Honolulu 1863: The Pacific Commercial Advertiser Report

The Fourth of July.

Source: Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu, Thursday, July 9, 1863.  

If Honolulu has become renowned for any one thing more than another, it is for the enthusiastic manner in which the anniversary of American Independence has always been kept here. It is observed as a holiday not simply by Americans, but citizens of every country and nation join in with a cordiality which seems to say that it is not alone the anniversary of American Liberty but of universal freedom. Away back in the misty past, forty or fifty years ago, ere newspapers and reporters had elbowed themselves into Hawaiian civilization, the day was honored and kept as no other day was. And the fact which we record of the day here, is equally true of almost every other country in the world. In China, Japan, India, Sydney and Melbourne, in Chile and Peru, and even in the European Commercial centers, the 4^th of July has become a great day. Last year, London and Liverpool are said to have given the appearance of American ports from the immense number of flags and ensigns displayed afloat and ashore on the 4^th of July; predominant among all which was the American, in honor of which nation the day was kept. Dinner parties, with toasts and speeches, were held there, too.

But to return to our own city. As announced in the programme, at sunrise there was a salute of 13 guns-indicating the original number of the formation of the United States. At 10 o’clock, a large and appreciative audience assembled at the Forth Street Church, which had been tastefully decorated with flags. Above the pulpit were displayed the Hawaiian and British, while a new and gorgeous silk American flag was spread over the pulpit desk. The exercises opened with a voluntary and singing. The choir consisted of thirteen young ladies and a number of gentlemen, and the national ode of “America” was beautifully sung by them. We copy the first verse:

My country, ‘tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my father’s died,

Land of the pilgrim’s pride,

From every mountain side

Let freedom ring!

The Rev. S.C. Damon followed in a prayer full of earnestness, which found a response in every breast. Rev. E. Corwin then delivered an oration which occupied some thirty minutes in its delivery. It was intensely interesting, and met with frequent and enthusiastic applause. We have not heard a dissenting voice from the opinion that the oration was one of the finest delivered before a Honolulu audience. It was the topic of the day. We understand it will be publicized in pamphlet form.  It was followed by the national ode of

Hail Columbia.

Hail Columbia, happy land,

Hail, ye heroes, heav’n born band,

Who fought and bled in freedom’s cause,

Who fought and bled in freedom’s cause,

And when the storm of war was gone,

Enjoyed the peace your valor won!

Let Independence be our boast,

Ever mindful what it cost,

Ever grateful for the prize

Let its altar reach the skies.

Firm, united let us be.

Rallying round our Liberty?

As a band of brothers joined,

Peace and safety we shall find, &c., &c.

The exercises closed with a benediction by the Rev. Rufus Anderson, D.D., of Boston. Among those present we noticed all the Judges of our court, their Honors E.H. Allen, G.M. Robertson, J. Ii and R.G. Davis. Every foreign representative, we believe, was also present, including Messrs. M’Bride, Synge, Varigny, Von Holt, Heuck, Stapenhorst, Pfluger, Caldwell, Cartwright, Waterman, Shaefer, Wicke and others.

There were numerous festive gatherings during the after part of the day, several of the most prominent of which we will notice.

Picnic at Punahou College

This was under the direction of the committee of thirteen, of whom Dr. R.W. Wood was chairman, and was the only gathering open to ladies and children. After the proceedings at the Church had closed, the road to Punahou appeared alive with vehicles, and owing to the liberal provision of the committee, ample conveyances were had for all who wished to ride. About 1 1/2 o’clock, a magnificent American flag was hoisted on a pole erected for it on the College grounds, the choir and assembled multitude singing the soul-stirring ode of

The Star-Spangled Banner

O say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

The Declaration of Independence was next read by A.B. Bates, Esq., who introduced it with some very timely remarks on the circumstances that led to its promulgation in 1776.

