The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-22
SATURDAYS PARADE.
History Of the Hawaiian Islands
Symbolized.
The RarbarIe Past Exhibited Side by
Side With Modern Civilization.

For a few hours in the forenoon Of
Saturday last rain was suspended. The
sun shone out gloriously and shed the
radiance Of his countenance upon a
scene which led the majority Of the
population Of Honolulu 10 don their
holiday attire. The natives formed the
most conspicuous element III the gay
and festive gathering which thronged
the streets, and never were the floral
leis and circlets Of evergreens in which
the gladness Of the native mind is wont
to hnd expression sported with greater
pride. Rarely has the merry laughter
Of the yivacious, pleasure-loving Hawa-
iians echoed and re-echoed on every
hand with greater unanimity: rarely, if
ever, has nation contemplated With
greater reason for rejoicing its rapid
transition from the crude customs Of, as
it were, but yesterday, and certainly
never has a people had more just cause
for self-congratulation upon the progress
it has made than had the Hawaiians on
Saturday last, when a retrospect Of the
last century was 50 appropriately typi
fed on 50 fitting an occasion as the
fftieth birthday Of a Sovereign whose
life has grown up side by side with that
Of this Young and Drecocious nation.
Doubtless there were many among the
mass Of happy countenances who failed
to fully appreciate the significance OF
what was passing before them, though
all could grasp the broad fact that the
occasion was one Of rejoicing; but on
the other hand, many there were whose
educational attainments and whose
general mental progress were such that
they were as competent as Europeans to
understand the symbols Of the pageant
The latter was in one sense unique,
even as the history Of the Kingdom has
been unique. In one respect its history
stands alone-stands out boldly as the
one example Of an aboriginal race who
have survived the onward march Of the
white man, who, recognizing the supe-
riority of his institutions, have recon
structed their own upon the same
moGel, and have thereby averted the
threatened catastrophe Of national an
Inhalation, Of which the advance Of civil
hzation has in every other instance been
the precursor. The Hawaiians, be it
said to their credit, have eyinced an apti-
tude for the usages OF civilized society,
in which they have no rivals; amid the
general ruin OF native dynasties they
alone have stood their ground, and while
preserving a cordial feeling of amity
towards the Powers whose emigrants
have visited their shores, have received
from these that instruction which has
enabled them to maintain their
status as an independent nation
Such were the considerations which
impaired to the procession of Saturday
last its peculiar significance, and rend-
cred it one which King and people alike
might we'll look upon with pardonable
pride. First Of all, and apart from the
historic progress, was a demonstration
in the Palace yard by the Kilokilo So.
~ 5. The society issued FROM the
hosei pent of Iolani Palace, headed by
colonial James II. Boyd and Quarter
mast srA General Nowlein. The members
who foAowed were clad in their frater-
mai reg Nia, insignia and uniform, the
latter Consisting of white robes,
surrounded by yellow silk malo and
cloak OF yellow feathers. The male
members, to the number of about 30,
took precedence, and Immediately be
hind them were the female members,
numbering about 60 To the rear of
them were the Hon. J. /. Kaulukou,
Marshal of the Kingdom, attended by
two torch bearers; Mr.. J. F. Colburn, I