The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-01-18
The Si1TpSlOOteI Dinner an An
lGIati0l Rally.
BUT SINGLE SENTIMENT.
Able and Stirring Addresses-The
Acting Observation-Disclosures
Tidings -Assurances.

The fourth annual dinner OF Jnt
First Company of Sharpshooters wa
held on Saturday evening at the Ha
waiian hotel. There were fifty-fivt
covers and the supper proved a fin'
banquet Capt. F. S. Dodge, com
mander of the company presided, witt
Acting President Cooper at his side
From the other end of the table
beamed the expansive countenance OF
Jos. Marsden. Pansies were used fol-
decorating the table and wax candles
in fancy holders made a pretty effect
This dinner in its speechmaking
feature proved to be the most en-
thusiastic Annexation rally held in the
Islands since the early days Of 1898.
The spirit was rife and rampant En-
couraging enws had been received by
the mail of the evening and hope and
fruition in apparent companionship
seemed to inspire.
When the coffee had been placed
and the cigars lighted, Capt Dodge re-
marked that the time cycle was close
to the fifth anniversary of the event
which caused the bringing into life
of the organization. He believed the
company had been faithful and useful
from its organization and that it had
the right TO felicitate itself In the
absence of President Dole. Minister
Cooper, the acting executive, was call
ed upon to respond for the head of
the Government.
Acting President Cooper said that
it was extremely pleasing to him TO
be with the company. With the majo-
rity of the members he enjoyed a
personal acquaintance and as for the
command itself as a whole he esteemed
it an honor TO be its guest. If all had
gone well. our beloved President was
now upon American soil. If all goes as
well as We hope and trust and have
reason TO believe, when Mr.. Dole re-
turns to the Islands in a few weeks,
he will again step from a ship TO
American soil President Does mis-
sion was believed 10 be a sound and
timely one. The step was agreed to
after long and serious consultation.
II was the conviction that a crisis in
the dealings had been reached. We
would be recreant to our trust if we
in any way relaxed in effort. The judg-
ment that the step was a wise one
viii in all likelihood be fully vindicat-
ed and We expect TO be advised from
the States soon that the proper and the
best thing was done. Certainly no one
has ever left these shores on a more
important errand than included in the
responsibility entrusted to Mr. Dole
When the Monarchy fell here it was
the signal that the era of independent
government had been reached. All
those who had borne or who had as
sisted in bearing the trials and bur-
dens of the past few years may be
assured that it was evident the time
had come for such a step as having
Mr.. Dole go TO Washington. There
was disappointment in 1898. but there
is every promise of fulfillment of
desires in 1898. This Republic was
formed to bridge over an interim. The
speaker fe-t satisfied that the date
when those who were conducting the
Republic could step safely and worthiIy
from their places viewing as a result
of their labors an established Gov
eminent under the stars and
stripes was near at hand 1t was
hoped that the Sharpshooters. with
a fine service record behind them
would never again be called TO more
serious duty than target practice or
dining. The Republic is to be con-
graduated upon having such a body
of men as portion of its support.
The company and its membership has
always been looked upon as being in
harmonious accord with the Govern
menta, policy of annexation.
DR. \. B. Emerson. the historian of
the company briefly sketched the life
of the command, referring to its con-
stancy and energy in the performance
of duty at all times and its willing
ness TO undertake any task assigned.
He represented shooting as an impor-
tant matter in the development of good
citizens. AS to annexation. he be-
lieved it was coming and was sure
that all would like it after its con-
summation.
Capt. Dodge now called to the fore
Lieut. Cassidy, who captained the win
ming team in the shoot for the dinner.
Lieut.. Cassidy was ornamented with a
large brass medal and requested to
tell How we did it" He responded
pleasantly, first taking umbrage to the
comment that the shooting of the day
had been poor. So far as his team
was involved the shooting was good
enough TO win and not much better
than that could be asked. True, there
were some low scores, but this was
only because the boys were having a
lark in their own family They were
not really in earnest. Wien they had
business in hand they shot for big
totals as was shown when they cleaned
out the Denver Rife club and the crack
militia team of the old state of Mas
sachusetts.
Lieut.. McLain, who captained the
losing side was called up to the cap
tain's territory and honored with
medal. There were calls for Lieut..
McLain TO explain. Capt. Dodge did
this quite eloquently, showing that
the medal for the unlucky officer was
leather miniature target with a hole
in the bulls-eye. AS Capt Dodge had
been a private on the losing side he
maintained that there was hole in the