The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-10-10

spread themselves about the city in
their campaign for a building fund,
which made possible what we here
see. And while those workers la
bored so successfully for their asso-
citation they. did something else
They demonstrated what is possible
through concentrated and concerted
effort directed along right lines.
Taking where we sit as a center
circle may be drawn with a three
block radius that will embrace within
it ninety per cent of those profess
sional and business men who should
lead in every phase of right doing
in the Territory. In business they
! do lead, indisputably; in religion,
many of them are among the leaders.
They should extend their sphere Of
activity They should come to the
front in matters of politics and gov
eminent, politics in it's broad and
proper sense, not in the meaning in
which it is almost invariably used in
Honolulu. When the Y. M. c. A.
| united Honolulu, its workers went
| but little outside the imaginary circle
! have drawn. They did not have to.
| because that circle held the great
majority of those whose education,
training and wealth. fit them for the
work of the unification of the city
and county-of the Territory, in fact
along higher lines. But, within
that circle is yet much work to be
done before Honolulu United is
wholly accomplished
"If the men who spend their work
ing hours between Beretania and the
waterfront, between Punchbowl and
Nuuanu, would unite for Honolulu to
say that Honolulu shall be made a
sanitary city, it would be done: if
they would unite to say that here
after in these islands shall be taught
the true meaning of American citi-
zenship and the responsibility that is
included in the right of manhood suf
frage, the system that has sprung up
here of spoils politics would be wiped
outfit the ones of downtown Homo.
lulu would assume their share of the
white mans burden, in other words.
IF the men within five minuteg'
walk OF this hall would unite to carry
into works the faith they profess in
Honolulu. this would become more
than the commercial Crossroads Of
the Pacific; it would become radi-
ating center for ideals of civic de-
cencv. good government, model of
colonization for all the world to
study, a place where the morality
that follows physical cleanliness
would be demonstrated.
"In this work for a united senti-
ment for a greater and better Homo
lulu, we of the pross and you of the
pulpit and the Y. NJ c. A. must play
a leading part. We all know what
there is to do; it only remains to
do it.
ITO my mind, the great thing TO
be first accomplished is something
among ourselves and it is this-that
we learn to credit the other fellow
with at least wanting to do what is
the right thing. We have one pre-
dominating fault in Honolulu-we of
the press perhaps particularly, al
though you of the pulpit are not
wholly untinged-and that is a great
tendency to look for the Interior mo-
tive in whatever the other fellow pro
poses. And, when even the closest
scrutiny sometimes fails to reveal
ANYTHING that may be regarded as the
Interior motive we draw back any,
how and say: Well, I'm against t.
You needn't think you can run this,
town And there you are.
"If we could look for the points
upon which we may agree in the
other mans proposal and stop hunt
ing for those with which we could
safely disagree, more good would be
accomplished, especially if we could
reason ourselves into a state of mind
to accept the good faith back of even
those points we fail to agree upon.
"But here tonight there is some |
thing for mutual agreement without
reservation. That is in extending
congratulations to the Y. M. c. A. " |
Honolulu and to its energetic leaders
upon their accomplishment of rearing
this magnificent building as home
and as a center for greater Christian
activities. With this new home comes
greater responsibilities upon the Y. !
NJ C. A. leaders, comes the greater
necessity for a show of results. But, !
I believe that those who have made
this building possible are the sort Of |
man who stand ready and aapar ~ |