The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-09-17
CHAMBER HOST
At A GALA
FEAST
frrom Thursday,s Advertlser.l

(Erom Tnursdays AoVertlserJ
Hawaii's value to the American Re- |
public, the benefits the Territory has
achieved through alliance with the Fed
eral government, her undenied strategic |
position as the key of the Pacific, and
her pivotal position as a center in the
great theater of the worlds greatest
commercial activity, were marked in
the addresses at the Chamber of Com
merce banquet, given last evening at
the Alexander Young Hotel in honor
of the members of the Congressional
delegation.
In the lounging room, which was ap-
propriately decorated with American
and Hawaiian flags, the banquet tables
were placed, one long one for officials,
and smaller ones for the guests, who
numbered 1870. At the large table,
where Hon. William G. Irwin presided,
sat Hon. Richard Bartholdt, Of st.
Louis, dean of the Congressional party,
Governor Frear, Rear Admiral Sebree,
U. S. N, Col. Walters Schuyler, u. s.
A., Consul General Uyeno, of Japan,
Consul General Tseng Hal, of China,
Delegate Kalanianaole, Bishop Restar-
lex and Federal Judge Woodruff.
L. Tenney Peck was the POSTMASTER,
and his introductions of the speakers
and comments on the subjects under
discussion were examples of the deep
knowledge which he possesses of mat
tiers affecting Hawaiian interests.
In introducing Mr.. Bartholdt Mr..
Peck spoke of the remarkable history
of the islands under Anglo'Saxon
development. He said the members of
the Chamber of Commerce realizes the
debt owed to the United States, and
said it was with pleasure he asked all
to drink health to the President, and
asked Mr.. Bartholdt to respond. The
| tier spoke as follows:
Speech of Hon. Richard Bartholdt.
The toast "The President of the Uni
ted States" was responded to by Hon.
Richard Bartholdt of Missouri, the dean
of the Congressional delegation, who
spoke as follows:
Mr.. POSTMASTER and Gentlemen:
Whenever within the vast domain of
our great country whose geographical
center is now west of the Golden Gate,
the office of President of the United
States is mentioned, the after.dinner
speaker forgets his puns and the poll.
tician his partizanship, and our hearts
and minds command US as Americans to
rally around the flag. While this may
be the reason why l have been nailed
down to this subject, it is nevertheless
true that, like all good Americans, L
make every other mood or consideration,
temporarily uppermost in my mind, i'm
mediately give way to sense of patri-
otto pride at the mere mention of the
Chief Executive of the nation. My
friends, have you ever asked yourselves
why this is so? Surely it is not due
to feeling of servility such as we find
in monarchical countries where rulers
have been idolized whether they were
wise or unwise, sane or insane. Nor can
this state of our minds be accounted
for by any partiZan spirit, for we have
seen Republicans cheer Democratic
occupant of the White House and Dem
ocrats Republican. In a sense, Of
course, it is the office which we honor,
but we also remember-and this has to
do with personalities unworthy man
of whatever party has ever held the ex-
allied Office of President of the United
States. But there are still other and
more important considerations which
control us. If a Presidents official
functions were different from what they
are, if they were analogous, for in
stance, to those of an arbitrary ruler,
it is doubtful whether our enthusiasm
over the presidential office would be
greater or more genuine than is that OF
a subject for his monarch. But it is
the reflection that a President merely
executes the will of the people, as de
termined by Congress and the courts
and that, in this carrying out of the
mandates of the people, he must conform
lA,r .,,l nnrnf 70 u1ot nbt
and wrong, which prompts us to moi
only honor the Office but to respectfully
bow to the man who holds it. And, my
fellow citizens of Hawaii, as long a.
that feeling prevails, and justly pre-
walls, Just so long will our Republic bt
safe.
There are those who fear the posi-
BILE encroachment, by the Executive
upon the prerogatiyes of the coordinate
branches of the government, encroacn
ments, they say, made easier by thu
Willingness to excuse them ON the par
of those who hope to profit POLITICAL,
by the great power of the President
hut when we call to mind the direc
responsibility of the Chief EXecntlv
to the people and the power of tn
great American electorate to chang
presidents at will, these misgivings vii
soon appear powerless provided on
confidence in the sound common sens
If the plain people and in thc,r abid
ing fidelity to American traditions re
mains mistaken.
Despite the constitutional lin tation
of his power the President of the Unit
ed States Is the mightiest chief magis
trate In all the world. lie stands 10
and represents the homer aud glory Z
the greatest dag that was eyer born
that flag TO which, when the people o
other lands boast OF national aoniey
ment Americans proudly point an
bluntly say TO all the worlds "Matc
IL, II you can, the peerless story O
human freedom, of bToadmindaa, IL
iolleeIual development told "a "a
mystic wedlock OF tho stars an
Slripesl' He IL not only Tho enn
manderln'ehlef of the Army and Nav
AT fhp iiulted States Int ala, ha an,