The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-31

helpless by any means. In truth some
Of the grizzled veterans looked as if
they were as ready to RESPOND 20 the
country's call ase in 81. Each We
teran carried a bunch of flowers which
was used in decorating the graves OF
their departed comrades.
Governor Dole, Judge Estee, Presi-
dent Crabbe of the Senate, Col. Soper,
w. G. Smith, Secretary Career, Mar
shall Hendry and Collector Stsyckable
occupied seats facing the crowd, while
chars were also placed in the square
for the accommodation of the many
ladies present.
THE EXERCISES.
After a selection by the band the
program was begun with the reading
of the usual Grand Army ritual by
Post Commander Z. A. Strout- W. l..
Eaton responded with the prayer, in
the absence of L. L. La Piere, the
chaplain who is i'll with dengue fever.
Commander Strout continued the read
ing of the ritual and another selection
by the band intervened before the
Grafton which was as follows:
WALTER G. SMITHS ADDRESS.
Commander of the Post. Veterans of
the Civil War, Ladies and Gentle
men:
The thirtieth of May is the most i'm
pressive of American holidays because
ii is the most unselfish. Christmas and
Thanksgiving bring us joy, the Fourth
of July raises our pride. but Memorial
Day receives our service. 1t is a time
a sad arrest: a day when we make
pause in sordid things and go among
the graves to honor the dead of a war
long past For US are no gifts as in the
Christmastide, no homestead cheer as
at Thanksgiving time, no fete OF bells
and guns and music as on the day that
marks the nations birth. 1t is ours in
stead to gather at the graves of men
that few OF US had ever known in life
and place upon them flowers of red and
white and blue, fit enbleIas of the nag
in whose defence these martyrs felii
not asking. as a test of worth. whether
the form beneath the sod was that of
friend or stranger; whether the race
was white or black; whether the voice
commanded or the arm obeyed. 1t is
enough for US to know that when the
dr,,n1s beat their long roll and the
bugles rang their summons. these men
we're instant in the sacrifice. Standing
in this presence and with these
tbouvhts and amid these scenes, can
any of us say that republics are un-
grateful? Can we utter Hamlets sneer'
How soon we are forgotten NO
my friends. not more is measured mere
the strength of our democracy than is
its pride in those who died for II IN
war or suffered for il anywhere Nor Is
a single one forgotten. In wide ana
special sense the grateful nation honors
eVen-yes. honOrs best-the lowlleSt
When a kingdom triumphs
il raises bronze and marble TO the
princes and generals of war, or 10
patron saints or heather gods. forget
ting the humble soldier who bore the
heat and burden OF the battle But in
the republic there is no forgetfulness OF
anS one high or low. who gave his life
that the nation might be saved Here
one finds the statue of the great COM
mander. OF the loyal public leader, but
the monument seen everywhere in ooth
North and South, the one most en-
blematic of the actors and the tragedy
of Civil War. is that of the private
soldier. In that stern and simple hS-
ure. without plume or epaulet, is PROOF
of the republics impartial gratitude;