Celebration of the Fourth of
July.
Source: The Friend. Honolulu:
July 6, 1854
The Anniversary of the
birth-day of the independence of the United States of America was celebrated by
the American citizens, residing in Honolulu, upon a more extended scale, and
with greater public demonstration than on any former occasion. The long
cherished and deeply felt love for their native land burst forth in a manner
highly gratifying to their national pride.
Our renders will obtain an idea
of the public exercises from the following programme. We are most happy to
record the fact that order, sobriety and propriety characterised the
proceedings. The most interesting feature of the procession was the car
containing thirty-two young misses, dressed in white and wearing wreaths of
flowers upon their heads. Each one wore a scarf, inscribed with the name of the
State which she represented. As there are but 31 States, it was a novel but
quite appropriate idea that the District of Columbia should be represented
The eloquent oration of the
Hon. D. L. Gregg occupied a full hour in the delivery, but there was no
indication of weariness on the part of the audience. The enthusiastic applauses
which frequently interrupted the orator showed that his patriotic and American
sentiments found a cordial response in tin- hearts of the large audience The
literary merit of the oration were of a high order. The orator, most
opportunely, made n clear and eloquent exposition of the great and leading
principles of the Government of the United States, showing most conclusively
that the policy of the general government towards the individual States and
territories, was admirably adapted to develop the resources of the country,
elevate tin- people, and promote the highest welfare of the individual citizen
and the nation at large. The oration was decidedly well timed, well written,
and well delivered.
We would furnish our readers a
more extended notice of the oration, but a copy was requested for publication
in both the English and Hawaiian languages.
The other parts of the
exercises were sustained in a highly gratifying manner. The original ode needs
no laudatory remarks. The sentiments and the beauty of their versification are
evidence that those lines must have emanated from an American patriot and poet.
Too much praise cannot he bestowed upon Mrs. Fiddes, (an English lady), whose
musical talent enabled her to compose an original tune, suited to the difficult
metre in which the ode was written. In singing. Mrs. F. was assisted by Mrs.
Ford, Mrs. Coady. and Messrs. Fuller and Griswold. No part of the gratifying
exercises called forth more enthusiastic applause. The very walls of the King's
Chapel must have vibrated to the deafening shouts.
The Hon. B. F. Angell, U. S.
Consul, presided on the occasion with much dignity. We arc exercising much
self-denial in limiting our description of this celebration; hut our narrow
space absolutely compels us to leave much for our readers to supply by the aid
of their imaginations. The large Stone Church was tilled to overflowing with
Americans, Frenchmen, Germans, Hawaiians, and the representatives of not less
than a half score of other nations. It was a novel impressive, suggestive und
animating scene, to witness such an immense gathered in the heart of the Pacific,
to celebrate the birth-day of the National Independence of the United States of
America.
ORDER OF THE DAY
For the
CELEBRATION
OF THE FOURTH OF JULY
The National Salute will be
fired at 12 o'clock, M., near the Armory of the First Hawaiian Guard.
Immediately after which the
Procession will be formed, agreeable to the following Programme; and the Public
generally are respectfully invited to attend, and participate in the
Celebration.
The line will be formed on the
makai side of Queen street, the right of the line resting on Fort street.
The Ceremonies of the Day will
take place at the large STONE CHURCH, commencing at 1 o'clock. Seats will be
reserved for Ladies.
ORDER OF EXERCISES
PRAYER
By Rev. S.C. Damon
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Read by S. REYNOLDS, Esq.
NATIONAL. ODE
(Written by K. Pillet, Esq.) By
the Choir.
There’s gloom upon the brows
of Fate; -her mantle, half unfurrl’d,
Reveals the war-blade
flashing o’er the mighty of the world,
But ‘mid the deep’ning
shadows, -piercing through the cloud of war,-
There gleams the calm and
spreading light of an immortal star,
Whose dawn makes glad our
hearts to-day, as in the days of yore,
It cheered the hearts of
struggling men, upon our own loved shore.
