The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-07-06

] for an example OF the threatened decline
and fall of the American Republic
Those who know the facts OF American
history have no fear for our future; but
| the facts about America are not known
to many of the people in other lands who
| hear these croakers.
America has grievous blemishes in
her political history. There are still
problems which must be solved, yet !
believe in the present Of America. As
know the past also believe in her great
future. Americas golden age does not
| lie behind her-it is the iron age OF de-
velopment and war that we have passed
through-her golden age lies before her.
| | Join issue with the dismal host OF
croakers, and once for all claim that
| America is now far in advance OF what
she ever was in the past. Although it
| is not generally believed. | assert that
| America is row intellectually stronger
than ever bafore. Time throws de-
| ceitful glamour over history which makes
the past seem great. In the early days
of the Republic there was less confidence
placed III public men than to-day. Now
America has public men abroad who can
represent us without asking the advice OF
the French Minister, as was ordered in
early negotiations with England. In
early days there were few colleges and
few graduates in the country; now there
are many everywhere-some think
almost too many.
Great events develop great men. The
American revolution developed large
number of great and brave men-na-
tional crises always do. History but re-
peats the tale of great men springing up
in times of danger. In America the
year 1861 overmatched the year 1875 for
great men. The contrast of America of
to-day with America of one hundred
years ago can be illustrated in education,
in politics, in science, in the mechanical
inventions, and in the moral and re-
hgious tone of the nation.
My second point is that politically the
present of the American nation is the
best. L say this in spite of the croakers.
1t is seeming anomaly of history that
the present always is asserted to be the
worst, in spite of the facts. The Greeks
asserted this in their golden age of de-
velopment just as our croakers assert ii
of America to-day. l. hope you will not
mob me if l give you true picture OF
America in 1776. / quote the utterances
of both Washington and Adams against
the low state of public morals i'll those
days. quote Hamilton, who declared
that the nation had reached the last
stage of public corruption in his day.
There is a dark background to the
American revolution, and the instances
that can be cited are numerous. 1t is
true that the masses were willing to
make sacrifices, but many were willing
to trade in their country's war, as many
would be willing to do so now. Viewing
the patriotism of 1861 and comparing i,
with the past, it offers a pleasing con-
trast in love of country and love of lib
erty. These days are good still.
Political jobbery was so common in
the early days of the Republic that the
people did not even protest; now politi-
cal jobbery means political death to mer
holding offices OF public trust The PEG
pie have declared that jobbery and We
nality must go, and they mean the!
shall go.
Morally, America stands greatly in adj
vance of the days of 1875. Then public
morals were acknowledged to be low.
Years ago our ancestors held tea party
at Boston; before the party came of
they met at tavern and drank gallon
of punch apiece to get their patriotism
to the sticking point. They were ali
good men, however. One hundred and
six years ago Massachusetts was a slave
State In those early days the moral
condition of the country was fearful.
Even in matters of dress the past will
not compare favorably with the present.
In morals and religion, statistics clearly
show marked advancement.
Yet these patriots OF the past, who
made our present possible, were men
whom l revere and love. They went
straight forward in the line OF duty, with
price set upon their heads, and with
the gallows staring them in the face.
They have decided the past; the future
is before us, and rests with the Young
America of to-day. [Applause.l
THE NATIONAL SALUTE.
Alter the grafton, which was finished
shortly before noon, the large audience,
accompanied by the Royal Hawaiian
Band, sang The Star-Spangled Banner"
and as the people left the pavilion ma
tional salute of thirty-nine guns, one for
each State in the American Union, was
fired from the shore battery.
The Athletic sports.
There was a very large gathering at