The Hawaiian gazette., 1880-02-25
Letter from Hawaii.


Mr.. EDrroR.-That eminently wise and honest
of,those who govern to make it easy for people to
do right, and difficult for them to do fCTOHg." An
apothegm worthy to be embalIned in the memory
and eXemplitied in the official life of every public
man in every state, the world over.
In the present condition of things in Hawaii nei,
one cannot but ask and wonder while he asks, if
the present honorable men whose duty it is to
carry the government, have ever learned of the
maxim of the great English statesman, above
cited, or whether having learned it. they at all ap
preciate its practical value in the government of
such people as this over which In the providence
of God, they are placed.
\ | would by no means be carper, nor would I
causelessly condemn the gentlemen who profess to
cdrry on the Hawaiian Government as purposeIy
when the country is flooded with liquors imported
and distilled in the several islands, and the people
from every quarter are crying out for help, or
plunging hopelessly into the flood, have the au-
thorities no care and no bowels of compassion for
this poor government of a race?
Or will they continue to give us a contemptuous
sneer when we cry for aid, and because they are
"only Hawaiians," snap their fingers and LET them
coolly slide into the yawnng gulf and go down the
burning stream that has already carried SO MANY
of this people to a needless and hopeless death?
Is it the dictate of wisdom politically or NOR
ally humane that curses districts with drunken
heads of police who for free rum and other per-
quisites, stave off all prosecutions possible for lille
gal liquor selling, and power upon his police when
I0ey 1ncluentaly get mold OF q case OF
illicit traffic? Is it fair dealing with an abused
people to insist upon keeping our constabulary
force under man who lies dead drunk in the
stores of illegal traffic the day longt Is it sharply
wholesome practice to look upon from 80 to Is
cases of liquor disguised and undisguised, shipped
every week to district like this with no license
for selling, and make no note of it?
Is this the marvellous shrewdness that noses out
opium in broom handles, cord-wood and kerosene
tins Or is it all right, simply because most of
the liquor has paid dutyi His Majesty's Exche-
quer and not the life of the people, that is of the
chiefest importance! God forbid we should see
day or government of this sort
Gentlemen in authority We cry for help in be-
half of this abused and over-tempted Hawaiian
people, And this help come only from God
and yourselves In the name of Heaven and of
humanity, we beg you to put forth hand in the
earnest effort to save the Hawaiian people from
this deSoating flood of intoxicating drink And
for a fish, don't pray you mock us with a serpent
We want deliverance from the mockery of
drunken officers. Don't tell US that sober and
competent man icouid cost too much
Our young people are being rapidly drawn into
the maelstrom of habitual intemperance. Is not
the life more than raiment? Is His Majesty's
government willing that this dwindling remnant
of Hawaiians should be hurried by the curse of
free rum into dishonored graves? / cannot be-
heve it There must needs be, / am sure, some
method of deliverance devised for people SO thor
oughly hemmed in with liquors and their powerful
temptations as is this. Moreover the evil is in
creasing upon us daily. But short time since
Chlnamen were the sole dealers. But for two or
three years the trade has gone on unchecked, with
perfect impunity indeed, and now the traffic Is
freely carried as is openly said in nearly all the
Chinese stores, by Chinese and Hawaiian police
and in not a few private houses of Hawaiians and
others.
The immaculate Chinaman, moreover who was
appointed on the police force to aid in maintain
ing order among his countrymen, is said to sell
more liquor, and more openly than any other
house in the district.
Our cry is for help for this poor tempted rem
nant of once numerous race. And it is uttered
in the of every true hearted lover of his fel-
low men, in the name of broad humanity, in the
name of all just government, well as in that of
Divine Lord, whose gracious ear is never
closed to the cry of the feebest of his children.
Kohala, Hawaii, Feb, 1880. E. BOND.