The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-01-21
A Few Fact. and Quotations.

The AdUerriSer of last week believes-that is
we must suppose it is the Adrertissr-that the
suspension of the Act 10 Mitigate" &c, 10 the
summer Of 1872, "was unwarranted and injuri.
Gus" As this law will probably come up before the
next Legislature, and as 1t should be thoroughly
understood, in all its bearings, we refer to it again.
in order TO present it fairly, in connection with
the stand taken by our contemporary.
The opinion Of the Adrertiser in May last was :
We have taken occasion in times past to crit.
" else our own Act to Mitigate and have ad-
"vocated its repeal, not by any means that we
did not appreciate the grave importance OF do.
ling something by legislation to mitigate the
" evils and miseries arising from the breach Of
1.-The seventh commandment, but because we had
ample evidence that the law failed of accom-.
"plishing the purpose for which 1t was enacted
and further that its operation in some instances
lied to uuiusti6able Infringement of personal
" liberty"
In one breath it says that it has ample eri
dsncs that the law failed Of accomplishing The
purpose for iohich ii ,ras enacted which was the
mitigation Of the evils and diseases arising from
prostitution, and in the next says that the act
was generally highly beneficial on the public
health" The same paper says, in its issue for
December q, 1873: This pitifnl trifling with
" the fate of whole people is far worse than ab-
" surd-it is cruel and criminal Upon those in
whose hands is the power to check this great
L" evil by promptly using the means" (the law re-
ferred to) within their control, rests very
grave responsibility"
In May, when there was a pressure on the
Minister of the Interior to put the Act into op.
Grafton, the same paper thought as follows !:
" Some urge that the present law should be again
put into operation, the late King having re.
turned without bis signature the Act for its re-
peal We cannot support the proposition.
" The voice of the people, expressed in the very
decided Legislative majority that voted to re-
peal the law, is entitled to respect aud consider.
alton. Besides, the legislature adjourned with
4" out providing the means for carrying out the
law, and it therefore stands virtually suspended
land imperative until a succeeding Legislature
" shall vote the necessary supplies. One of the
provisions Of the law is to the effect that the
" funds for its execution shall, from time to time,
"be appropriated by the Legislature. There be-
ling no such appropriation, the Minister of the
I" Interior would assume a grave responsibility
" were he now to put the law into operation"
So, whether the Minister enforces the law, or re-
fuses to enforce it, for the very sound reasons set
forth by the Advertiser, he assumes "a grave
10 ;s bar l..
deed, to adopt policy to meet the Advertisers
inconsistencies on the subject.
Our contemporary goes on to say that the ap-
plIcation of similar laws in other countries is in
these days beginning to be fairly appreciated"
Against this assertion, we beg leave to interpose
the following from the N. 2. Nation, almost as
good authority: " In France. too, the only coun-
try where the social evil has for years been sub
"ject to efficient police regulation, it may fairly
be doubted whether the health of the popula-
&" ton has been improved. IL still remains to be
proved that medical examination affords any
reasonable guarantee of impunity." In Great
Britain "A Contagious Diseases Act" is enforced
in localities where soldiers and sailors congregate
but public opinion was SO strong against the Act
that royal commission appointed to consider the
Act recommended: THAT the periodical exam-
nation OF the public women be discontinued" and
Parliament carried out this suggestion in 1871.
1t is sneeringly said that the sentiment op-
posing this style of legislation is puitanical and
pharisaical (; but the late John Stuart Mill whom
none will be SO wild as to call Puritan, says
to provide securities against the consequences
of immoralities of any kind is no part Of the bust