The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-01-26

Burns is held in such esteem that he
is little less than an idol. The birth
anniversary is that of king of men,
for he was an honest man and by
that token a monarch amongst his
fellows. He had expressed to man
kind the heart sentiments and would
be ever dear and constant TO the me-
mory of true men and women. The
toastmaster then introduced DR.. Thos.
Mcmillan, who lately came to these
Islands direct from Scotland and
whose memories of the land of Burns
are fresh and green. DR.. McMillan's
subject was the immortal memory OF
Burns.
DR.. Mcmillan said that Burns had
attained an elevation in mankind that
was without a parallel. No other poet
has been taken so closely to the bosom
of the people and held so dearly. All
gatherings on this date are animated
by spirit Of sympathy and love and
admiration that is exceptional Who
could have imagined that one whose
early life and training and whose de-
velopment had been such as Burns
passed though would be ranked as the
poet next to Shakespeare? Who could
suppose from ordinary accounts of
Burns that he would reveal himself as
he does in THE Cotter's Saturday
Night, - lover of his fellow man
and one whose heart went out to all
who needed friendliness? For a brief
time Burns was the pet or lion of Ed
inburg society. Then came a period
during which he was maligned and
slandered and the breath of cruel
words had pursued even his memory.
There was an explanation of this
Burns was not an evil man. He bold
ly and radically expressed himself up
on one side in the day of the most
| marked and very bitterest religious
and political strive. He went to the
extremes and effort was made to pun
ish him for his course. He hurled
his scathlng sarcasms and his fOrceful
truisms so that opponents were Graz
ed in their hatred against him. He
was an active partisan. While an
officer Of the Crown he refused to
drink the health of Pitt and on enter
ing theater where the national an
| them was being played called for a
revolutionary hymn. Yet when his
country was threatened and assailed
| he proved himself true patriot and
by his actions and his writings in
spired his countrymen to deeds of val
or in which he himself assisted. Both
his political and religious views were
due to his devotion to the principle of
independence of the people Burns
was both poet and man and men are
| honored by honoring his memory
| Mr.. White spoke briefly of the good
| work nj ich hu CT obi iaee -
the club and called upon all members
to be Jealous in supporting the incum-
bent of the chair. All Scotchmen are
made welcome at all times to the club
Robert Cation said the subject as
| signed him was a large one, but that
he felt he had a highly sympathetic
audience. The love of the Scotchman
for his land might we'll be measured
| by the oceans and continents which
| separated him from his birth place.
But it must be conceded that Burns.
who loved Scotland better than any
other man, is the poet of the whole
world as we'll as the poet of Scotland.
In America, and in fact everywhere.
they have some Scotchmen who are
more clannish than those still in the
native land. Mr. Cation said that Sir
Walter Scott must not be forgotten.
| There was a significant silence upon
] the mention Of Robert Louis Steven
son, who was said to have loved Scot
land as well as Burns himself OF
Scotland itself, much might be said
Mr.. Cation mentioned many localities
especially dear to Scotchmen. 1t was
land to inspire song. The physical
aspect Of the country had it's effect,
without doubt, upon the whole people.
The Scotch were rugged, and they
were thrifty and honest. They were
| honest not because it was the best
policy, but because honesty is charac-
| ter. Mr. Cation closed with a spirited
description of the recent valiant feat
of Gordon's 18th Highlanders in In
dia. The men stOrmed a place and to
the music Of the bagpipes added fresh
glory to British arms.
Mr.. Dover made some earnest in
troductory remarks and read we'll He
spoke of the universal love of Burns.
Danl Logan said for the Land We
Live In that it was beautiful land
and was becoming more and more
beautiful. For hospitality, Hawaii is