Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-08-12
tionaries may bring about temporary

set-backs.
Internationally we have made tre-
mendous strides. The standards of
public and private schools, already
high before We entered the Union.
have been more than maintained. And
who would have predicted on August
IL. 1898. that ten years would find
Hawaii with a college organized and
ready to offer the young men and
women OF the Islands the benefits of
higher education at home!
Industrially. we have had our ex-
pericnces with booms. We passed
through II not unscathed, but gener-
al disaster was averted and the wis
dom gained has been used to the best
advantage. The enthusiasm of ex-
pansion strewed the way with not a
few wrecks. Many great projects,
however, were carried through with
marked success, and are today mon
uments to the courage, judgment, and
energy of those possessed of deep
confidence in the future of the ISL
ands
Socially. Hawaii's reputation for
freedom from racial prejudice has
been upheld. and there is no place
today under the American Flag where
men and women are rated with less
regard for false barriers of race and
color. We have assimilated new res
idents from all parts of the mainland
where prejudices run high. and race
tolerance is more a crime than vir-
tue. Not single fear, held previous
to annexation, has materialized. The
kindly spirit of Hawaii has had
enough character and power to cor
rect the harsh faults of the mainlan-
der. Those who came to scoff at our
free and equal mingling of the races
have remained to admire. and adopt
Hawaiis way as best.
Politically Hawaii is revolution
lied. This Territory, though still
lacking in many vital qualities OF
self-government, is a veritable land
Of the free when compared with the
conditions that prevailed just before
and for a time after annexation. Ten
years ago II was an absolute fact that
the people did not dare to say their
soul was their own. The honesty of
ones opinions was no recommended
ton, If the opinion was adverse to
what the powers that were" decided
was proper. Individual and collect
i've representatives of the powers
that-were are in existence today, but
such of them as may be reckoned as
among the decent citizens of the COM
munity have had the good sense to
accept the facts and get in step with
the new conditions. Reactionaries
still show themselves occasionally but
not in sufficient numbers to command
post of honor or any considerable
following.
The Native Hawaiian who felt at
the outset that his country was be.
ing taken from him. has actually
gained more through annexation than
many who were more active in bring,
ing It about. Whereas the Hawaii.
ans had no voice in the affairs OF
their government previous to annex,
alton, they are now in practically
full control.
The distinguishing mark of this
tenth year of our existence under tht
Flag is the fact that the American
people have finally discovered Ha
wall. They know its value to tn,
Nation. They better understand tn,
progressive character of our citizens
They can find the Islands on thu
map, and their interest in our pres
ent and our future Is less perfunct
DRY.
II annexation has been of grea
value to Hawaii, II is one of the mos
vital protective steps that the Unite,
States Government ever took. With
out Hawaii the United States o
America would be SO vulnerable as /,
be constantly threatened by the ag
gressive policies of other nations o
the Pacific. We sometimes feel tina
the American people have not appre
ciated the importance of Hawaii L
them, because 1t was obtained so cas-