Polynesian., 1853-05-07

1
upon to witness the most disgusting indecen-
cies in our public streets-common prosti-
tuition stalking abroad at noon -day--and the
nation speedily wasting away under our
very eyes with its consuming fires. il ia
criminal to keep silence! 1t is solemn
truth. that ought to be uttered and felt. that
all hope of preserving the Hawaiian race
is but an empty shadow, unless we can
work some speedy reform.
One thing is clear, namely, that the pre.
sent system of fines does not much diminish
the evil, and some other means should he
tried have no faith in heavier penaltie,
as means of repressing this hydra-headed
sin; for public opinion will not sustain them.
and where laws enacted for the preserya-
ton of good morals go far in advance of
the general voice of the nation, they fail
to command respect, and defeat their own
object | would not be understood as en-
Itertaining the idea prevalent among some
that all penal enactments erected as barriers
to this vice should be swept away, leaving
us to resort to moral means alone for its
correction; for | believe our existing laws
on the whole, exercise a healthy and re-
straining influence. If they do not much di-
minish the evil, they go far 10 keep it within
its old lines and prevent its increase. 1t has
been much discussed in this and other coun-
tries whether adultery and its kindred of.
fences should be brought under the penal
arm of the law, and punished as offences
against public morality, or left to the OPERA
ton of civil laws and the frovn of public
opinion. What may be wise in other coun-
tries do not pretend to decide, but have
no hesitation in saying, that | think the
punishment of such offenses with penalties
is wise in this country. Why an offence
which destroys the happiness of families.
poisons every channel of life and health in
the nation, and is blishting every hope of
its existence, should go unpunished, is not
easy for me to perceive
The great hot beds of this vice are Hon.
olulu and Lahaina, and it has been sug-
gested by one of the House of Mobiles. that
a law preventing the young females of other
districts from visiting these places would
have great effect in checking the evil. If
a law of that kind could be devised. which
would be practicable and not interfere too
much with the freedom of the subject. If
would be beneficial beyond question. But
do not think such a law can be framed
The suggestion however, is worthy of seri-
Gus consideration.
Another remedy suggested is change in
the mode of punishment 1t is thought by
some that the tread-mill with the mortifi-
cation, degradation and hard work attached
to it, might be successfully used as an en-
gine of punishment for adultery in the
place of fines, while others object to it as a
useless waste of human power that can
work no reform. Others again recommend
Imprisonment instead of fines, but until we
have better prisons and better prison disci-.
pline, such a punishment would amount to
nothing at all.
In my opinion, RIGHTEOUSNESS is so deeply
planted in the heart of this nation; the can
Ger is so firmly imbedded in, and has spread
its roots so entirely throughout the body pol-
itic, that no skill of the legislator can cure
it, and it must eventually destroy the ma
ton. But though it cannot be eradicated.
l think it may be checked by the direct
and indirect operation of the laws. The
main cause of this and the most other vices
in this people is Incidence. Promote indus
try then, by selling the people lands at low
prices-by protecting them in their kuleanas
by providing for the enforcement of our
vagrant laws-by keeping the people at
home, if possible, and you will promote yir-
tue, and perchance infuse new blood into
The law should have direct action also
in striking at some of the more visible sour
ces of this evil, now existing in our midst
1t is said that there are many in our metrop-
oils who maintain themselves by the infa-
nous agency of ministering to the vices of
others, and if so, they should be brought to
the bar of justice promptly, and punished se-
verely. The pimp and the brothel keeper
are greater offenders than the adulterer.
Another source of this evil is said to he
the Public Dance Halls of our city. If half
we hear of them is true, they are the worst
kind of common nuisances, and as such
should be suppressed without delay. The
language of the Marshal of the Kingdom
and the Sheriff of Oahu on this subject. il
as follows: '.We would distinctly saw.
that the Public Dance Halls in Honolulu.
are the principal sources, and in fact the
primary cause of the vast amount of forni-
cation and adultery that have disgraced this
city this last season; aud that unless strin-
gent measures are adopted, and that shortly.
for the suppression Of such hot-beds of vice,
or, if that cannot be accomplished, for their
better regulation, then the young and rising
generation of Hawaiians, from whom so
much is expected, and for whom 50 much
has been done, must ircetrievably fall, and
be consigned to infamy and shame.''
Our present statute against Common Nui.
sances is sufficiently broad in my opinion to
reach these Public Dance Houses. The
offence Of Common Nuisance is defined to
be, "the endangering Of the public person
al safety or health, or doing, causing, or
promoting, maintaining or continuing what
is offensive, or annoying and vexatious, or,
plainly hurtful to the public, or is public
outrage against common decency or commoa
morality, or tends plainly and directly to the
corruption of the morals, honesty and good
habits of the people, the same being without