The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-05-31


pie the people.
Far away from the home land in
these sunny Islands of the Pacific, in
ihis outpost of American civilization,
il is well for this American COLONY TO
devote a day to reviving the memoir
les of the glorious past, and thus to
keep alive the sacred flame of patri
otic love for the fatherlsnd. In all
countries we ought TO present such
pure and perfect type OF republican
America that all shall desire the boon
of Americanism, that there shall be
only respect for the institutions of
democracy. 1t is well to renew the
ties of association which bind us closer
to that land to think and talk of the
splendid record of those who have
only gone ahead. 1t IS well that the
animosities of the days of old are bur-
led; TO feel that the blue and the grey
are no longer divided but united and
brothers again with common love
for their common country.
Yes! Heap with flowers these rest
ing places of the glorious dead Let
the living place garlands of roses,
wreaths OF laurel upon graves Of their
departed brothers. Let us unite 10
keep their memories green.
AT PUNAHOU.
Memorial services were held yes
terday at Oahu College. The ex-
ereises were closed with the follow
ing address delivered by DR.. A. B.
Lyons:
We of Punahou should join ir the
observance of Memorial Day this year
with a peculiar interest. We are re
minded by the heavy tidings that
came to us yesterday that Punahou
had its representatives among those
who fought the battles of their coun
try in the great war that was desOlat-
ing America thirty years ago.
When L came to Punahou to enter
the class of "sub-freshman," l found
that there was one young man who
was universally recognized as the
leader in the school. L soon came to
admire, myself, as every one in the
school did, girls, / think, as we'll as
Armstrong-thatw was what we called
him-hiS pre-eminence. First in his
lessons-that was a matter of course,
and so he himself seemed to think,
without a particle of vanity-what
was the use of studying if he could
not thoroughly master each task
First on the play ground. Other boys
in the school were perhaps as well en-
dowed as he with muscular strength,
but none were his match, we knew,
when prompt decision and quick &C
ton were called. Self reliant, he in
vited and won our confidence in his
ability. Independent, manly, impet-
uous, yet forbearing and magnani-
mous-such was the Sam Armstrong
of Punahou school.
Soon after he went from us to study
elsewhere, there came to us the start
ling, soul-stirring news of the out
break of the Rebe!lion-of the upris-
ing of mighty nation to maintain
its integrity and to rebuke the great
wrong o, slavery.
We knew what to expect of Arm
strong. He held himself to his stud
les only to complete his college
course, which was nearly finished.
try-not the less his country that he
had been born in Hawaii nei-and
not alone. He raised a company of
his own, entering the service with
rank of captain. We, who knew
Armstrong, knew that he would
make a dashing and allie officer. We
heard of him-nOw leading a ,peri1ous
charge, again made prisoner ut Har-
per's Ferry, not through any misman-
agement of his own. Again doing
noble service with company made
up of stragglers, his own company
having been annihilated. Always
forgetful of personal peril-a noble
soldier. At the close of the war he
had risen to the rank of brigadier-
general, and you have known him al
ways as General Armstrong.
Freely be had risked bis life for his
country. What equally noble object
could lie find now IN which to engage
his powers? With his usual quick
vision he saw the need of the hour
for humanity. The slaves had been
emanci tated-they must be made
men, c1urageously he gave his ener-
gies to this gigantic task single
handed; how successfully the world
knows. But the world does not know
the strength of purpose and greatness
of soul and tremendous personal en-
ergy that were needed to accomplish
it. After such achievement. shall we
say that he is taken prematurely
from life? Nay, with full knowledge
of the value, he gave it freely for the
nobl st end he could choose. His is
the due to the hero who dies on the
field of battle. 1t is of him we shall
think to-day, when we join in remem-
boring those whose lives have been
given for those of their fellows. I
wonder how many of the Punahou
boys before me will, thirty years
hence, be worthy of a like browning?