The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-05-18
PU BLlSHED WEEKLY HY,
HEN RE NJ. WHITNEY.
The Socini Evil of Hawaii.

MR. EDITOR;-lt was gratifying to read, in yOuI
issue OF April 9th, little wholesome exposure o
the inexcusable ignorance contemplate trickery
the Government organs Star correspondent in re-
gard to the alarming increase of ntoxicaron amongst
the native population within the last few wears
Ones blood bOils with Indignation that in the place
Of plain facts to be read and known of all through
out the group, should be found claiming re-
spectability and truthfulness whilst yet endeavorng
to cheat the public in regard one of the tco great
crying well consuming evils of the day. for the
enormous increase in each of which, during past
years, this Government is to be held responsible be-
fore God and man.
And if any honest person desires TO be made ae-
quainted with the fearful facts both as to the in
of HforicatoH, well prostitution in par
ticular, Of icentiOus living in general, and he
finds this difficult in Honolulu, let him make n tour
Of the Islands and consult any intelligent persons
who acquainted with Hawaiian social life. On
al sides he will find the dstillation of OkoIehao or
the fermenting Of saccharine fruits, and the giving
up of days and nights debauchery and its concom-
tants.
l state it a fact patent to all that in large
portion of these cases. officers appointed by the Gov
ernment the publicly khowa leaders in this de-
mOralizing business, whilst others, both red and
white, wink at and fall in with the illegal practices
And indeed it is perfectly well known that wherever
public officers are even tOerably honest in the
else of their duties, these things be repeated
openly, month after month, among the Hawaiians
But those who direct the affairs of the Government
have, time and again, had these particulars placed
before them; and yet these men, who are dis
grace to their kind well their Government,
persstenty retained in Office and, so far as can
be or heard, will still be retained.
And ia he ipfara ~ CO., II
demand, that these officers correctly represent the
sentiment and policy of His Majestys Government
regarding the making and of Intoxicating drinks
recent notice two in your late issues would seem
to indicate that His ExceIlency the Minister of the
Interior is resouely setting himself the task of
reformation in your city. If he will do something of
the kind for the other parts of the Islands he will
suredly bring upon himself the blessing of multudes
and prolong many lives, valuable Cif for other
reason) for labor, which is greatly in demand.
But allow me TO express my convictiOn-a
viction which has n place in the minds of large
part of sOber-minded men-that so long universal
eOncubnage is encouraged by that most ,isgraceful
of public denominations, the 'Act to mitigate, SC,
which is in effect ''An Act to encourage &c, it
is perfectly futile to seek the suppression of its twin
sister, drunkenness 1t is useless to cover up, or
whitcwash for party ends, the facts which every
nook and corner of the metropolis reveals those
who have eyes to see. In the judgment of sensible
men, who have opportunity, toO to become acquaint-
ed with the morals of the place. to say that half
the population of Honolulu is living in scarcely dis
guised purely undisguse,l lcentousness, is below
the truth. And the process of decentralization is so
rapidly going that those who still regard virtuOus
life the better way in danger of being engulfed
in this maelstrom of public corruption. And this,
too, be it remembered, is process carried directly
under the eye Of the Government, sanctioned, too,
by publicly licensed prostitution.
Talk of Sodomi Appoint Committees and expend
the public funds in searching out the rery mysteri
Gus causes of the national decay!-a decay which is
to put rulers and ruled of the Hawaiian people
speedily beneath the sod. The blood which circu-
ates in the heart is that which is the
ites. 1t causes no surprise, therefore, in any
siderate mind, that the licensed prostitution of the
metropolis repeats itself, indefinitely, in quasi
licensed prosti tuition all over the Islands.
1t may he triiing matter Ill the estimation of
some, that one can stand in country district and
within n radius of n mile point to fifteen or twenty
couples living undisguisedy in licentiOus cOncubin
are and one Of the couples entertained by high
officer of Government. But what is the damnng
fact doing for tie patton and for the Government
under whose auspces such things are the every day
spectacles to BE Cazed upon?
1t is mockery t. tell to go to the law for redress
of these giant evils The poison which is thus eating
out the Vitas of ali decent society keeps at its work
of death unchecked, for constable tcH touch these
cases. will any Justice i'll country districts have
anything To 10 with them g 1t is so,'' they say,
:. in Honolulu, and what is allowed there cannot be
helped here The logic is unquestionaby sound,
but it smacEs horribly of speedy and dishOnOred
grave for the
Doubtless this is very indelicate subject and
doubtless, too, many think it useless to Moot this
particular question of public morals as things are,
the nation having nearly run its course and being
sure few years TO be, as to its feeble rem
nant under the foot of the haoe. But recollect OF
hearing, not long since, of sailor who was greatly
applauded for having saved the lower extrentes of
a shipmate from the living tomb which the other
portion of the body found, in the belly of shark
The survivor attempted an act of humanity, and 1t
was no fault of his that his attempt was not fully
successful He did what he could. The application
OF the story need not make. NJ