The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-29
ABOUT A GLORIFYING LETTER

We sincerely compliment Mr.. Ne
Stocker for the intense patriotism
which he expresses in his letter, printed
in another place, commenting on the
Advertisers notice of Rev. Mr.. Kin
caid's sermon on Thanksgiving day.
We received, by the last mail, letter
from an ex-Congressman, charged with
even more fiery patriotism, and ex-
pressing an intense desire TO see the
blessings Of American liberty extended
10 the world. The closing paragraph
earnestly requested us to use our in
fluence'' in having the writer appointed
governor of this territory in order that
he might see that the blessings of liber-
fy did not get lost among the heather
of the Pacific. This fact is merely
coincidence. and carries no analogy
Mr.. McStocker, following Mr. Kin
caids eloquent sermon represent
body OF people whose temperaments
compel a rosy view of things like the
optimistic views of the Klondike pill
grims, for instance.
This body of good citizens like TO ex-
press the vast superiority of their coun-
try over all other countries, and, as Mr.
McStocker earnestly says, stand by
their country right or. wrong" HUI
mility in a nation is rather a debasing
trait
or course, this body of patriotic men
must, in fairness concede, that pa
triOtic men of other countries have the
right also ito stand by" their own
countries. right or wrong" just as the
Spaniards have done in fighting the
United States, and just as the British
did in the Revolutionary war. And if
the governments of Russia, France,
Germany and Great Britain desolated
our sea coasts with their navies, and
wiped out our commerce, this body OF
men, with our Mr.. McStocker, could
only say consistently, to the subjects
of those governments: What a grand
spectacle it is to see you standing by
your countries right or wrong, just as
we stand by our country, right OF
wrong" This Is the meaning of Mr.
McStocker's creed. 1t may be right
TO understand it.
~ron the other hand, there is large
body of men and women in the coun-
try, who are simple enough to take at
it's word, the teaching of the gospel
that all men are in one brotherhood.
If it is necessary" for one body OF
brothers ito cut the Threats of or blow
IF r ba l,rnt har
hood, for the sake of humanity, they
will do it regretfully, sorrowfully and
will take no pride in it, when the
blood spurts from the mangled
images of God" nor will they shout
Thank God" from the house tops,
while His children, even Spanish wom-
EN- and babes, cry in anguish fer those
slaughtered members of the brother
hood who will never come back to
them.
Our friend asks what principle" is
at stake, in our review of the eloquent
sermon. He insists that sthe truth was
not in question" If it was not the
truth was it then only the cry of
hip, hip, hurrah." by the small boy up
good? OF course, if the yell of the
small boy makes him a better boy, OF
the proud shout of American greatness
over the fallen, makes a better people
there should be no limit to either mani
festation.
Mr.. McStocker, we think, forgets that
there is a large body of men and wom-
en- in the country, who after being edu-
Gated in the schools and colleges, take
very serious view about the rapid and
extraordinary growth of the country
If these high schools and colleges were
wiped out these people, of whom Presl-
dent Jordan is an excellent sample
would spend their time in yelling hip
hin. hurrahi" also and my country
right or wrong" just as the old Ro-
mans did over their great empire JUS
before it tumbled in. This miserable
system of education sets this body &c
thinking instead of shouting.
At this very moment, this sober body
sees the great republic utterly unable tC
enforce the constitutional guarantees ii
has given to 10000, 900 of negroes in the
Southern States. Though we believe
that the giving of the vote to the negro
was "a premature act, ii was given. 1t
is constitutional right, and the
proud" republic cannot enforce it and
these ten millions are in the political
condition of Turkish peasants. This
sober body of men simply ask themsel-
yes 'if we cannot enforce the political
rights of ten millions of blacks, why
shout about our greatness and our vast
mission on earth?" Mr.. McStocker's re-
ply is ooh, never mind all that-hip,
hip, hurrah!" The nation is put in the
position of the soap peddler, who cries