The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-01-18

Nor Gle least among the evils which have been
inflicted upon the country by the introduction Of
the lO1-oiass Chinese. l. that Of opium; for they
not only use Il themselves but from their exam
PIE and encouragement many native Hawaiians,
or both se1e=, have been led into the demoralizing
and ruinous practice Of opium smoking. This
NC consider 70 be 4 griev5us evil for we ere
glad to say that We radically differ from the
views expressed by a writer in the Gazette Of
this week on The Labor Question, - who compla-
Gently assumes tina, the Hawaiian race is ire
v5cably doomed 70 extinction and Is to give place
to the Chinese, and who therefore sneers at any
suggestions or precautionary measures for their
preservation.
The governments Of Europe, and that Of the
United States Of America, based their recogni-
ton Of the independence Of the Hawaiian King
dom upon the assumption that this was a govern
ment Of the aboriginal natives Of the country,
rescued from barbarism and brought into the
light OF Christian civilization. On this idea
alone,-a purely philanthropical one-they
have continued to give this little Kingdom Of
Hawaii their support. That support we cannot
expect 70 retain as soon as those powers discover
that this is no longer a Hawaiian netion,-has
become in reality a mere Chinese colcny-a po-
sltiOn towards which we are rapidly drifting.
In a metaphorical sense it may be said that
opium has been in everybody's mouth in this
city for some weeks past. The prosecutions for
smuggling the drug have not yet all been con-
cluded, but the subject has been brought so pro-
minently before the public that it deserves to be
put on record as a curious phase in Hawaiian
history. Ii will be interesting to revert 10 the
early legislation, and learn the story Of opium in
Hawaii nei. Of course we should never have had
any bother about the deleterious substance, or
scarce heard Of its existence except as an article
used by apOthecaries, but for the advent here Of
the children OF the Flowery Kingdom.
z The first enactment in regard TO opium was
made in 1860, when the number Of Chinese on
the Islands was not far from two thousand. Al
the regular session Of the Legislature for that
year, the issuance of licenses to sell opium, to
Chinese only, was made optional with the
Minister of the Interior, the number being limit
ed to two for Honolulu and one for Lahaina, to
be sold at auction at the upset price of two thou
sand dollars. \ bond was to be given in the
sum of one thousand dollars, conditioned that the
.lieensee should not sell or furnish opium or any
preparation thereof to any person except to
Cinnamon. And 1t was provided that any per-
son, except licensed physicians, who should i'm
port, sell or furnish any opium, or any prepara-
ton thereof, without a license, should be fined
not less than 500 nor more than $500, or be
imprisoned at hard labor for n term not exceed
ing six months, in the discretion Of the cou-t.
Under the law Of 1860, which we have above
epitomized aud which remained in force u~naltered
until 1874, n single license for Honolulu-none
having ever been granted for Lahaina-was sold
at auction each year, realizing large amounts TO
the treasury, up to the year 1858 or 1869, as We
remember. The last sold brought ? ,000-a
neat lump sum to help out the revenues. Of
course the liccuses had to sell Il large amount of
opium in order to make any profit on his invest
lneut. And 50 it was decided by the government
Of the time, on prudential and moral grounds, to
the revenue received from this source, and
10 allow no more license. 1t will be remembered
the law Of 1860 said - The Minister may
grant licenses The principle argument against
licensing was that the increasing use Of the drug
demOralizing not only to the Chinese employed
~ labOrers on plantations, frequently uniting
hem from work, but that the habit Of opium
smoking Yves rapidly spreading among the native
IIawaiians and it was believed that the customs
authorities and the police could to a very great
'ztent prevent the illicit importation and use.
50 the courts fell back upon the 4th Section as
above indicated, iorbidding, under certain penal
the importation, sale or furnishing of the
lrug without license. Under this provision of
he law, both the police and Supreme Courts have
'een trying and fining smugglers and dealers in
'Pium, up to the present week.
In the session Of 1874, an act was introduced
y the member for North Kona, (the present
of Finance) providing for the issue of
me opium license for the city of Honolulu, to
'e offered at auction at an upset price of Sl6,-
This act was passed and received the
signature on the first day of August.
subsequently, however, and within only a week,
n act was passed - L restrict the Importation
nd sale of opium, which repealed all previous
cts on the opium subject. 1t received the
sanction on the Sth of August, and was
o go into effect in one year after its publication.
is the law of the land, as just declared by
be Supreme Court. In fact it has been, ever
1875. By its terms, the importation of
plum is restricted to the Board of Health, and
IS importation, sale or furnishing to others ex-
ept through said Board, is made punishable by
Imprisonment Tor 4 term of not more than two
ears, with or without hard labor. in the discre-
ion Of the Court. twill be observed that there
m be no fine to follow a conviction. Neyerthe-
numerous instances have occurred during the
asst three years in which Chinese have been fined
4 sums varying from $50 to 500 for infractiOns
{ the opium law; and we call TO mind several
otable instances where foreigners have been sim
arly and Illegally let of with the payment of a
iOney fine instead Of being sent to prison. The
rst officer Of the bark Alden Besse, for SNUG
ling 100 tins Of opium, paid $3.50. The stew
I'd Of the barkentine Discovery, was mulcted in
be sum Of 500 for q like ofense. These are but
wo instances out Of a great many.
For the present, we will conclude our reference
D this subject with the remark, that it must
.Tike all as a singular fact-and one that ought
a a.