The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-07-06

Lll0I0 JOb ill
known quantity in the equation that we
must attribute 10 the political and social
factors of American institutions. We
have had to assimilate some of the best
and some of the worst blood of Europe.
To the hard working, insufficiently paid
and poorly fed of Europe, of sound body,
mind and morals, who manifest desire
for the improvement of their hard lot in
life, we should still say, come; but to
the congenitally incompetent, to half
pauperzed Polish and Bohemians; to
the Molly Maguires, the Anarchists and
to the ''Mafias," the Congress of the
United States should legislate as it
thinks, and tell their respective govern
ments "thus far and no farther"
These various products of the old
world, the result of feudalism, of aristo-
crazy, of bad government, of unfortunate
social conditions, or of whatever cause
or causes they may be, we do not want
in America. We have had enough of
them already. Our institutions, our
beneficent system of public schools, can
do much to improve, to harmonic, to
nationalize, yet they may be taxed too
heavily.
Let us now note briefly though we doit
with all reserve, one or two of the higher
accomplishments of the American people.
With SO much energy and thought alb
sorbed in things material, they have
done something for things mental and
moral. Yesterday morning. at the tap
of the school-bell, 100000 of children,
from the hut to the mansion, marched
orderly into the public school, in which
they are instructed at a cost of $120, 000,-
900 a year, in every branch of positive
knowledge, and in the principles of good
morals and free government, more pow
erful for civilization than the 4 Zoo, 900
bristling bayonets of Europe combined.
The author of the American Common
wealth was astonished, he said, at the
large number of able young men, of the
highest attainments, connected with the
better class of American universities, at
small remuneration, when SO many OPP
portunities offered in other directions.
Their original work also was of the high
est order, resembling in painstaking ac-
curacy and originality the best work
done by the Germans.
In the domain of the science of nature,
American investigators have had, if not
foremost, at least a conspicuous place.
The grand law of the conservation of
energy, ranking with that Of gravitation,
was first brought to the notice of the
scientific world by plain Connecticut
school master, Benjamin Thompson
better known as Count Rumford. In
geology, Americans are among the fore
most. In astronomy, both in the per-
lection Of their instruments and in ORR
ginal work, they rank high. In poetry,
history and fiction it were an insult to
your intelligence to mention the names
of SO many whose fame, no doubt, will
be enshrined in the memory of posterty.
Our democracy, schooled in freedom
| of word, thought and action, loving lib
erty, hut impatient OF license, has fos-
tered the inventive genius of the people
| until no other nation can be compared
with them in the invention Of machines
Tor lighting of labor.
1t is sometimes thrown at us as a re-
proach that we do not, under our own
elective system get the best men in
office. What system always does? In
the highest office in the gift of the peo-
pie, that of President of the United
States, the people have chosen those,
all of whom have been men of respect
able abilities, some distinguished states
men, and no scandal attaches to one OF
their names, either in public or private
| life. In times of anxiety or national
peril, they have proven themselves born
leaders. They take on the burdens Of
office willingly, l admit, yet they lay
them down as gracefully at the behest OF
the people.
Is there not something, ladies and
gentlemen, simple and impressive in the
| oLo Of hn hiChnCf off in
the gift of IS, 900, 900 of free people? The
chief ruler of this mighty nation, stand
| ing with bowed head, ready at the
swearing-in of his successor, to steE
| down and out, and take his former place
as simple citizen, is an act of simple
grandeur, compared with which the
pomp and circumstance OF Charles VIZ
abdication seem piece OF burlesque
acting.
With all her splendid possibilities O
power, the United States has shown ne
disposition TO overawe the weak, nor tC
bow the knee to the strong. She has
shown herself helpful and not con
descending to her weaker neighbors.
This little kingdom, whose abort
lgines, kindly and manly in character ,art
so we'll deserving of sympathy and con
|
no doubt she will receive in the future
in every way the kindest and mos
substantial friendship from her grea
neighbor.
A word as to the future.
| l am aware of the fact that prophes,
is dangerous and that comparisons ar
inyidious. But from any point c
view, taking into consideration, ever
in crude way, the variou
sociological factors, now plainly vi>i
BILE, future such as no other nation
can hope for, lies plainly in the path c
the United States. The ripest of Europ
can statesmen would scarcely hazard tn
prediction that any one of the politica
institutions of Europe will stand the ties
of fifty, aye, even ten years. The mos
pessimistic American does not dream c
changing one essential feature of tn
American structure of government. II
principal features appear to be as pei
manently established in the affections {
, Americans as the eternal and rock-ribbe
hills are upon the face of the continent
!, And when the immense energies thu
, throb in the life and brain of her peopl
shall have Gained; when doing sha
have given place somewhat more to Ii,
ing; that she may develop ciyilizatio
better than any yet attained by man,
, science, in art, In literature, in religion
using her influence in the future, as
the past, for good will to men and peao
: among the nations, is the sincere wis
/ as it is the fond belief of every Anne