The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1877-10-03

To The Editor ofthe HeBaiiaa Gazette:
SIR,-The P. c. Advertiser is rapidly de-
veloping its position on the subject of adultery,
and reaching the logical results of the views
which it has enunciated concerning the rela-
tions between the sexes.
In its last issue that journal takes the plain
ground that, "Here, it is ridiculous to enforce
moral laws upon society, where the men are
so much in excess of the women" 1t asks,
why it happens that the Church on the one
hand and Attorney Generals on the other,
looked on for years at adulterous haisons in
this community without saying a word, or
taking up the culprits," declares that in the
late arrests, prominent offenders, white men,
were completely overlooked" and asks the
Attorney General chow with his scrupulous
regard for his oath of Office this distinction
was made" Neither the clergy, nor those
who have listened to them, will admit that
the Church has ignored the sin of adultery in
this country, any more than other sins. The
records of the Courts show constant prosecu-
tions for adultery and illicit cohabitation, and
the AdoertiseT has no more right to say that
similar violations of law were looked upon
as not requiring prosecution (either by law
officer or clergy for the simple reason that
all offenders have not been prosecuted. Nor
has the Adoertiser any right to declare that
prominent offenders, white men, were COM
pletely overlooked and that distinction of
persons was made. 1t may be that certain
members of the community are talked of " as
men of loose views or practices, but until
complaint is made to the officers, and the
names of witnesses of the offence are given, no
prosecution can be instituted.
l doubt if there has ever been a case to
which the Adrertiser can point, of any COM
plant on which a prosecution has been re-
fused or stayed under any Attorney General,
or of any distinction of persons in selecting
cases for prosecution. All have been, and all
will continue to be, prosecuted whose cases
are presented as the law requires.
1t will be remembered that the views ex-
pressed by the Adcertisey and its correspond
ents on moral questions of this nature, are not
called for by anything affecting these classes
of society who, with any regard for decency,
could appeal to the "scarcity of women" as
cause for immoral lives. Persons who could
be supposed to be SO unfortunate have not
usually been able to screen their vices from
the public sight. L suspect the outcry now
made is from those who do in fact belong to
the more intelligent classes, and who, for rea-
son entirely distinct from those mentioned by
the Adoertiser, prefer, as one of its cores
pondents expresses it, leading married lives
without the previously obtained cabalistic par
uobiScum. This class evidently believe that
they are aimed at, and may next be reached" +"
hence these tears.
Perhaps it is well that those who treat thus
tippantly the marriage tie should now stand
forth, muster their strength, and let it be seen
what manner of men they are, and who they
are! 1t may also as well be put to the test
now, whether, as the Advertiser says, " 1t is
simply untrue chat the tone of society here is
as high as in New England or Old England, T"
or that, "men who were known to be habitually
immoral are complacently received in the So
called best society,""
The fact is. that an attempt now for the first
time appears to be made to obtain public and
legal sanction for living married lives without
the legal marriage obligation. This is not a
plea for leniency to the parents or misfortunes
of youth, or even for the free love +" views ;
it is a undisguised defence and bold assertion
Of the right to defy the moral tone or social
demands which exist in England, and in GER
tainly the Northern and Western States, on
the subject of marriage duties and relations.
greatly err if those will be found by the
side of the Advertiser in these matters, who
earnestly seek and strive for anything ap-
preaching morality. 80