Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-05
ORATOR Defines
AMERICAN IDEA
Walter G. Smith Speaks to a
Great ConcourSe on Patri-
0tiSm of Today

0tiSm of Today
For the literary exercises large
number Of the morning crowd re-
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, a Japanese
girl, read the declaration of Independ-
ence. and Walter G. Smith was ora
tor of the day.
Mr.. Smith began by saying two
great things happened in July. 1776.
One was the departure OF Captain
James Cook 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 mem
toned the royal example of King
Kalakaua in revering the memory Of
1776. that last Hawaiian king. having
uncovered to Cooks 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 1t has spread abroad
and how much Hawaii is doing to
spread 1t in that part of the old world
to which she Is nearest. This cosmo-
politan celebration of the Fourth In,
spires the theme. Consider It's person.
mel! Here five thousand miles from
tongues Of Babel; blend our flag with
nearly all the colors Of the human
spectrum; here. we are mingled with
over twenty national strains: here all
keep step to music of which the firstI
note rang out at Philadelphia 1861
years ago. In all the domain OF the
American idea today will be held mol
other celebration such as this. Curl
chairman stands racially for the new
est free people of Europe: from JAM
anese lips fall the hallowed words Of
the Declaration;, conspicuous In this
junction are the countrywomen OF the |
sland born lad who carried the Amer
can idea to China and built q repub- |
lie there on the ashes of empire. And
lere about us are members of four
put OF the five races of humanity-the |
the Ethiopian. the Mon
,olian and the Polynesian-and the
,nly one absent is the Indian, the
most American of them all. And each
ace is represented by men and wo-l
men who are here in loyalty to the
lll-conquering American idea.
Defines Idea.
Today adult subjects Of the Hal
vaiian monarchy were voting Amer
can citizens, Mr.. Smith observed, |
md went on to define the Americana
dea as one recognizing no limita-
ions of birth upon political oppOr-I
unity. After telling how this idea
ook hold Of other countries. he con-l
luded:
Now let us ask If anything hasl
ome to interrupt this redeemingl
American slavery did, butt
We got rid of that. And another OBJ
'tacle, which we must also get rid
t 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-i
lie of old England took q strongl
ancy for the American system OF
Charles Bradlaugh, the
reat radical, felt free to say from
is vantage ground in parliament that
he monarchy could have only five
ears of life He was wrong. The
monarchy still lives and prospers. II
nee asked an American bishop of
English birth why this was so and,
peaking for himself he said As
young man at home was q Re-
ublican. My friends were all Rel
ublicans. But the failure Of munich
ay government in America, the mis-E
ule in your cities, prompted Us tol
hange our minds. Our monarchy did
OF seem so bad after ALL Such now
! the common answer of the enemies
{ the American idea. The Tweed
ing alone set back the cause OF
lider suffrage for many years, and
ince that, other rings in Chicago, in
and in San Francisco
ave continued the evil task. But
etter day Is already at hand and I'M
ne new growth of civic pride and ]
ivic patriotism which is going hand ]
!. hand with national patriotism, lies |
he hope, lies the safety. of the Amer
an idea Of popular government !! {
atriotism Of Today. 4
To-day patriotism does not appeal ,
, us either with the memories or the
rophecies of war. It does not sum-
on us in the name of some imperial
some despoilment of an
len foe; but its bugle call is to line {
p and defend ourselves from the BAN !
It'll in our own politics and from our
lemies at home. Here is our new
attlefield and the best service we {
IN do for that natal day we cele- |
rate, for that flag we love. for that ,
0me we cherish, is to prove that a
1vernment of the people. by the j
eople and for the people is one which
compatible with honesty and public !
,rvice."
Among those on the platform were
citing Governor E. A. M0tt-Smith,
ldge and Mrs. Dole. Judge and Mrs.
obertson, the Chinese and Japanese
Rev. Stephen Desha,
C. Jones, Prof Alexander. Rev. w.
Oleson, Marston Campbell A. j..