The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-04-09

=. moral support from the native population.
\ public call was issued, a meeting held, and
the few natives who had been induced TO make
the call, were simple enough to try to bring IN
the aid of some foreigners to assist them, and
show them how and what to do but were coolly
told that they were expected to act for Themselves.
And they did act for themselves, FOR at the
second meeting. their voice was almost unanl-
nous that the laws and Constitution were hight,
and they did not desire any change, Thus
the moral support asked was given, but IN
a way that was not anticipated. Ihe rouHe
was damaging and the result disheartenng to
those who sought an expression OF pubic SEN
timent." When the question of the right or
wrong Of the present prohibitory laws is brought
home to the natires themselves, they are almost
unanimous 70 sustain the laws as they are.
Witness the stand taken by the Representatives
not native or foreigner could be found to vote for
the repeal of the prohibition. 1t IS only a
small clique of foreign birth, Of foreign in
stincts and prejudlces, desirous of living at the
expense of the native race, that seeksto make
the change. They have no interest incCmmon
with the Hawaiians, but glory in their ;lrnage.
When the editor of the P0LyneSlGn gets ready
to undertake the task of remodeling tie liquor
laws of the kingdom, to suit his v%itiatel tastes,
(Which effort involves packing the Legislature
with a majority of his own views-rathera her
culean task in the opinion of many,) prhaps
he will take as his text the following fr'm the
close of Judge Robertson's decision, which bears
directly on the question
1t has not been argued. nor could it have been with popriety,
that the law prohibiting the sale of spirituous liquors u natives
within the meaning of the GA article of the Constitution and
there can be no question that it tends TO promote the will being
Of His Majestyts native subjects, and assists in promcing the
material interests and general welfare Of the nation It large.
The subject Of the importation and sale Of spirtuous liquors in
this kingdom. has always been treated by the Government a u
speciality, and the tra1hc has ever been Kept under Stringent
\ considerable portion of the Chief Justices
decision relates to the French Treaty as learing
on the case, and no one is more qualified to
speak knowingly than he, who was maiIly en-
gagged on the part OF the government in framing
that treaty. On more than one occasion, we
well know, that the late Mr.. Perrin distinctly
any desire to incorporate in thetreaty
anything that might restrict or impair the laws
to the sale of liquors. On no point
he more free and unreserved, than on this.
and certainly none who are familiar with the
discussions and explanations interchangd at
the time. can mistake the meaning, however
equivocal the language may appear.
In concluding lis decision, Judge Allen ersely
sums up the case in a few lines. We may re-
peat, however, as we intimated last week. that
the defendant only allowed his name to be used
in order to bring the vexed question of the legal
ity of the prohibitory law to a decision, because
no one else would do SO, and it was desirable
for many reasons that the question in suspense
should be finally decided
There Is no Injustice done the respondent. When he took the
license, he knew its conditions. This provision o: law has been
force for many years. Under this decision he will Continue
20 have the same rights Of sale by virtue of his license, as it
vas understood by the contracting parties TO it that he would
rave. But he seeks to extend that license 10y the claim Of a
which the law prohibits, and in reference to which the contract
or a license was made. He viii continue TO enjoy all the adj
'antages for which he contracted and paid, and, equiia1iy. he
aan claim no more.
As the prohibitory liquor law is now fully
sustained, we trust that the Executive officers of
he Government, whose duty it is to carry out
Is provisions, will not be slow in doing so.
There can be no excuse hereafter for any yiola-
ion Of it. Whether in Honolulu or out Of it,
wherever liquors are sold to or manufactured
or the natives, by foreigners or natives, when
proof can be found, the parties implicated
hould be arrested and tried. If the fines i'm
,osed are not enough to check the hellish desire
D make gains in open or secret violation of law, /
hen let imprisonment succeed, and the majesty
f the law he sustained.