The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-06-19

To Tie Editor Of the Pdcifc Commercial Advertiser:
SIR was not a little surprised at the speech Of
the Attorney General upon MIR. Cleghorn's bill 10
extend the prohibition Of liquor to Chinese and
others, the subjects Of nations not in treaty with
this Kingdom. All idea Of underlying principles
seemed, by his remarks, to have been set aside OF
borne down by prejudice and teehnicality.
In the first place be declared that those who had
made all the hue aud cry against the illicit sale Of
liau 3 were the very ones who had done, and would
do. less In ~ any others toward its suppression.
That FROM them he had failed to elicit testimony.
though earnestly sought after. upon which 10 con-
vict offenders; had received the answer to his en-
quiries that they Uere moi ingOrmers; aud had been
Every properly parenthesis Is mine
to go and find out for himself. That men Of this
class had been the very men upon juries who had
failed to convict guilty parties probably for the
reason that in so doing they would have been pre-
vented in the future from purchasing this LIQUOR
themselves. In regard 10 this last remark, how
would the Attorney General like the same kind Of
reasoning applied to bis conduct in disfavoring Mr..
Cleghorn's bill. Yet in one case this reasoning
would be as fair as 10 the other.
have neither the census before me nor the records
of the Courts, from which TO formulate data and TO
strike proportions, but still have many reasons TO
believe that the number Of Cinnamon convicted Of
selling liquor illegally lin any given time) would
bear an infinitely larger ratio to the total Chinese
population of these Islands than exists with any
other nationality, or perhaps with all Of them
grouped, that are not included in the provisions Of
Mr.. Cleghorn's bil--tbe Attorney Generals opinion
to the contrary Notwithstanding. Otherwise. how
does il happen that all the petitions that have
been presented upon this subject, and upon which
this bill is based. should in particular specify the
Chinese as the GLASS most largely concerned in this
Illicit trade. The prejudice Of race, as an answer, lie
too thin to cover such discrepancies. And the fact
that Mr.. G. c.. Bennett. being a man avowedly Of
abstinence principles, should have been convicted Of
illegally selling liquor, or that an English store.
keeper in Hamakua should have tricked the law, Ia
M nroof that EuOifSb 0Ud HngPrica0 ueonIo -
equally gully Nth the Chinese.
Mr.. Rhodes talk about class laws as applied 10
this subject is only absurd, when we have the exam
pies of Great Britain and America ia proof Of their
necessity to meet certain exigencies, as remarked by
Mr.. Gibson; and. further, the opinion Of our own
Supreme Court, that the existing liquor law is con-
stitutional.
Not less absurd is the objection advanced by the
same gentleman. that to restrict the Chinese would
be to make them only more secret in their efforts 10
procure and sell liquor. Such reasoning would APP
ply with equal force to the commission Of murder
and other capital offences. These are made to skulk
and sneak away by law, until the secrecy and cover
under which they can be committed with IMMUNITY
can scarcely be said to exist. Were they allowed TO
stalk abroad in daylight, il is true they would DO
easier Of detection; but would they be less frequent
or less appalling to society on that account1C
Would the Chinese submit peaceably7 queries Mr..
Rhodes-and then come his phantoms of bloodshed
and riot, upon a negation thereto. Is this style Of
question ever asked Of other criminals The alter
native is compulsion aud force in other cases, and
why should it be different with Chinamenf II we
are to have bloodshed and riot as q consequence Of
legal interference with this people, the sooner il oc-
ours the better, for the chances Of government to
support itself against them will diminish with every
fresh importation, and with a subsidized line Of
steamers between this country and China, and per-
haps with a sequent treaty, the chances are vastly
in favor of a great augmentation Of their numbe ' In
the near future.
In conclusion l might say that the course pursued
by the Legislature in defeating this bill, and ls OPP
position from the Ministry is directly opposed to
public sentiment and to the agricultural and indus
trial interests of the eountrys r .
.~u DALES OF HAY, OATS, col
30 ] 9B Bran, &c. For Sale be (marl3 SOY R0LLEs - O.