Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-05-31

MUSIC AND
FLOWERS

Custom has decreed that this day
shall be set apart from the rest Of all
the bright days OF springtime as one on
which to forget all petty cares and
quarrels and to join in loving remem.
brance of the men who. forty years ago.
answered the call of the bugle and the
beat OF the drum. Who among those
of us who were living in those days
can forget the enthusiasm and the al.
most unanimous uprising Of the North
when the news came of the first assault
on Sumpter?
War without ideas is brutal. In
few of the histories of the wars Of the
great continents Of the world can II be
boosted that every soldier was animat-
ed by patriotic motives alone or knew
why he followed the flag. Ask of an
cient Rome in her conquests of Africa
or Gaul. The centurion and the soldier
only knew that he fought because II
was the will of Caesar. In present
recollection few of those who fought
at Sedan knew the true causes of the
F'ranco-Prusslan war.
But with our country and her
heroes there was principle behind every
combatant, brains behind every bayo-
net. All knew the issues involved for
the unity Of the nation, for the freedom
OF the colored race. All during the
war, from Sumter until Appomattox
was reached, every one comprehended
the issue.
Behind the Confederate cause stood
the cavalier, caste rule and the per-
petuation of slavery. Behind the Fed
eral stood the Puritan, the rule Of the
majority. the freedom Of speech and
equal rights and privileges to all. In
the doctrine os the Confederate each
part Of the Union was distinct, each
part greater part Of the whole. To the
Federal the Union was a perfect whole.
I. was a contest between the civiliza-
ton of the seventeenth and the nine
tenth centuries, between civilization
and waning barbarism-the school
house and the slave corral.
Events of the last few years have
added greatly to our wide domain. The
ground upon which I now stand was
but short time ago 1000 miles from
our western borders and is now the
geographical center of that vast pa
rallelogram that extends from the Gulf
Stream 10000 miles to Chinese seas
and 5000 miles from the Caribbean
seas to the Antartic ocean; all under
the shadow Of the hammered stars
Perhaps the extent Of our vast posses.
sions may be best described byShe fact
that ships now travelling betwe9n Am.
erican ports can gain or lose a day
upon the voyage.
"These acquisitions have added to
the Union races unaccustomed to the
use Of our privileges and duties.
shall we govern these people ac.
cording to European ideas or adhere tC
the American doctrine OF first educa'
ton and then assimilation? Shall W,
elevate or lower to the plans Of des
potism? Shall we create Of our gov
eminent a probate court of contro
with letters Of guardianship over thes'
dusky races? Rather let us hold alof
the fiambeau Of American civilization
; that all may join in its music ami
march beneath its light.
= :" believe that the noblest principle
the wisest policy to all who dwell be
meath the folds Of our flag and are en-
titled to its privileges should shar
. with us equally the heritage Of time
Its benefits and privileges.
, Were Hawaiian born. and in m.
. veins flowed the blood OF kings, l woul,
. feel that nothing In the monarchy
had lost would equal the American
, citizenship that had gained, and
:. would cry aloud to the Stars AM
: Stripes, Aloha nui." (Applause.l
, The above extracts show the teno
and the charm Of the eloquent address
At its conclusion the applause was pro
. longed.
. Three volleys by firing party O
sixteen privates above the graves O
. the veterans and the sounding o
"Taps" by the bugler, ended the servic
The crowd dispersed singing America