The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-07-08
Moral Responsibility.

The Friend for July, takes US rather severely
to task for what it terms our " Slip-shod, easy
going and goOd-natured application of moral
responsibility exhibited in an article in this
journal on the 3rd ult., wherein we said,
1--WE do not by any means concede the view to be
correct which is put forth by our venerable contem-
porary the Friend, that the Government, in realizing
a large amount of revenue by attempting to regulate
the sale is thereby liable for the support of paupers
who become such through the use of opium, any
more than it could be called on specially to provide
for the support of those who impoverish themselves
by the use of alcoholic stimulants."
The duty of Government to support paupers,
were it made a duty by Legislative provision,
(Which is not the case here) should, on grounds
of humanity, cover all of that class, without
respect to the circumstances or causes which
brought them to that condition. When we see a
man suffering from hunger or nakedness, or in
danger of life or limb, we do not, before render
ing aid, stop and enquire into all the particulars
of as to how he got into such a strait, or who is
to blame for it, but, recognizing Gods image in
his creature, however debased, our first impulse is
to succor and to save. And we apprehend that
this is in exact consonance with the teachings
and example of the Founder of our religion. The
moral responsibility to support the poor vic
SAhoS i"BO'SAShNO " OHANAh ohN AN"S
edly lies with the community at large, and its
duty in this respect is only done when it provides
the means and regulates the operations of its
charity. But, to insist that, because Government
receives a certain amount of revenue through
imposts and taxes on opium and spirits, therefore
it is in duty bound per Sc, to board, lodge and
cfothe every broken down drunkard or enfeebled
opium smoker that may be found, is a decidedly
Quixotic way of reasoning.
We agree with the Friend in its idenunciation
of the evils of strong drink and opium, and could
f~ervently wish to see both utterly banished from
this fair land. But as we cannot just at present
accomplish this desirable end, the next best thing
to do, is to control the evil, if baply we may
decrease it. As a prohibitory liquor law is out
of the question with us, for obvious reasons, we
endeavor, by a system of high duties, heavy in
ternal taxation and strict regulations, to circum-
scribe as much as possible the ravages of the fire
which we cannot entirely quench. By this
means, a considerable amount Of revenue is annu-
ally realized to the Treasury, in a perfectly legiti-
mate manner, and the evil of strong drink is
made to increase the means in our hands for
doing good in other directions. Then in regard
to the traffic in opium. Because it is a great and
growing evil in our community, abstract reasoners
would doubtless advocate the absolute prohibition
of its importation and sale, except under very
strict regulations, to be used as a medicine. But
do these wholesale reformers pause to estimate
what would be the probable cost of maintaining
the extra army of police and detectives that such
a course would render necessary or can they
form an approximate idea of nov much lying
and thieving, bribery and perjury and a host of
kindred evil, would result in the vain endeavor to
utterly forbid the introduction of opium into the
country? If the apple in the garden Of Eden
had not been so strictly tabued, our first parents
would never have incurred the risk of such
fearful consequences in p~lucking it. Their de-
scendants have thoroughly inherited the same
disposition to strive after that which is forbidden,
and in the making of laws it is no part of wisdom
to ignore that fact. The attempt to force men to
be religious, moral or temperate, invariably fails.
The most ~efectual means to accomplish these
ends is moral suasion, which We were ALWAYS
under the impression was the Friends principal
mode of warfare against evil.
As to a systematic effort to provide for the desti-
tute and impoverished among us,-from whatever
cause,-we will heartily second our cotemporary
in bringing the subject before the next Legisla-
ture, to the end that the Government NAV be
empowered and directed to care for and support
such unfortunates, out of the public funds.