The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-01-31
CCarrezpoudeuce Of the Pac. Con. Advertiser
Does the Inv "Authorixc" Prohibition!

The PoIyHcsira of January 18th, cents a column
OF bile against the reported ioings Of Rev. 7. Coan
and his Church Conference. The ons' part Of this
requiring comment Is the agsrieyance fel; because
they called the new law FOR prostitutes, 4 law "Ga-
hori-iag tie prostitution Of uoms1."
The editor begins to feel keenly the disgrace that
mus, rest on the public champion OF such a law in
any decent community. and has been for SOME time
trying to evade it, by m~iSstatinG and soteuing down
the actual purPort and working Of the law. He per
sists in representing it = a laws d" to cure a disease, -
and &c, - to authorize the sin Is which the disease
was occasioned.
Let 8 few obvious considerations dispel the log in
which he is striving to hide he real character If his
lay1rite statute.
We all know that this statute does not in so many
words directly and categorically authorize prostitutes
to practice their Infamous trade, l, does not in ex-
press terms repeal or limit the action Of the old stat
ute Furnishing the crime.
But IS any intellect 50 obfGsclted rs not 10 see that
this law in reality does assure full impunity 10 all
prostitutes who comply with its requistons' This
Is Of necessity implied in the law. What use could
be made Of such q law if II did not ensure exemption ;
Would any prostitute be At the trouble and shame Of
coming under government inspection, If she only
thereby fixed the eye Of the police more distinctly
upon her. TO observe and punish her sins? What
lDIucelnSul Gun me law HOlu u 10 a pItStiAuNe 10
register herself, except that thereby she IS to sin IN
der shelter: Suppose the yigilant police were 10 fol-
low up and pounce upon these registered women, all
ticketed and branded Us they are, and should enforce
diligently the penalties Of the old law upon them,
would it not end the working of the new law at once
BY necessary implication therefore il exempts those
under its shelter from the action Of previous statutes;
else il is a nullity, and stultifes itself and all con-
cerned in il. This is so obvious that [ am almost
ashamed to argue the question.
Has a single arrest for mOekOlOhs ever been made Of a regis
+-Gv -=.=--r. Tit H- rha .Hn-r
The authors and promoters o.! Ike law fully comprehcnded this
feature of it from the first. They clearly saw that express eN-
emVton was unnecessary, when the Law necessarily implied it.
They wisely omitted therefore tn express what would have been
too obnoxious if markedly presented TO the honest native members
Of the legislature, who never would have consented 70 The law,
had time and public discussion enabled them TO perceive its true
character.
What disgusting hypocrisy it is for the Polymesian to deny
the real and obvious purport Of is ftvorite measure. If we are
to have prostitution protected by law, let US not be bulied into
calling the fact hy a softer name.
To mitigate the evils of prostitution ! 1t is like mitigating
the evils Of smallpox, by driving in the disease TO save the
looks, as if the ravages Of venereal disease were the chief Of its
evils. Leraliziug and protecting t Z vlest feature Of social life,
instead Of hunting it down and destroying it.
The main object Of thIs law Is to make vile indulgence safe.
If its promoters were Is jealous a. they profess, to check the
ravages OF disease, why did they make a law to apply a remedy
to one very small class alone, Why did they not make = spe-
cial health law for the whole nation. as in the case of any infec-
tiOIs or contagious disease, requiring every case TO be immedi-
ately reported to and treated by competent and authorized ply
sicians, It il plain that their object was merely to establish
among US the vile system of lesalized, meicated prostitution.
The PofyHsSiaH will undoubtedly continue its attempts to
sand as il may, the dirty carcass ProtrudeS, and the public see
1 close by repeating the resolution Of Mr.. Coan's church, and
Seconding the motion to adopt:
ReSOlUei, That this law j. a very bad law, and il is Of
filthy character among this people and because it is opposed -
the good effects Of some existing good laws; therefore be it re-
solved, that this conference (and all good people, pray greatly TO
NAKED TRUTH.