The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-05-28
The G.L. A. ANNUAL
MEMORIAL SERVICE
ADDRESS sY JUDGE N. IA. EsTEE
ON AMERICAN cITI-
zEEsHIP.
Principles Of Liberty and Equality in
conssitution-Patriotisns Sacred
sensimens-Larse Congregation
and eoodIy Turnout of Veterans

/ The annual memorial service OF Geo.
". De Long Post, G. A R.. was held
at Central Union Church on Sunday
evening There was congregation
| filing the body Of the sanctuary.
Geo. W. De Long Post, headed by Post
Commander ". L. Eaton, entered in
procession and took the pews reserv-
ed for it in front With visitors the
Post mustered nearly thirty. Deco-a-
tons of platform, desk and area in
front were patriotic and martial, com
prising flags and implements Of war.
The musical portion of the exercises
were in keeping with the occasion.
Mrs. Annis Montague Turner sang the
solos OF Battle Hymn of the Repub-
lie" and other national songs.
Judge Morris NJ. Estee of the United
States District Court was the orator
Of the evening His address is here
given in full:
Fellow citizens, ladies and gentle
men:-It is a custom among all civil
ICED people to pay tribute to the illus
trious dead-the object is twofold
One to perpetuate their memory as
an object lesson to the youth of the
nation to which they belonged, the
other to glorify the cause to which
they devoted their lives
When the Grand Army OF the Re
public was first organized as an asso-
citation, it was thought by some to be
step in the wrong direction, many
believing that such an association
would tend to keep alive feeling of
animosity between the two great sec
tons Of the American people, who
had battled for supremacy in the war
of the Rebellion. But it was soon
found that the reverse was the result
The gallant soldiers of that war what
ever the side they took were more
liberal to their opponents than were
the civilians Both those who wore
the blue and those who wore the gray
were and are Americans and both
sought to monument the dust of the
dead of that conflict and exalt true
Americanism, until now the Blue and
Gray meet on the ground of COM
mon patriotism. Both sides have
/ learned since the Rebellion was over
| that the people of this great Repub-
lie cannot be divided by imaginary
lines and they have forgotten the
animosities of the past To illustrate,
the men who fought the recent bat
ties of our country in the Philippine
Islands. in Cuba, in China and in Porto
Rico were born since the war of the
Rebellion ended, and when the Span
ish American war began their patri-
otism was not circumscribed by the
lines of the States or territories they
came from. They did not inherit en-
nifty against other American citizens,
for in war as in peace. these yound
men proved they knew no country but
proved they knew no country but
this Republic and no flag but the
stars and stripes.
Both sides engaged in the Rebellion
early learned that this nation was
theirs; that we have but one eonsti
tuition. one flag and one destiny for
all of us: that all Americans are en-
titled to share in the glory of our com
mon citizenship and that there Is nc
political distinction between the citi
gems living in different states Of ouI
country And of the dead we add
that,
"On fame's eternal camping ground
), their silent tents are spread
And glory guards with solemn round
the hiyouac of the dead /"
II should be here observed that al
cause for the rebellion passed away
when slavery was abolished, and II
would be worse than folly now tbs
war is over, to cherish the memory Of
our early differences. Indeed spirit
, Of magnanimity pervaded the whole
people of the Union after the last guT
was fred. No punishment of the de
feated was countenanced by the NORTH
or suffered by the South. All were
equals. The settlement of the Ques
, lions involved in the Rebellion wers
too momentous to be considered In AM
other than q broad and enlightened
. spirit, and that spirit has grown sine
the rebellion was over and now, &C
tuates all the people in their relation!
with each other National not sec
tionai principles now prevail Ant
why not? We belong TO the same ooun
| try. we are of the same race, speal
the same language, are descended
from the same ancestry and are eacl
lentitled to the same great heritag,
lof freedom.
In republic the strength and glorI
tof the nation depends on the uniteS
action. the intelligence and the patri
otism Of the whole people, and Will
many differ on questions of govern
mental policy, as Americans VIII
think for themselves often do differ, ye
mo eubittered memories are cherish
| ed. for when the cause which inspires
Those differences Is removed the dill
ferences should cease TO exist Il
this nation the right Of self-goverr
ment is possessed by all The Amer
Iiean people are the sovereigns, an
1.-THE American people are responsible
for the character OF our government
when the standard of American man
hood is lowered or cur citizensai
Icheapened. the nation Is seriously al
feeted right or wrong. Our natinna
pride may cause us TO be always TO
America. vet we want our govern
ment TO be right. we are for our eouE
TRY because it is oars
This territory is now . part Of IN
great American Republic and It's I:
ture depends upon ourselves W