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Image provided by: University of Hawaii at Manoa; Honolulu, HI
Newspaper Page Text
AUSTIN'S HAWAIIAN WEEKLY. Hawaii's First Fourth of July. The primary celebration of American In dependence by the Hawaiian Islands as a portion of Greater America was a decided success. The rain which held off until the latter part of the afternoon did little to mar the completeness of the day. It dampened the clothes but not the ardor of the ball players and the onlookers at the sports and evening fireworks. The program arranged upon previously was a long one, but it was carried out to the letter and without a single hitch. The exercises in the Opera House attracted a crowded house and a representative one. Every foreign nation domiciled in Hawaii had their prominent men present, while a goodly sprinkling of Hawaiians completed the setting. An inter esting feature of the occasion was the large pro portion of the fairer sex in attendance. There was scarcely any noticeable delay in opening the proceedings which commenced With an overture very daintily rendered by the Amateur Orchestra under the direction of Wray Taylor. The Reverend William Morris Kincaid im pressed the whole assemblage native born, Ameri can, natives and foreigners alike with the inborn earnestness of his prayer. The time worn but indispensable Declaration of Independence was most effectively read by Mr. Francis Boggs, the selection of this gentleman for the occasion was a happy one, he has a rich sonorous voice and a well trained and pleasing delivery. A notable portion of the program was the Star Spangled Banner as sung by Annis Montague Turner. Her voice of great range and purity is exceedingly supple and under complete control. Habited as the artist was in a costume commemo rative of the occasion, the deep feeling with which she rendered the air inspired the house with great and genuine enthusiasm. The Amateur Orches tra ably accompanied the singer in this and her other solos. The Rev. M. S. Levy, the orator of the day, proved himself the right man in the right place. It is not an easy oration, the first celebra tion of a distinctively American affair in a newly annexed land, but the Rabbi was fully equal to the occasion. Frequently interrupted by applause the oration which has been fully reported in the daily papers was summarily as follows: Briefly touching on the fact that this, the first celebration by the Hawaiian Islands marked a new epoch in their history, the speaker congratulated the people on the happy culmination of their political independence before the close of the nineteenth century. The Rabbi recapitulated the events of the 123rd year of American history the Spanish-American war the addition of this group to the mainland and expressed his belief in the speedy defeat of Aguinaldo and the inauguration of the new policy ot expansion which will bring in its train a larg er, grander future to us all. 1 he thorough democracy of the volunteer army of the recent war was mentioned wealth mess ing with poverty culture with rude manners education with illiteracy. The point was strongly brought out that if our war with Spain had done 110 more than prove to the world that as Ameri cans love of gain has not stunted love of senti ment nor blunted our more noble and heroic senses, was well worth the cost. The tremendous and undreamed of strides made by America in the cause of liberty leave yet heroic work to be done in strengthening the bul warks of liberty. The speaker after upholding vigorously the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the trainers of the Constitution showed that the love and loyalty of the nation could best be shown by performing our political duties and urged his hearers to let the Fourth of July mean a dedication to the cultivation of higher civic duties to pledge themselves to assist in all public affairs, thus assuring a blessing on every recurring anniversary. He depicted in glowing terms the future of the American nation helped by such aspiration the privileges Hawaii now owned as a portion of that Xation and closed his oration with the following words: May our flag forever float as the emblem of the highest, noblest, purest promise to the Anglo-Saxon race that sooner or later one common tongue and one common purpose will unite the greatest people all over the world. The orator made a pernnnent impression on his hearers. Of striking presence and splendid voice he has an earnest and at times fervid manner of thought that is most convincing and impressive. Annis Montague Turner rendered Columbia with most hearty applause after which Harold M. COX00X00XXX00000X' 1:V 9 0 ) t 1 X l 0 V 9 1 C .. V ,f 9 -j it ... r V . 1 aavv x -. v. ir j 11 a 'icrr- f X bfUiflfiffluhmlTi O m&mvmmmL 9 - 5 a ' pF' 0 the Two Official Float Columbia ano Hawaii Scwall, the American Agent, in graceful, flowing terms spoke at some length onlthe feelings of the day, of the gratitude, pride anl faith in American manhood and the ability of the American nation to surmount every obstacle. Referring to Honolulu as an American com munity Mr. Sewall went on to point out how these islands were the only American community the flag has found in its newly acquired possessions; a community which has been over half a century bred to the principle and reverence of American laws. The thing we have to say is this great and welcome as is the prosperity that has come upon us, and awakened these Islands to a new life which is only a harbinger of what is to come welcome as is this prosperity, we want none of it at the cost of the extension here of those laws and of that Constitution. For these arc your birth right into which you want to enter, and to enter now. Welcome as is this prosperity, we want none of it if it is to be secured only by our evasion of the responsibilities of American citizenship, or by the sacrifice of the guaranties of the American Constitution, even though those guarantees affe;t only the humblest toilers of the land. But we hail the day, hail it with a joy beyond expression, beyond all other joys we have ever known, when that Constitution in its every hue and letter shall be proclaimed here the supreme law of the land, proclaimed so clearly that he who runs may read, and when under it there shall be enacted American laws, for the law-abiding, self respecting, self-governing Americans, of an American territory ! The Parade. 0000000000000000000000000000000000006 1'aratks are proverbially late, there is always some little hitch at the last moment while the pub lic assisi in the lengthy wait by invariably arriv ing long before the appointed time. Honolulu proves no exception to the usual rule. From house top to gutter swarmed an eager and conglomerate throng of all nations. The crowd itselt was fully as gorgeous as any parade, Mongolians in holiday garments of variegated hues and cut gave color to the lighter holokus and summer gowns, while even the inartistic plainness of the ordinary American gentleman's dress was modified by the white duck suit, the gay puggarees and the uni forms of our military and naval visitors. Leis were in great demand it was an occasion of hilar ity and the crowd meant to enjoy it thoroughly. They came in carriages, on foot, on horseback and some of the Oriental juvenile population on womanback. Not so very long after time, the procession started. Captain W. G. Ashley with the police at the head followed by the Concordia band. The Sixth Artillery led by Lieut.-Col. S. M. Mills made an excellent showing as did the battalions of the N. G. H. who with the Government band came next in line. A unique and clever feature of the parade was the display from Bailey's Cyclery represented by two bicycles fastened side by side and a smaller one above surmounted by a diminutive cyclist. America and Hawaii up-to-date were typified by two young ladies of their respective nations on tastily decorated wheels. Following came the Mounted Police and Mounted Reserves immediately ahead of perhaps the chief attraction of the parade, the Fire Depart ment's exhibit. The Fire Commissioners' and Chief Hunt's carriage were handsomely decorated while the engines with the glitter of their metal furbished to the last degree of polish enhanced by the vivid bunting made a picture that was heartily cheered by the appreciative populace. More cheers greeted the two official floats, Colum bia with Miss Jennie Murrav in the title role and Hawaii, the "Pearl of the' Pacific." The Or pheum's horseless carriage, drawn by mules, was