The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-02-17
Making History.

Our remarks on the increase of the vice Of
drunkenness among the natives, in our issue of
last week, have given rise TO no little comment
and some adverse criticism, while the majority Of
readers, as We have the satisfaction of knowing,
are of the way of thinking expressed by a CORE
spondent signing himself Good Templar," and
heartily approve of our course in agltating the
subject. We have been more than once made
the subject of querulous complaints by the Ga
=efe, on account of what it has deemed our I'M
comfortable habit of telling the truth, however
unpleasant, about matters and things in general
in this community. Crackers, and ~alarmists, are
some of the politest names that have been ap-
piled 10 US because we would not adopt the
white-washing policy, and abandon the habit of
calling things by their right names.
Now that public attention is directed to the
fact through the press, every one comedies that
the use of intoxicating drinks is increasing among
the native Hawaiians at q fearful rate. Wit
nesses spring up in every direction, who can
easily substantiate our assertions in this respect.
A native who has the money and wants the
liquor, can be supplied without the slightest
difficulty. That the retail and wholesale dealers
sell directly and openly to the natives we do not
assert, but it comes from those establishments to
the natives undoubtedly, and by a process that
may be described in the words of an old proverb,
- whipping the devil round a stump Every
one who has given this subject any attention
fully understands the system, and none are bet
ter posted than the police in this respect. And
yet We are told that the police are pOwerless to
break it up, because the natives will not betray
the sources of supply. This excuse is bald and
weak. How long, think you, would the police
of London or New York, or any other city of the
civilized world where a department of police exists,
require to thoroughly root out and break up
such a system, were they directed to set about
the work in earnest?
But the difficulty lies elsewhere. To give
vitality and effect TO our now dead-letter statutes
requires that those high in authority should feel
and take an active interest in their enforcement.
How can the subordinates be expected-or in
deed, will they dare-to be ~vigilant, searching,
thorough and impartial in bringing to punish
ment every infraction of the law, when they
know, and the community knows, that the APP
probation of their superiors will not be with
them,-as their examples very clearly prove?
1t is, therefore, a folly and a delusion to say
that this thing cannot be stopped. The will
only is needed, and that alas, is wanting in our
rulers. And all the disease and death that shall
result to this generation of Hawaiians-all the
ills that rum-drinking flesh is heir to, which are
fast coming upon them-we charge to the account
of a h~eartless, law-disregarding, selfseeking
Ministry.
The historian who, at no very distant period
shall write of the closing scenes in the existence
of the aboriginal race of Hawaii, will record thai
"One of the most fatal causes which ~latterly
FASTENED their extinction was the use of intoxi
eating drinks. The pernicious ava root, under
the guise of a medicine, was consumed without
restriction in immense quantities, and fiery anC
poisonous alcohol, of both foreign and home man
~ufacture, flooded the land. There were, it is true
penal laws upon the statute books, the provision
of which, if carried out, might have been effect
ual in preventing the evil, but the Ministry o
the period, engaged in schemes Of self-aggrandize
ment, were callous and Indifferent to the salvation
Of the people. In imitation of the once famou
Tammany ring of New York, their arrogant re
Spouse to all appeals on the subject was,-'Wha
are you going to do about it 20"