The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-23
FROM A PRIVATE
Comment on Hilo Speech
Of the New Major.
Appreciative Lines Facts Con-
corning Treatment at San Fran
cisco and in Honolulu.
HonoIulu. H. /. November %

Honolulu. II. l.. November -
EDITOR P. G. A-As one OF the
many privates in the New York Regi-
ment, who has enjoyed the unscinted
and constant hospitality of Honolulu
people, l wish 10 offer an indignant
protest against the recent statements
and insinuations OF Major Sague AT
Hilo. In the face of the present crisis.
when many homes are making actual
sacrifices 10 provide aid and comfort 10
the sick in hospital and in camp. the
majors speech is specially ill-advised
and unfortunate. II is we'll calculated
TO make those who are and have been
giving both of their substance and
strength, stop and ask: If our work
is thus ungratefully received, why
should we cs-tinue?"
No one can remain long in Honolulu
without knowing that he who has
something bad TO tell of it in Hilo. pos
sesses a sure passport of popularity in
that village. 1t seems that the major
had gained knowledge of the situation.
and had decided TO make this cheap bid
for popular favor in Hilo.
Some of the officers statements are
so grossly inaccurate. that the writer
inclines TO the belief that he must have
been misrepresented. He says: When
we were in San Francisco the boys
had a continual round of feeding" BY
this, we would understand. that the
citizens OF San Francisco served free
luncheons. pink teas and beef steak
suppers every day or so 10 the New
York Regiment. The continual round
of feeding" which the boys enjoyed in
San Francisco. consisted of one break
fast served on the morning OF our ar
rival, in the Mechanics Pavilion and
this was provided by the local New
York society.
If any think Honolulu turned the
cold shoulder 10 the New Workers by
not giving them banquet here. they
can hardy have thought of the con
ditions.
The New York Regiment did not
come as a regiment, but in five detach-
ments of various sizes. Obviously il
would have been absurd 10 provide a
luncheon for each detachment. When
the regiment was finally assembled
here, the number of sick in the hospi-
tai drew public attention away from
the festive affair of a luncheon in the
palace grounds and turned il into the
more serious channels of aiding the
sick. The most casual observer at the
hospital Will not fail to give his testi-
mony in behalf of the constant gener-
osity of Honolulu people.
Another most astonishing sentence
in the majors speech. as reported. is
this: We were all stunned as il we
had been suffering from the plague"
Instead of being stunned. we have been
received cordially into the homes of
this city. We came as strangers with
no social claim upon this people. yet
We have, in hundreds of instances. been
granted the privileges of acquaintance
of long standing. | am absolutely sure
that there are very few men in the en-
tire regiment who have not had an OPP
Of being received as guests
in some of the homes of Honolulu.
has already been done TO es-
tablish debt of gratitude and respect
for this community. that few of us
shall ever be able TO repay. We there
fore look upon the reported utterances
of Major Sague as libelous. In refer
ence TO the hospitality accorded us
here. many need 10 ponder over the
line in kiplings' Recessional, Lest we
forget" while others, it seems. have Vet
TO learn before they can forget.
u u