The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-04-24

Willingness to give their lives for their
country. In the dark hours Of the Civil
War when il looked as if national life
would be blotted out and our Flag dis
appear from the nations Of the world
the Young men OF Hawaii heard thu
call Of liberty and Travelled to the
mainlnnd, there to shed their blood for
the sacred principles of liberty and
equality Of all mankind, regardless o.
race.
When the nation was threatened n
the Spanish war, the young men Of Ha
waii were ulhong the FIRST to volunteer
and IN the jungles Of the Philippines
fought with savages to carry out on
ideas cf civilization and progress.
Whenever the Flag has called
wherever IL has pointed-the young
men Of Hawaii have been ready ff
follow. They have not hesitated. They
have not asked reasons and their devO
tion to their country has been as sim
cere as those whose ancestors fought
at Bunker Hill, and, now, new wa
threatens our country and, 10, the
young men Of Hawaii have been amonf
the first to lay down their lives.
These Ave men were not trained
fighters. They were simple folk light
hearted boys, personally known Il
many Of you who honor their memof,
today, They were our people. They
belonged 70 ns@ They were part Of thu
life Of this little community, and nov
they have passed away forever.
tThey did not 20 out determined Il,
slay. They had no grievance or rag,
against their fellow men. They were
engaged in the peaceful pursuit Of com
merce, bravely and fearlessly, as be6ti
American citizens, travelling the seas
the highways Of the nations which hav,
been sacred ever since the days Of thu
Greek explorers.
Meet Crafty Foe
'tAnd there they met an enemy at
crafty and ruthless as any, since tn,
days when barbarians Waged warfar,
for massacre and plumber. An enem,
which did not seek to meet armed foes
but preyed upon the defenseless when
in the most unprotected place--th,
wide ocean. An enemy which cared
not how many innocent women wer.
widowed or how many children LEFT
fatherless; which did not strike M
equal foe, but only dared to slaughter
1.-THE unarmed and defenseless
The details Of what occurred whei
the Inflated Aztec was struck by b
torpedo Of the German submarine ar,
meagre, but one Of the officers report
that the men were called to quarter,
and not one flinehed; that each tool
| his place-as calmly as for an ordinary
drill but that the sinking Of the yes
sci was so sudden that they passed, in
20 the whirling waters before protec
tion could be assured. This was no nc
of warfare. II was deliberate an6
downright murder.
Proof Of Our Right
II there we're need to show that
the war our country has engaged upon i.
o just one, deaths such as those w0uls
be a complete proof that the God Of
Justice and mercy must be on the side
! Of our country in this terrible conflict
American citizens want no conquered
provinces or plumber, but they do de
mand that our Flag shall be respected
and that our rights shall be preserve,
{ and that no foreign tyranny shall ter
rorize and dictate 10 the world.
These Hawaiian boys are the FRS
from these Islands TO give up their live,
for these principles, II may be that
many~of us here, before this war !,
over, may follow in their footsteps. I.
may be that this ruthless and brutal
| tyranny will desolate the homes ano
shripes Of our people; but here today
In cOmmemoration Of their death, lei
us resolve that they shall not have
died in win and that the people Of
these Islands shall shrink from nj
sacrifice, shall hesitate at no danger
which shall interfere with our devotion
70 our Flag, our country, our prinei
pies and our Cod M
senator $. J.. Desha speaking in Fla
waiian delivered an Grafton appropri
ate 70 the occasion. He spoke Of tn,
| five brave men who died doing theii
duty and declared that for all W,
know ON this earth these men might
heye sacrificed their lives for the peae,
of The whole world.
( The Whole audience Joined in sing
ing the Star Spangled Banner, and III,
lord 4 Prayer and benediction by III,
Rev. II. H. Parker, pastor OF Kawaia
hao Church, brought the memoria
service to a close.
1 t-f