No more appropriate spot could have been chosen than the College, the ample grounds around it affording an abundance of room for visitors, their horses and carriages. Under the directions of the committee of arrangements, a large tent had been erected in front of the College, beneath which were spread three long tables, loaded with as tempting a repast and choice variety as was ever seen on such occasions. About 2 o’clock, the ladies were invited to sit down to the entertainment, which was presided over by Judge Allen, (in the absence of Dr. Wood, who did not arrive until later in the day) His Honor opened the feast with some very appropriate remarks, delivered in that happy, self-possessed style characteristic of him, and alluded most touchingly to the sufferings and the struggle now in progress in America. He was followed by Dr. Anderson, Rev. Mr. Damon, Mr. M’Bride, and several other gentlemen. The exercises were interspersed with singing of various odes, among them Vive L’America, sung by Miss Ellen Armstrong, was not the least charming. The best of feeling prevailed throughout, and nothing occurred to mar or dampen the festivities. Estimating by the seats, there were between six and eight hundred persons present and so liberal had been the contributions from visitors and the provision made by the committee, that the tables at the close of the dinner appeared amply sufficient to supply as many more as had partaken. The thanks of the guests were due to Pres. And Mrs. Mills for their exertions on the occasion, which added much to the pleasure of those present.

Luau at Moanalua.

This feast, which was given by Jas. I. Dowsett, Esq., was attended by about eighty gentlemen from Honolulu, comprising Americans, Germans, English and others. Like everything undertaken by Mr. Dowsett, the luau was well done, and if we may judge from the encomiums that have flowed from the lips of his guests, a better feast was no where given on that day, and none more relished or enjoyed. Toasts and speeches were made, some of which we would like to report in full had we space. After the dinner was ended, the company engaged in shooting wild turkeys, the lucky marksmen being entitled to their game. Some twenty birds were killed.

The way that Mr. Dushalsky, the Pole who presides over the tannery, made the “peacemaker” ring its national salute of 35 guns to the “Union as it is and shall be,” would have been a caution to the Cossacks who are trampling down the rights and liberties of his countrymen in Poland, who are now engaged in a struggle for national independence.

The fact that seventy or eighty mechanics of different nationalities, assembled at a fourth of July celebration, and passed the day in pleasant social festivity, without a case of intoxication, dispute or accident of any kind, speaks well for Honolulu and for them. We question whether any other city can show a like gathering with a like result.

Other Entertainments

At Mr. Love’s, in Nuuanu Street, a sumptuous dinner was spread for some twenty foreigners and about as many natives. No where did we see more handsomely provided tables than these, the decorations were neat and appropriate, and the pastries, dessert and cakes were elegant, and were enjoyed by a gusto seldom witnessed. What was most singular about it was the fact that all the foreigners were Englishmen, keeping “the fourth” in true Christmas style.

At the American Hospital, a fine dinner was given by T.T. Dougherty, Esq., at which about 60 guests, including the inmates of the institution, sat down. The arrangements were most admirably carried out by the steward, Mr. Merritt, who appeared to be the right man in the right place. The Hospital buildings were ornamented with evergreens, beautifully festooned. The tables were liberally and generously “loaded” with roast pigs, turkeys, and other “fixings.” The Stars and Stripes floated no where on fourth, over a more cheerful or patriotic company than that which gathered around the tables of the American Hospital.

At Kalia, Mr. Naone’s residence, towards Waikiki, we had the pleasure of dropping in on a crowd of several hundred natives enjoying a feast, where a well-trained choir discoursed several pretty songs in Hawaiian.

At Waikiki and also at Ewa were other smaller parties, where the day was spent in festive gatherings more retired than those we have referred to.

Incidents of the Day.

At 12 o’clock noon a salute of 35 guns was fired, and at sunset another of 13 guns was fired.

In the evening, fireworks were displayed in various parts of the town, before Dr. Hoffman’s in Nuuanu Street, at Mr. Carter’s in Emma Place, and at Mr. Foster’s in Fort Street.

A very large number of flags were observed flying in town during the day, most conspicuous among which was the splendid royal standard from the Palace flagstaff. During the day the streets appeared unusually quiet for a holiday, and until the return of natives from their rural feasts, there was not much horse riding.

There has never been a “4^th of July” kept here with so general satisfaction in all classes as the last. We have yet to hear of the first complaint, accident, drunk or other mishap, on that day, which is more than can be said of any that preceded it.

During the day and evening a large number of our residents of all nations, called on the American Minister, Mr. McBride. An autograph book, which we observed open, must have contained the names of at least two hundred visitors.

At Lahaina, Waikapu and Ulupalakua the fourth was observed as a holiday, and in the evening at each of those places, there was a fine display of fireworks.