Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-10-12
FLAG OVER HAWAII.
CEREMONIAL OF TRANSFER OF
SOVEREIGNTY AT HONOLULU.
THE HAWAIIAN FLAG CAME DOWN AND
STARS AND STRIPES TOOK IT'S
PLACE-PROCLAMATI

ameflca mas Sarnereu the nrSt IrultS OF
the Spanish war. 1t was the echo of
Dewey's guns that was heard in Honolulu
on Aug. II, when one flag went down
amid roar Of saluting cannon and an
other went up to take its place.
The sight was most impressive, not be-
cause OF the size OF the crowd, for it was
not large, nor for tumult, for there was
little noise, not for length Of ceremonial,
for the exercises were as simple as they
should be when one republic absorbs an
other, but because one nationality was
snuffed out like spent candle, and an
other was set in its place. 1t was but
another roll OF the juggernaut car in
which the lordly Anglo-Saxon rides to his
dream OF universal empires. 1t was not
as joyous an occasion as far off America
may imagine. When it WAS over, women
who wore the American emblem wiped
their eyes, and men who have been strong
for annexation said, with throb in the
throat, "How sad it was!"
AS for Hawaiians, they were not there.
1t was self-deniai on their part, for the
kanaka dearly loves crowd and hat in
visible fluid that floats from man to man
and which we call excitement, but ON this
day of days the Hawsiians were closely
housed. They were not on the streets,
they were not at the stores. They were
shut up in their houses and from the
queens stately home to the meanest shed,
| the open windows and closed shutters
were lonely and sombre rs places OF death.
Those who were obliged to be abroad
slipped by through back streets and mar
row lanes. They wore on their hats the
twisted golden lima that tells OF love of
royalty, or on their breasts Hawaiian
| flags and badges.
| So few Hawaiians were in front of the
executive building that it might have
been almost any capital except Honolulu
There were Americans, Portuguese, Jap
anese, Chinese in numbers, but no Ha-
waiians. About the ceremonies there
was all the tension OF all execution. 1t
was more funeral than fete, more a SOL
emn ceremony than gay event. There
was something fine and strong in the re-
straint the annexationists put upon them
selves in the hour OF their triumph.
There was little of blowing OF horns and
footing OF whistles. Only one man drove
about in carriage grooming under load
OF red, white and blue, and he was not an
! American, but Greek.
There was absolutely no speechmak ing,
except few dignitied words from Min
lister Sewall; no spread eagleism, IL pro-
cession and no cheering.
There were six Hawaiians on the plat
ffr 4 ,;ub foii II
where diplomats aud cabinet ladies and
ministers wives were seated in order Of
their hus bands prominence. One of these
native women is the wife OF prominent
native lawyer and politician. He came
for business reasons, and she came be-
cause he required her to.
In facial characteristics she is not UNI
Ike the eX-queen, and many people mis-
took her for Lliiuokalani. She came in
on her husbands arm, very proud and
ulgntivd and stately, in floating holoku
OF black and violet, her hat plumed with
! royal yellow. She held her head very
high among her lighter neighbors, and
she bore up very well until the Hawaiian
band began to play "liawaii PonoP' for
the last time The national anthem.
Then she covered her eyes with her fan
and Wept. She did not raise her eyes
again and She did not see the Hawaiian
flag as it hoated and then sank for the
last time.
/ Other natives who were forced to be
there covered their eyes, and an old woman
who stood near never moved her eyes
from the flag as it dropped, but rain of
tears fell on her cheeks. HaWaiians in
the ranks OF the national guard covered
their faces and fixed their eyes on the
ground. When "Hawaii Ponoi", which
means "Our very own Hawaii, came to
be played, it was weakly strain, for all
the natives had thrown away their in
struments and had fled round corner,
out OF sight. Only ten men, none of
them Hawaiians, were left to play. Men
had begged their leader to be relieved
from playing what was to them dirge,
! and he had consented.
The day began with heavy showers and
threatening clouds. AT 10 O'Clock the
Hawaiian national guard formed at the
barracks preparatory to escorting the
"Philadelphia's" men from the pier to the
executive building. The men were in
fresh white duck with brown leggings
and as Col. Fisher reviewed them for the
last time as an organization they pre-
sented fine appearance. The Hawaiian
color sergeant. carried flag bound with
golden lei.
Long before the military procession
reached the executive building a crowd
was gathering through the "makai" gates,
opened to receive it. The scene Of the
flag raising, christened 'Iolania palace,
dates from the time of Kalakaua, and is a
beautiful building planned on noble and
stately lines and set in square of dense
tropical shade, cut out in four avenues,
which are bordered by stems Of gray and