The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-06-16
SCHOOL GRADUATING EXER.
CISES AT KAWAIAHA0
CHURCH.
Fourteen Diplomas Awarded-Large
Audience Present.

its utmost capacity last night at
the graduation exercises of the
class of '93 of the Kamehameha
school. The platform of the old
stone church was decorated with
potted plants, while on the walls
hung leaves Of tropical plants ar
tistically arranged. A picture of
the founder of the school, the late
Mrs. Bernice Pauahi Bishop, occu-
pied a prominent place above the
platform.
Revs. ". B. Oleson, retiring
President, and S. L. Desha occu-
pied seats on the platform. The
speakers were introduced to the
audience by President Oleson.
The exercises commenced with
an overture by the Hawaiian or
chestra under Prof. II. Berger.
Solomon Mahelona delivered the
salutatory address in a dignified
manner. After recounting the ad
vantages and disadvantages of
their school life, the speaker en-
trusted his classmates to their
future destiny, warning them Of
the dangers and difficulties which
they might encounter in their new
field of action.
Abraham PHI enumerated the
class statistics. He said that the
present class of '93, of fourteen
members, started with thirty-seven
members when the school was
established in 1887. The young
est member of the senior class is
10 years old, while the oldest is in
his 23d year.
Music, entitled daylight" by
the glee club, was encored.
A discussion followed entitled,
Resolved, that an income tax is
desirable for this country" Jas.
Harbottle spoke in the affirmative,
saying that as the rich receive
more special benefits from the gov
eminent than the poor, therefore, it
was unfair and unjust to levy an
equal income tax on the rich and
poor alike The rich should pay
more.
William Meheula contradicted
the opinion of the first speaker.
He observed that some do not re-
ceive special benefits from the gov
eminent, such as bankers and
ministers of state. He contended
that these were elected to office be-
cause they were worthy.
John Mathematical did not
agree with Meheula. He held that
bankers were indirectly benefited
by the government, as the planters
aid the bankers. The same is true
of men in other vocations in life.
David Al seconded Meheula's
arguments. He believed that an
income tax would fall on people
unfairly, as some received more
benefits than others.
The whole discussion was lis
tened to with great attention by
the audience. The delivery of the
boys was excellent.
The school chorus then sang the
Mermaid song, in a manner that
only Kamehameha boys can sing.
K. Kanehe read, in a very clear
voice, an excellent composition en-
titled, Homes for Hawaiians."
He laid particular stress on the
great Importance of native Hawai-
ians owning their own homes, and
not being obliged to rely on the ia
vors of friends for a place to lay
their heads. The crown lands
should be divided among the Ha-
waiian people who have no homes.
He spoke with great earnestness
and stated that if fortune favored |
him he would soon have a little
cosy cottage of his own.
a second discussion on live ques-
tons of the day next followed. |
The resolution was: ''Resolved, |
that large landed estates are harm |
full to national development"
Noah Kauhane spoke affirna-
lively.
Henry Blake proved that % the |
crown lands were harmful to ma |
tional development because they |
prevented settlement, (2) grazing
lands and 81 plantations were in
furious to the national welfare.
Isaac Harbottle could see no
harm in large landed estates. /
Without them he believed that I
public institutions could not be
developed nor new enterprises
started.
Samuel Mahuka, of base ball
fame, argued that plantations were
injurious to the national character,
because they encourage immigra-
ton to the detriment of the citi-
zens. Immigrants which benefit the
planters do not build up the
country. He favored the leasehold
system as the way to get out of the
difficulty, and believed that en-
ployers and employed would De
mutually benefited by it.
Robert H. Baker, Jr, could not
see it in that light. Experience
had taught him that the sugar in
dustry was the mainstav of tho