Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1854-10-28
Qbe polpnesian.
Edinburgh Review for the Main Law.

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the most desponding reformer to know that the
Rhadamanthus of literature, the Edinburgh Re-
view, incomparably the most influential and digni-
fed periodical in the world, ruling the opinions of
the most cultivated classes Of England, has given
its adhesion to the Main Law. Surely the world
does move. 1t cannot be denied that great
change in the sentiments of the literary world has
transpired since the day when this same Review
signazed itself by its ribald and abusive assaults
upon Christian missionaries, and the chief but
tress and support oi infidelity. The last number
fthe Review contains an article on what it calls
"TeeIotalism," (the etymology of which we should
be glad to have expained), which, though taking
considerable pains to abuse and misrepresent the
doctrine oftotal abstinence, closes up with clear
calm and conclusive argument for Prohbtory
Law. 1t unequvocally endorses the principle and
the expediency of such law though it counsels
gradual approach to it. After giving brief but
correct account of the history of the Main Law and
of the similar enactments of other States, il pre-
sents lucid outline of the argument by which the
Justice and utility of such law are asserted. II
may serve to show the method by which the great
Temperance Increment is carried on in England as
well as indicate the position of this and potent
ally, TO refer to this outline:
''Unquestionably tie first instinct of an Anglo
Saxon, both in New-England and in Old is to re-
sist any extraneOus power, whether calling Itself
King or Kaiser, Pope or People, which attempts to
Interfere with his concerns, to forbid his coming
and going, buying and selling as he will. The ad-
vocates of these prohibitory laws were therefore,
asSailed at once with the cry; What has the State
to do with our private pleasures? We are free
Americans, and no one shall hinder Us from dealing
and drinking as we please.' TO meet this clamor
they forced to revert to the first principles of
political philosophy. They merely required to prove
that the natural liberty of man is necessarily limited
by his social condition and that society imposes
such limitations, either to protect itself against
evil, to further the ends for which it exists. As
to the particular subect-matter ofthe present dis
cusson-the right, namely, Of buying and selling
the State should (they aIlowed) leave it free and
unrestricted, whensoever that Is possible land most
States have interfered with it more than was either
necessary or desirable. But still there are certain
cases where all civilized States must limit it by e
gislation. The State may thus Interfere with
commerce, either 10 raise revenue or 10 avert a
danger. Examples of the first case are the fet-
ters imposed on trade by customs and excise; for
the second the restrictions on the sale of gunpow
der, and the laws which prevent unqualified per-
sons from exercising the business of medical
practitioner. The regulations TO which the vintner
and tavern-aeeper are subjected by the Ecence sys
TEN. stand on both these grounds; being enforced
partly for purposes OF revenue, partly to guard
against disorder. And it is especially absurd to pro-
test against the right of the State to interfere with
this particular branch of trade if such interfer
ence were a novelty. For the law, as il stands at
present, not Only intereres Herewith by duties on
the importation of wines and spirits, by excise re-
gulations, and by varousenactments concerning the
retail business but it absolutely prohibits this tra
fc to all bat selected few among its citizens,
specially licensed for the purpose. Is it not ab-
surd, then, to demand that dram. Shops created by
the law, should be exempt from legislation
"But farther, there are some trades to which the
State applies not restriction merely, but prohibition,
thus the business of coming money is utterly sup
pressed by the laws of all civilized States thus the
opening of lotteries is commercial speculation for
bidden by the law of England. If it be asked on
what grounds the State is justified in annihating
these branches of industry, 1t must be answered, as
before. that society may put down what is dangerous
to itself; salus populi suptema lex Any trade, en-
ployment, or use Of property, detrimental to the
life, he 18th. or order ofthe people, is by English law
public nuisance. And in suppressing it the State
assumes the right Of sacrificing private interests to
the public good And this not only when the de-
triment is physical or economical, but also when it
is moral. Thus. unwholesome graveyards are shut
up, and noisome vitrio works pulled down, for their
physical noxiousneSs; private coming IS made ille-
gal for economiCal reasons; slave trading lotteries,
cock-pts, bear-gardens, gambling houses, brothels,
and obscene priDt-shops, are prohibited on moral
grounds. Now the liquor traffic, particularly the
retail OTdDCU OI II, Is puUllC uulSdHCS III
three respects: both physically, economically and
morally. By its physical consequence it causes
death to thousands; reduces thousands more to mad
ness or idiocy; and afflcts myriads with diseases
involving the most wretched forms of bodily and
mental torture. Considered in its economical re-
Suits it impars the national resources by destroy
ing large amount of corn, which is annually dis.
titled into spirits; and it indirectly causes three
fourths of the taxation required by paupersm, and
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farther, 1t dlmnshes the effective industry of the
working classes, thereby lessening the amount o.
national production. Thirdly, viewed in its mora
operation, il is the cause (as we have previously
shownl of two-thirds of the crime committed I, il
lowers the intelligence and hnders the civilization
of the people: and it leads the men to iltreat anC
sarve their families and sacrifice domestic comfort
to riotous debauchery.
"On the above grounds, it is contended that the
State ought no longer to content itself with re-
strictng this traffic. but ought to suppress it; fol
public nuisances should not be regulated but re-
moved. And it is predicted that, as civilization ad
vances this will share the fate of some other mora
nuisances tsuch as lotteries and bear-gardens
which wele formerly tolerated or even encouraged
but which are now prohibited by law"
L hose who reflect upon the unholy alliance
which has always subsisted between rum and ht
erature, from Anacreon to Moore, will see occasion
of surprise and qualification at such a pregnant IN
dication as is afforded BY this position of the bighes
critical organ in the world. The Influence of let
tiers may yet become the most powerful impulse o
sobriety, good order and peace. We cannot bu
commend TIE manly example of the Edinburgh Il
the lesser lights oflterature at home. If the jour
nal identified with the names Of Jeffrey, HorneI
lMackintosh, Macaulay, Stephen and Rogers, ca
laford to commit It's fame TO the fate of the Main
Law, it surely will not soil the kid gloves of ou
Iown North American to shake hands with such
lurodigious social and moral phenomenon as =;
Temperance movement-N. Y. Evan
! country indiyidn,I who was caught in the wa