The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-12
FROM FAR HAWAII.
Dan Case Writes of the Reception to
the United States Soldiers.
Honolulu. Oahu. Il. 1. JUNG 3. 1ssS.

1t wildly as others, sun may De able
to give fair impression of Hawaiian SEN
timent and hospitality at present most
emphatically expressed towards America
and her noble defenders.
1t is safe to say that not an American
sailor or soldier has so far set foot on
Hawaiian soil who does not now realize
the full significance of the word Aloha"
No battleship transport has touched
these shores that has not evidenced I'M
mistakable signs as to Hawaii's position
in the present crisis between America and
Spain.
The second expedition to Manila, under
command of General Green, has come and
gone. Early Thursday morning five IA
miliar whistles announced the incoming
of some war transport. In this case it
proved to be the China, loaded down with
her 200 regulars and 900 Colorado boys.
The committee of one hundred, having
in charge the reception of the various
fleets of transports, were soon aboard
island steamer, accompanied by the gov
eminent band. and flags and bunting fly
ing at all masts, steaming out to meet the
boys. Along the wharves could be seen
a sea of good natured men and women,
pushing and jostling each other to get a
first glimpse of the blue-coated men from
America. AS the China came closer and
closer, cheer after cheer greeted the boys.
and heartily responded to the welcome Of
their found friends.
mittee had interviewed the general and
perfected arrangements for the boys to en-
Joy a sea bath at Waikiki, the famous
bathing resort of the Pacihc, and within
hour twelve hundred soldiers were
marching through the streets of Honolulu
on their way to the beach. Here a de-
lightful hour was given to the boys, who
waters of the Pacific to their hearts con-
tent; This over, they We're escorted back
to the city direct to the palace grounds,
where most unexpected feast was in
store for them. Here tables and benches
with a seating capacity for 5000 had pre-
viously been arranged. Many of these
tables stood beneath wide-spreading trees
OF the tropics, WhlIe over sun others
framework had been constructed which
royal palms. over each of these tables
presided some patriotic mother or daugh-
waiter, and here beneath the shade %
tamarind. ironwood and rubber trees the
since leaving the coast. What did they
have? An abundance of plain. substan-
water for those not drinking coffee, ba-
nanas, oranges, figs, mangOes. grapes,
mean every boy took in all of these but he
had them before him. A beck of the
Throughout this reception the Hawaiian
government band furnished the sweetest
Hawaiian air followed by America
Dixie, which would bring forth all the
patriotism in the boys and up would go a
Cheers for the band of HonoIIfIu > s"Three
cheers for the ladies of Honolulu Three
cheers for everybody of Honolulu Three
cheers for Honolulu and so the after
noon PASSED bv one round of Measure to
not alone the boys in blue but to every
loyal citizen of Honolulu.
Near by the senate chamber and house
of representatives were thrown wide open
to ali wearers of the blue and here hun
ink desks ali were free and Nv a mani,
nous resolution passed in the senate the
postmaster general was instructed to for
ward all mail of the soldier boys free to
Nor was this the limit of the free list.
Ihere were Tree cigars, free shaVes. free
tbe free beer ordered severai fbous9nds Of
free sOdas at the drug stores. Let it be
said to the honor of Uncle Sans boys
that no abuses arose from the free beer.
Personally, out of the thousands of sol
diers who have already passed through
Honolulu, 1 have seen but one man intOx-
icated. and he was just enough to be silly.
I do not say there were not others, but I
do say, all unite here in saying. that
never invaded city. We. as Americans.
are proud Of them as well their country
may be. 1t was easy to see they were
not tOughs and the rOUghs and scum of
with mothers, wives and sisters.
I have spoken in detail of the reception
as you probably know. is simply one of
the several that have already been tender
were the boys from the City of Pekin. Zea-
landia, Australia, City of Sydney. Colon,
them. No favors have been shown and
there is no intention of Hawaii showing
any She will try to do her duty to all
the boys, and give each and every ship
as hearty an taloha" as those who have
gone before.
Mrs. Case and are anxiously looking
forward to the time when the Kansas
boys will be with US. We shall be at
the wharf to meet them armed with the
familiar sqnflower and grasshopPer.
While talking with several of the boys
the afternoon of the China reception. one
of them innocently inquired if I could
show him the difference between a palm
tree and a pineapple tree. 1 informed
him That one pronounced difference lay in
might rise to a height of from 70 to 100
not exceed two two feet But then, INA" may
as well plead guilty There was time
when I, too, supposed that pineapples
one of the regulars from Texas said:
Americans have the slightest idea Of
what Honolulu and these Islands are like
We supposed we were coming to some
thing similar to an Indian trading camp.
a place where we could load up with coal
and half clad natives" Instead of that
they found a city of thirty thousand, pri-
a million dollar museum, an elegant opera
house, substantial Masonic temple and
one Of which cost $50 co. and huGdTeds Of
beautiful residences nestled in the midst
of tropical gardens. I dare say no city in
America of its size eclipse Honolulu
in the number and value of public build
There are two things we media cable
and annexation, Honolulu would soon be-
come city of a hundred thousand souls.
Speaking of annexation. it may be per
tinently asked: Where would Uncle Sam
have been today had Hawaii coolly stood
off and said, This is neutral territory
move forward" You cannot coal here
you cannot land your soldiers here. you
must not stop here" True the United
States might have said 'Shoo fly" and
have proceeded to do as she pleased about
it. as Hawaii could not forcibIy have re-
sisted her, but America is not built along
those brutal lines; she respects the small
est as well the most powerful nations.
BY what means would American war
ships, American transports, American mon
itors ever have reached the harbor of Ma
Mia? It goes without saying it would
have been utterly impossible to have
that Sava0 fbOI1sa01 roiJac With