
know about their countrys greatness, and that
generations of young Americans are ever coming
ON to whom the old story is fresh and inspiring
The discipline of the late Civil War In America
has been favorable to the development of the
tonal character. Experience has given dignity.
Spread-eagleism it is called is less conspicuous
than it was before the war 1t is said that every
cat carries its tail erect and proudly waving III the
air until il has caught ats first rat, after which
event that appendage is lowered and trailed near
the ground now the Civil War may be said to
have been Americas first rat, which brought with
it the resulting mudesty of dsmeanor.
The United States have had hard lessons to learn
and they have not yet learned them all. They have
great lessons to teach as fast AS they could get
them by heart themselves. The dogma of equal
rights to all, though 1t was set forth IN their de
claration of independence, Is not even yet fully
learned slowly and painfully through years of
shame and cost and sacrifice did they at length
find out that negro man; but this great
discovery did not illuminate the national mind,
and to-day fifteen years later, one in the United
States knows whether the Indian is man or a
wild animal. Neither have Americans securely
settled the question whether or not the authority
of the general government is sovereign over the
state governments. AT the present time the ayes
have it, but no one knows how soon a reconsidera-
ton of the question may be oalled. The century
has not been long enough, the Civil War instgated
to prnye the negative of this question not
severe enough to convince the whole people that
the republic is a government and not a confedera-
ton; and now, what war was powerless to accom-
plish is attempted through the regular avenues of
legislation.
But although the nation has not mastered all the
questions of government by the people, yet in her
relations with other countries she has learned
some of the most difficult lessons that govern
meuts have to meet she has demonstrated that it
is cheaper to acquire territory by parchase than
by conquest no war of conquest or of ambition
stains the annals of the republic. She purchased
Louisiana and its outlying territory from France.
Florida was bought of Spain. The annexation OF
Texas in 1919 brought on the Mexican war which
terminated in the triumph of the United States
armies and then in the moment of victory, in
pcssession of the enemy's capital instead of col
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