Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-05
Defines
AMERICAN idea
Walter G. Smith Speaks to a
Great Concourse on Patri-
otism of Today

number OF the morning crowd IRE
manned around the speaking pavilion.
A. ID. Castro presided. Rev. Akaiko
Akana offered prayer. Mrs. Charles
Hall sang America, Columbia and
Star Spangled Banner at different
times. The Hawaiian band played at
intervals.
Miss Hiro Miyahara, Japanese
girl. read the declaration OF Independ-
enoe, and Walter G. Smith was ora
tor of the day.
Mr. Smith began by saying two
great things happened in Jdly. 1776.
One was the departure Of Captain
James Cooke on the voyage OF dis
covery which led him to these shores
and the other the birth Of the Amer
lean nation at Philadelphia. He men,
toned the royal example Of King
Kalakaua in revering the memory Of
,1776. that last Hawaiian king having
uncovered to Cookies ship at Alex
andria and to the Liberty bell in
Philadelphia.
Pictures American idea.
Proceeding, he said In part:
MY theme today will be the vital
ity and converting force of the Amer
lean idea. how II has spread abroad
and how much Hawaii Is doing to
spread it in that part of the old world
to which she Is nearest. This cosmo-
politan celebration OF the Fourth In
spires the theme. Consider its person
nell Here five thousand miles from
Philadelphia we hail the day with the
tongues of Babel; blend our flag with
noorlv oil tho oOlnro ~ fhn hurna :,
spectrum; here we are mingled with
over twenty national strains; here all
keep step to music Of which the first
note rang out at Philadelphia 1861
years ago. In all the domain of the
American idea today will be held no
other celebration such as this. Our
chairman stands racially for the new
est free people of Europe; from jan
anese lips fall the hallowed words of
the Declaration; conspicuous in this
function are the countrywomen Of the
island born lad who carried the Amer
lean idea to China and built q repub- |
lie there on the ashes Of empire. And
here about us are members OF four
out of the five races of humanity-the
Caucasion. the Ethiopian, the Mon
golian and the Polynesian and the !
only one absent is the Indian, the |
most American of them all. And each |
race is represented by men and wo-
men who are here in loyalty to the
American idea"
Defines Idea.
Today adult subjects of the Hal
waiian monarchy were voting Amer |
lean citizens, Mr.. Smith observed. |
and went on to define the American
idea as one recognizing no limita- /
lions of birth upon political oppor-
tunity. After telling how this idea
took hold Of other countries, he con-
GUIDED:
Now lett us ask If anything has
come to interrupt this redeemingi
American slavery did, but
we got rid of that. And another OBJ
stacle, which we must also get lid /
Of If the American idea is to become
he political creed of all. Is the mis-
government OF. our great cities.
Forty or fifty years ago. the peo-
pie of old England took a strong
fancy for the American system OIL
government. Charles Bradlaugh, the
great radical, felt free to say from
1is vantage ground in parliament that
he monarchy could have only five
years of life. He was wrong. The
still lives and prospers.
once asked am American bishop Of
English birth why this was so and,
speaking for himself he said As
! young man at home / was Re-
publican. My friends we're all Re-
,ublicans. But the failure of munich
BAY government in America, the mis-
'ule in your cities, prompted US to
change our minds Our monarchy did
lot seem so bad after ALL Such now
s the common answer of the enemies
If the American idea. The Tweed
ing alone set back the cause Of q
wider suffrage for many years, and
Iince that, other rings In Chicago, in
philadelphia and, in San Francisco
lave continued the evil task. But a
,etter day is already at hand and in
he new growth. of civic pride and
'ivic patriotism which is going hand
n hand with national patriotism, lies /
he hope. lies the safety, of the Amer
can idea of popular government
/,
Patriotism Of Today.
Today. patriotism does not appeal
0 US either with the memories or the
prophecies of war. 1t does not sum-
non us in the name of some imperial
onquest, some despoflment of an
lien foe; but its bngle call is to line {
p and defend ourselves from the ban
it'll in our own politics and from our I
nemies at home. Here is our new ]
attlefield and the best service we q
an do for that natal day we cele-
rate, for that flag we love. for that
ONE we cherish, is to prove that III
overnment of the people, by the ,
eople and for the people is one which !,
; compatible with honesty and public .
ervice."
Among those on the platform were
lcting Governor e. A. Mott-Smith,
udge and Mrs. Dole, Judge and Mrs.
obertsop, the Chinese and Japanese
Rev. Stephen Desha. I
C. Jones, Prof. Alexander, Rev. w.
/. Oleson. Marston Campbell, A. J.l
ignoux, A. K Ozawa, Colonel Fisher, J
!. G. H.; Mrs Nakuina, DIR. Emerson, :
H. R. Vieira, J.. F., Hackfeld and
hers. in
The committee representing the 7