The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-04-08

the latter heartily approved at the measure a7 q
harmless and wholesome amusement. - that
controversy las run high between debaJers Of
different Hau0ualiyics. vino have viewed tie sub
l"ct each by the light Of bis own early education.
~ public journalists il is not our province
nJr does it acc0.i yith our inclination to take
=des upon matters Of purely religious belief;
but there IL another view Of the question to be
taken, and to tins II becomes cur duty to refer.
The playing Of the band on Sunday last for Pep
ular amusement was plainly a violation Of one
Of the statute laws Of the land. And however
opinions may differ as to the wisdom, the justice,
or even the policy Of any law, yet so long as it
remains On the statute book unrepeaIed, no gov
eminent can afford to sanction it, deliberate and
open violation. 1t is dangerous to relax the i'm
portant principle Of the sacredness Of law; for if
once permitted, it becomes difficult if not impos-
sibie to fix a Inns 70 the progress Of this sort Of
Liberalism. If, however, it shall clearly appear
that the intelligent public sentiment Of the coun-
try demands the amendment or abrogation even OF
our present Sunday law, then let it be done de
Gently and in order through the proper channel.
The USE Of intoxicating drinks unrestricted by
law has always proved utterly ruinous to The
native races Of the Pacific, wherever and wheGz
ever permitted. And yet there are those to be
found in Hawaii nei who advocate the removal.
Of all restrictions on the traffic and of allowing
the natives the glorious freedom Of drinking as
much liquor as they can pay for. The Maori.
race Of New Zealand are a branch Of the same
family with the Hawaiians. At a recent meeting
Of the former at Hawks Bay, the proposition (or
recommendation was voted That the whole
Maori race should become Good Templars:'
which shows that they are awake to the dangers
of intemperance. Mr.. Sheehan, a member of
the New Zealand Parliament, addressed a letter
to the natives assembled at the meeting, earnestly
warning them Of the evils of drinking. In one
part he says:
You know that it has been my duty for some
years past to conduct the battle aow being fought
for the restitution of your land. Fully convinced as
| was at the start, and as | am now of the grossly
dishonest and immoral means by which you were
stripped Of almost your whole property in this part
Of the country, it was at first to me n matter Of the
greatest wonder that a whole people could have been
imposed upon so frequently, and for so long a time;
but when l came to make enquiries-when 1 found
that coincident with these foolish bargains for the
sale Of land was an enormous and increasing desire
for drink-when l saw that in many cases the bulk
of the consideration paid you for the properties was
either grog or money spent in grog-then the sue
cess of the deception practised upon you was to me
no longer q mystery. [ speak in no uncharitable
spirit when 1 say that 1 have never known a people
who were SO thoroughly given over during the time
to which L am referring to the consumption of ardent
spirits as the people of the Ngatikahungunu tribe.
And now, with all your bitter experience the evil
still exists, and is stalking with giant strides through
the whole of this island. At the present rate it
needs but a few years when all that will remain of
an able and warlike people will be the tradition of
their existence" Mr.. Sheehan strongly advises all
the natives to become Good Templars