The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-05


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among any other people on earth. AND
/ this love Of letters has continued, and
today most OF them read, write and
speak two languages-the Hawaiian
and the English. l believe that {
greater per cent. of the people of this
/ Territory read and speak more thar
one language than of any other gov
ernmental division.
English and American literature fill
ed with sentiments of liberty, respect
for law, and love of justice became the
thought and life of Hawaii, until il
was natural that it unite with either
the constitutional kingly government OF
Great Britain or with the constitu-
tionaI republic Of America. This latter
has been brought about not by con-
quest or by revolution, or by any gov
| ernmentaI exercise of power or state
craft, but by growth and development
here, along lines of least resistance
easy. natural, unresisted. and where the
head and the hand followed the heart
As early as 1894 Kamehameha I. felt
this inclination, and ceded these islands
TO England. with certain reservations,
England did not accept. and did not
appreciate the greatness of the gift.
Later certain British officers, with
more acquiescence than resistance on
part of this people, raised England :
flag and proclaimed English rule-an
act repudiated by the justice-regarding
English Government.
Ever since these islands were one
ind
dence first recognized by the United
States, there has been Growing in the
hearts and minds of Hawaiians, Eng
Iish thought and English love, until the
people became what the American col
onies were when the Declaration of In
dependence was made-essentially one
in thought and feeling with the great
mass of the liberty-loving, justice-re-
speeding AngIo-Saxon race.
Location. communication, and. most
OF all, teaching and preaching by New
EngIanders, brought the English-born
American Republic nearest to the
hearts of Hawaiians.
When suggested that we today have
an Old-fashioned Fourth OF July cele-
bration, 1 saw many faces Of born
and blood Hawaiians beam with joy
fuI acquiescence. But, TO my astonish-
ment, I found they meant by old
fashioned not the celebration Of the
days of my boyhood on the MAINLAND,
but celebrations Of the Fourth, in their
boyhood on this island, and during the
reign OF Hawaiian kings.
BY examining old newspapers as far
back as 1860. and since, I found the
- ,r
most every Fourth-not by a few men
and foreigners. but as a general hoE-
day. when most business houses closed
up by choice. and I found the programs
Of such celebrations were often exactly
ike our program for today. There was
no disloyaIty, no envy, no jealousy, no
fear felt, on these occasions, but only
an expression Of love, respect and ad-
mirarion for our, now. common coun-
try
In 1867 such a celebration of the
Fourth, with such program as we have
here today. was held in Honolulu. The
orator Of the day said, These islands
which lie glittering in perpetual YER
dure in the midst of the Pacific Ocean,
are the halfway houses, on the high
Way 10 the East; they will always
share the commercial prosperity, and
national progress Of the United States"
To Americans present, he said, Cling
TO your nationality always. Have faith
in American institutions, and Amer
lean destiny and believe yourselves,
and teach your children, 10 believe that
If you never forget your country, your
country will never forget you" And
he quoted from an English newspaper
as follows; Continents viii be popu-
lated, cities created, and half the world
civilized by the growing influence Of
the United States on the Pacific"
On July I'd, 1881, a paper here pub
lished a list Of names Of ali the prin-
cipal business houses in Honolulu, I
which voluntarily pledged TO close up
business on the Fourth: and contained /
this IN its editOrial-''An the world of |
Honolulu is invited 10 listen TO the /
Declaration OF independence, an ora /
ion by our esteemed fellow citizen, /
sanford B. Dole, a poem by Mr.. NJ. V. /
Thompson. and a variety Of music by 4
he always welcome Royal band"
On July 9Th, 1881, the paper contained I
/ long news article about the ceIebra- !
ion OF the Fourth, in which We see !
hat Dr.. McGrew presided over the
literary exercises. Mr.. Miller read the
Declaration, Mr.. Haudon sang the Star 4
;pangled Banner. so as 70 merit ap- I
olause. after which Mr. 5. B. Dole
delivered an eloquent Grafton. We
,uote from Mr. DoIe's speech I
s follows: But Il her internal policy /
: not yet settled. the United states
las set an example 10 the world in her
xternaI policy. Her acquisitions OF /,
,erTitoTy, even when some Of them i
light have been claimed by results OF
were made by purchase. and 4