The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-16
MONDAY November 10th.
NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

The occasion Of the Kings birthday is
very properly made national holiday,
in which all the inhabitants OF the
Kingdom may participate TO that end;
every place Of business viii be closed to-
day, and our fellow residents, native and
foreign, viii have an opportunity of a
days pleasurable and rational enjoy
ment. At the same time, as is emf
nently becoming and proper, the foreign
representatives, and civil and military
officers, will pay their respects to His
Majesty.
King Kalakaua was born November
Is, 1886, and is therefore forty-nine
years of age. Owing to the failure of
the direct line of the Kamehamehas,
and the last King of that illustrious
House having died without designating
his heir, according to the Constitution,
the Legislature elected David Kalakaua,
high chief of ancient lineage, King of
Hawaii, on the 18th. of February, 1874.
The King-elect was inaugurdted the day
following his election, and nine years
afterwards, on the 18th of February,
1888, His Majesty WAS crowned with
appropriate ceremonies at Iolani Palace
His Majesty's reign of eleven years
and nine months has been in many
respects noteworthy. His purpose and
policy were embodied in the phrase used
by him in a speech at Kawaiahoa
Church soon after his elevation to the
fI,rono-( &C Hoo,,I,1 ab,1i ;norooSo 4ba
nation That was his watchword he
said, and well and nobly has he kept it.
In 1876 His Majesty visited the United
States, and was instrumental in pro-
curing the ratification of the Reciprocity
Treaty with the United States, which
has accomplished so much for this coun
try. 1t was the beginning of new era
for the Hawaiian Kingdom, pouring in a
golden stream from the States for per-
manent investment, and attracting an
educated population, full of enterprise
and energy. The first fruits of this new
industrial and commercial departure
may be witnessed on every. hand in
Honolulu, and is to be traced almost
everywhere throughout the Islands.
In pursuance of his settled policy to
s'increase the nation" His Majesty un-
dertooIx a. tour of the world, his purpose
being to promote immigration of a
suitable character to assimilate with and
build up the native race, whose rapid
decadenee is a matter of regret to all. His
reception by Oriental Sovereigns and the
- OF dis
tingllished and fattering character, and
this Journey contributed not little to
the position of honor and respect which
the Hawaiian Kingdom now occupies
among the Sovereign States of the world.
The favorable impression which His
Majesty created at Japan was followed
by conspicuous acts of friendship on the
pari of the Mikado's Government, re-
sulting in the commencement of a
movement of population from Japan to !
this country, which is certain to effect
permanent industrial changes beneficial
to Hawaii. The Portuguese immigra
ton is also traeeable in no slight degree
to His Maiesty's European tour.
King Kalakaua has thus the satisfac-
ton of knowing that he has strengthened |
and increased the nation during his
reign; that its wealth and productions |
have increased enormously under his |
rule; and he has the further satisfaction
of an intelligent Sovereign in feeling that
it is now impossible to check the onward |
progress of his country. Its destinies
= II
wise rulers these are as easily fore
Swallowed as they are pleasing to contem-
plate Under King Kalakaua's reign
retrogression cannot be anticipated.
His Majesty is now in the prime and
yigor of manhood, with a long and pros
porous career before him. That he may
live long and happily is the wish and !
hope of all the people, Hawaiian and
foreign alike.