_Replies by His Majesty to the Felicitations of the Commissioners of
France and of the United States, and to the Captain of the Honolulu
Rifle Corps, on behalf of its Members, on the first Anniversary of the
Birth of H. R. H. the Prince of Hawaii._
GENTLEMEN:--I receive with unfeigned satisfaction the
congratulations which you offer on this the first anniversary
of the birth of the Heir to the Throne. As the Representatives
of nations so pre-eminently called upon, by virtue of their
physical and intellectual resources, to watch and foster the
progress of the human race at large, I rejoice in those
aspirations with which you have connected the future career of
my infant son. To you, gentlemen, and to the Governments of
which you are the honored organs, the best thanks of the
Father and Mother of the Prince of Hawaii are cordially
tendered.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HONOLULU RIFLES:--For the loyal and generous
expressions your Captain has offered in your behalf I thank
you in the name of the Prince of Hawaii, who doubtless will
one day hear in what manner your good wishes were made known
on this occasion. For in families it is not uncommon for
certain incidents and expressions to become traditional, and I
know that neither I nor the Queen can ever cease to cherish
the remembrance of the many tokens of good will and sympathy
this day manifested, or fail to tell our Son in time to come
how the anniversary of his first birth-day was welcomed by the
"Honolulu Rifles."