Proud empires arm in
trembling, to ward the threatened blow;
The royal flags of
Christendom are flutt'ring to and fro;
Yet ‘mid the shock of
nations, —howsoe’er the die be cast, -
There's one fair flag that
floats secure, above the coming blast.
It is our own brave banner,
which, hallowed in their gore,
Was planted by our fathers
on a blood-redeemed shore.
Wherever men may dwell in
peace, -where’er a ship may ride,
That banner is unfurled
today, -a thing of joy and pride.
The Spirit of the glorious
Past comes smiling o’er the sea,
And sings her hymn of
gladness at the hearthstone of the free.
The wand’rer’s heart is home
again, -he pauses to adore
The Power that guards that
distant home on Freedom’s chosen shore.
And we, awhile though
severed from the land that gave us birth,
May wear at heart its
brightest gem neath every clime of earth;
And roam we to the east or
west, or yet from pole to pole,
No clime ca match the wealth
enshrined within a freeman’s soul.
God grant to be well
guarded, and cherished evermore!
Till time shall give an
equal boon to bless each other shore.
ORATION
BY HON. DAVID L. GREGG.
MUSIC-By the Choir-The “Land of
our Fathers.”
Immediately after the delivery
of the Oration of the Day, there will be presented to MECHANIC ENGINE COMPANY,
No. 2, on behalf of the Honolulu Merchants, a splendid Silver Speaking Trumpet.
It has pleased the Chief Marshal to make the following appointments:
Aides dc Camp—A. .J. McDuffee,
C. W. Vincent.
Deputy Marshals —D. N. Flitner,
A. J. Cartwright, Capt. James Makee.
PROGRAMME OF PROCESSION
Aid CHIEF
MARSHAL
Aid
Band.
First Hawaiian Guard.
Officiating Clergyman.
Orator of the Day.
Reverend Clergy.
Military Officers of the
Hawaiian Islands.
First Hawaiian Cavalry.
Civil Officers of the Hawaiian
Islands.
Consuls and Representatives of
Foreign Governments.
Heads of Departments.
Members of the House of Nobles
and House of Representatives.
Fire Department.
Mechanic Engine Company, No. 2
Ty Pong Tong Engine Company.
Chief of Police.
Members of Police.
Judges of the Counts.
Members of the Bar.
Medical Faculty.
Captains and Shipmasters in
Port.
Mariners.
Boats’ Crews.
Independent Engine Company
Young America.
Representatives of States of
the United States.
United States Citizens.
Foreign Citizens.
Hawaiian Citizens.
Marshal
Marshal
Forms on Queen St., marches
down Queen to Nuuanu St., up Nuuanu to King St., up King to Fort St, up Fort to
Beretania St., up Beretania to Richard St., down Richard to King St., up King
St., to the Stone Church.
After the Ceremonies at the
Church, the Procession will be dismissed.
Per Order,
R. A. S. WOOD, Chief Marshal.
A. J. McDUFFEE, Aid dc. Camp.
PRESENTATION OF BANNER
TO YOUNG AMERICA ENGINE CLUB.
An appropriate
introduction to the public celebration of the 4th of July, in
Honolulu, was a presentation of a banner to the Young America Engine Club. The
ceremony look place in Merchant street, opposite the store of Capt. Snow. The
Company, marching to the strains of martial music, proceeded down King street
to Nuuanu, hence down Nuuanu and up Merchant. A few moments after 10 o clock,
A. M , the Company was drawn up in front of the building lately occupied by Mr.
Stangenwald. Miss Fairbanks, to whom was assigned the honor of presenting the
banner, appeared upon the piazza, holding the banner, which bears the following
inscription:
PRESENTED TO
INDEPENDENT COMPANY
YOUNG AMERICA
On the reverse was The following:
YOUNG AMERICA
WHERE DUTY CALLS
THERE YOU’LL FIND US
INSTITUTED JUNE 20, 1854.
