The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-06-06
Opium License.

The last number of the p. C. Adrsrtissr
promulgates some superficial sentiments on
this subject. which never could have been ut
tered if the author had devoted any attention
to the subject, and made inquiries from plan
tattoo. mansgers and others concerned, as to
the real state OF the matter
We acknowledge that opium is smuggled
into the country 10 i considerable extent, but
the facts show that the amount OF opium now
consumed here is much less than it was under
the old license law. Under that law the ruin
Gus habit Of opium smoking was spreading
among the natives with alarming rapidity.
The Chinese house which had the privilege of
importing and selling opium had its agents in
every district Of the group, who, for the sake
Of Increasing the demand for the supplying
narcotic, and enlarsins the profits Of the busi-
ness, were incoSsantly laboring 10 induce the
natives to indulge in il. and every one aequain-
ted with native character can readily imagine,
with what ease new victims were made, and
how feeble would be any resistance to the IN
sidious, but soul and body destroying habit
Under the present prohibitory law the con-
sumption of opium is almost wholly confined
TO the metropolis On the plantations partic-
ulariy is the bene6eent change noticed and ap-
preciatei. LaborerS, both Chinese and Hawai-
iAns, who forraerly were SO stupid and beastly
from the effects of the drug, that it was i'm
possible to get from them anything like fair
days work, now appear animated and alert
and able to do their duty The statement Of
the Adrertissr thAt, "while the present pro-
hibitory enactment fails to guard the native
Hawaiian from this pernicious practise, a re-
turn TO the former legislation in this matter
would be safe guard in 4 great degree,
against the sale Of opium to Hawaiians, is an
exhibition Of the most sublime ignorance or
fatuity Under the old law natives on plan
tStion could 20 into the Chinese quarters and
indulge in their nightly smoke. aud the next
day their sleepiness and general apathy would
announce the fact as plain rs words could do !;
nav, the officers Of the law might arrest them
with the opium in their pipes, but still conyic-
tion of parties furnishing it was very difficult
Under the present prohibitory law any party
in whose possession opium is found is liable
TO punishment by Imprisonment or fine; conse-
qusntly the process Of law is short and per-
emptoEy, and the result is that the Chinese
who buy the smuggled opium are unwilling
TO let the fact be known except among those
Of their own countrymen whom they believe
trustworthy.
The idea that return to the old system
'will coafne the practice to the Chinese
alone, and save the Hawaiiaus from the per-
ufcious indulgence" is based on dream,
and is utterly false. Under complete pruhi-
bition there may be an unfortunate few among
native Hswaiians who can obtain and use the
drug, but the number must always be limited,
but We know that under the license system
the evil was fast assuming gigantic proper
tious, uniting It's deadly force to those other
evils which are sapping the ife-blood of the
nation and threatening its existence It will
be an unhappy day for Hawaii when It's rulers
shall again consent To barter the bodies and
souls Of their people for filthy lucre. Let
the revenue force be increased if necessary
let opium smuggling be prevented by every
means attainable by the Government; let it
rather ezpend 5000 year in suppressing
the illicit traffic, than to again license It for
that, or any other amount Of money, and Iet
Us hear DO more dish-water arguments from a
press which pretends to befrisnd poor, fading
Hawaii, in favor of the damnabIe system
which can only hasten its rain