The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-08-13

countrymen across the sea, bound
to them as you are by the achieve
ments of their sons and brothers
here, and by all the activities that
make up country's life. You are
no strangers, certainly not in the
momentous present. For as it
comes to every nation in the dread
ordeal OF war to test the loyalty OF
all its sons and the devotion of all
it's friends, 80 they have tested you,
tried you and found you true-when
you refused to listen to the sugges
tions OF the selfish and the timid,
and at your peril, offered up all that
these Islands had to offer, as
sacrifice on the altar of devotion TO
country you had not yet the right
to call your own.
And your countrymen can never
forget that this loyalty and devo-
ton and the opening of hearts and
homes to our soldier boys that
followed this, was the loyalty, the
devotion and the hospitality Of Avn
orleans, though this we're sweet in
deed, but of men who sought to be
Americans and had been denied, Of
men who founded a state for the
purpose OF admission to the Amer
lean Union and had been denied, OF
men who presented this strange
spectacle to the world that they
stood ready, as you gentlemen about
me to-day, to give up Office, and
power and personal emoluments and
glory, for the simple dignity of Am
erican citizenship. Even as you
have given up flag you love, and
surrendered the sovereignty OF these
beautiful islands, that Hawaii may
take her place however humble
that place may be, in the protecting
circle OF sovereign American states.
This is the consummation you
witness to-day, which you and your
children's children have right to
celebrate, and let there be no mis-
take as to it's meaning. 1t means
the triumph of no party or faction
among you, the opportunity for no
personal glorifcation or personal
resentment, the confirmation in
power of no authority over you
that shall not commend itself to the
sense of fairness and of justice of
the representative of the American
people, but rather the burial OF past
prejudices, the obliteration OF mar
row divisions and the ultimate poll
tical advancement OF the humblest
citizen over whom this flag shall
float.
But it is not for you to rest con-
tent in the enjoyment of free insti-
buttons. 1t is for you to help main
tain them, to maintain them in the
spirit they will be extended to you,
in the spirit you have sought them.
in the spirit OF fraternity and equal
ity, in the spirit of the constitution
itself, now the supreme law OF your
land, to establish justice, to ensure
your tranquility, to provide for the
common defense, to promote your
welfare, and to secure the blessings
of liberty to yourselves and your
posterity.
This is the work before you my
countrymsn, and bid you advance
toit. Hand in hand may you go, you
OF the home race with those whose
fathers land this was, and whose
generous virtues have won for them
the regard OF all mankind. Hand
in hand may you 60 with them as
they carry with them their unfalter-
ing love of country into the broad
plane of American citizenship.
Advance to the uplifting and up
building of this land to prove it
worthy to share the destiny Of the
Great Republic.
Empire may wait indeed, but no
hand save His who holds in the hol-