The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-01-02
GREETED BY PORTUGUESE
NEW YEARS CALL on MINISTER
DAMON.
Three Hundred Members of the Portu-
guese Colony Call to Express Their
Feelings for S. NJ. Damon.

The Portuguese colony by large
representation of its members, made
New Years call on Minister of FL
nance 5. NJ. Damon, this morning, at
his Nuuanu street home. The call was
made in recognition of Mr. Damon's
generosity and kindness extended 20
the Portuguese in liberal benefactions
during the last two years to schools
and other institutions in which they
are interested.
At the head of the delegation which
numbered fully three hundred thor
oughly representative of the Portu-
guese colony. were j. NJ. Nivas, NJ. \.
Gonsalves and j. NJ. Camara. Jr. The
Concordia band was in attendance.
The call was made at $3.50 o'clock this
morning. The callers were graciously
received by Mr. Damon and his family.
j. NJ. Nivas made an address on behalf
of his compatriots. The Portuguese
colony" he said, gratefully recognizes
the liberal spirit you have long man
ifested toward it and its members in
numerous generous benefactions to
schools and other institutions in
Which the Portuguese through nation
| ality, citizenship and religion were
particularly interested. This kindly
spirit had been manifested in many
other was most personal, and though
less tangible, quite as strongly eviden-
cling your liberal sentiments and gen.
erous spirit.
The members of the Portuguese
colony feel that they could do moth
! ing less than recognize in some public
way this liberality and generosity on
your part, and their feelings for you
and on your behalf. OF material pres
ents such as are usual on New Years,
you have no need. We therefore pre-
sent ourselves and the grateful and
kindly feeling with which you have
inspired us, and add to the many wish
es of the same kind you have and will
receive, our wishes for happy New
Year, including in our wishes all the
members of your excellent family"
Mr.. Damon was plainly moved by
the evidence of kindly feeling display
ed both in the presence of so many
members of the colony and in the sin.
cere and eloquent words of the adj
dress. He expressed the deep emotion
he felt. He said it was the greatest
present he had ever received and one
that would be cherished. $50 far as
I deserve credit" he said, "for the kind
things you have said of me, | have
been actuated by desire to do what
| could for the people of the Islands
and have sought to do it through ag-
encies that by their work and results
have approved themselves In spirit
and in truth as effective agencies.
recognize that the Latin races have a
great part to play in the development
of our common country, and | have
sought to do what / could for the
unification of effort and endeavor foI
the common good among all elements
of our people. 1t was in this spirit
that | have lately brought here some
of the people of Italy, of the same race
as yourselves, to show that this is a
land where manhood and virtue by
whatever people possessed may have
free scope and reap its Legitimate
fruits. These Italians have come not
to compete with you, but to cooperate
with you in working out the great
part the Latin race has here for it,"
In conclusion Mr.. Damon asked the
privilege OF shaking hands individual
ly with all present.
The band played a number of patri
otic and national airs. 4 most warn
hearted social reception was given anc
exchanged and the delegation returned
first to Lusitana hall, then to the HON,
of j. NJ. Nivas and finally to Concordii
hall, where the party separated.