ADDRESS
Mr. FOREMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF YOUNG AMERICA:
Though a stranger, by the partiality of my companions I have been selected to present you, in their name, this banner, as a slight testimonial of their regard for your association.
How novel the scene that surrounds us! Young America united with Young Hawaii in celebrating the 4th of July, in one of the little inlands of the Pacific Ocean! — Who feels that he is an exile to-day? Who realises that wide oceans and barren deserts separate us from the hallowed associations of home? Not one. Though absent from our native soil on this glorious day, we are but fulfilling the destiny of our race. Our Pilgrim Father made the deserts of America yield to their toils, and blossom as the rose, and their children came hither,
“The land in redeem from Error’s chains.”
Take this banner as an evidence of our kind wishes; emulate the virtues of your forefathers; celebrate the 4th of July, -it will remind you of their trials, their sufferings and their triumphs, and may you always “be found where duty calls you.”
REPLY
Your allusion to the celebration of American independence by Young Hawaii and Young America is pleasing to us. We feel that the alliance of to-day is an appropriate one, for our hearts are warmly interested in the welfare and progress of this Kingdom, without affecting in the least our true love of our own country, and it is no assumption for me to say that Young Hawaii takes a similar interest in the prosperity and condition of the United States, for from that country the Hawaiians received the light that brought them from their dark abode, and by that people they hay assisted to climb the ladder, until they reached the position they now hold, ranking on the platform with civilized nations. It in true that this day's celebration is a novel one for Honolulu. In years past the Americans have observed the day in festivals by themselves, but this year Young Hawaii holds up the banner with us, for she has been made aware of the stability and rank of American institutions; she has reaped benefits from the assistance rendered by the Americans, and she fully appreciates the blessings that she derives indirectly from the stand taken by our forefathers seventy eight years ago this day.
Although no ocean rolls between us and the spot where the Pilgrim Fathers first planted the banner of the free, we are at home and can commemorate the day with us much propriety as if we were in Philadelphia on the very spot where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
We feel that we are but fulfilling the destiny of our race in celebrating this day upon these shores, and although it can, this year, be called a novel scene-we intend to have it termed an appropriate one.
The rapid progress of the United States is the comment of all nations, and we are proud to notice that Americans are respected throughout the world. It is the manifest destiny of the United States to so conduct her government and institutions that she will before long rank as the strongest and most important nation of the Earth.
Much could be said concerning the respect felt for American institutions by foreign nations, but this is not the time or place, I will mention an anecdote of the celebrated British Admiral, whom we now hear of in the Baltic.
Sir Charles Napier, in a conversation with Mr. Hedinger, the American Minister at Copenhagen, after making many compliments to the Americans, says: “I begin to believe in the description which some one of your orators gave of the American Eagle when he said, ‘he sits on the top of the Alleghany, dips his beak in the Atlantic and his feathers in the Pacific, stretches one wing over Canada, the other over Mexico, and grasps the Continent in his claws.' "
We, a Americans, have much to be proud of, and it will be the aim of this association to teach Young Hawaii, so that she may enjoy the same pride and blessing.
We thank you for the kind wishes of the thirty-two young ladies who in the festivities of the day represent the American States, and can only say in return, may you all he made as happy as we with, and you will be blest indeed.
We accept with much pleasure the beautiful banner, and shall ever with grateful hearts remember the fair donors, and rest assured, “Where duty calls there you'll find us.”
The delivery of the address and reply was accompanied by frequent and loud bursts of applause, which Yankees are skilled in making on the “glorious 4th.” No sooner did the cheering cease, than the call was heard for remarks from Mr. Allen, H. H. M.’s Minister of Finance, He stepped from the crowd upon the sidewalk, and offered some peculiarly felicitous and appropriate remarks.
The assemby dispersed amid cheering, the band fanning the patriotic flume by playing Hail Columbia and Yankee Doodle.
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