The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1880-04-21

the struggle has been going on, notwith-
standing public sentiment there is uudpubt-
eddy opposed to license. Witness the diff
Guilty which always attends the efforts to
repe1l llws and substitute Others of sc.
verer type. The liquor interest here is fa.
vCrab!e to license for this very reason.
They are aware that license law once on
the statute book will not be tempered with
until public sentiment is Overwhelmingly
and unitedy in favor of some definite and
stringent substitute; and that until snch
time they are protected and supported by
the power Of the Government
Liquor men are shrewd and far-seeing,
and do not need to be told that now is the
time to prepare for the struggle that will
come in the future. So they bend every
energy TO manufacture public sentiment
that there is paint at which governmental
interference in private rights must celse.
They teach by means of aphorisms that
tickle the ear, and deceive that large class
who are too Indifferent to detect the fraud.
Every man has a right to choose his
business" they say. "Why can't one man
sell rum as well rs another man sell tea ~
=" The law hasn't any claim against peace
able man J" "WhOse business is it what
drink any more than what eat!" "My
money is my own and I'll spend it as l
wish. "One man drinks water and goes
home; another drinks beer and goes to
'j1il- !" John staggers in the street because
he's dizzy; Jim staggers in the street be-
cause he's drunk. John is helped home ;
Jim is helped to the lookup" Let such
words be the ntterance of man who claims
to be an aggrieved member of society. and
there is degree of plausibility in them
And yet what is the upshot of this doctrine,
thus popularity stated? Has not govern
ment right to interfere with personal lib
critics when those liberties are exercised at
the expense of others ? Hasn't government
a right to condemn strip of my land for a
pnblic highway? Hasn't government a
right to forbid my cattle to browse and run
lose in the city streets? Hasn't govern.
ment right to march me to prison if am
caught poisoning my family? Hasn't gov
ernment any right to punish me for selling
arsenic for quinine Hasn't government
any right to compel me to keep ont of the
gutter, or to put my hands in handouts if
do not keep them from my neighbours
face or my neighbours property
Personal liberty is secured to individ-
uals so long as such liberty does not trend
on the rights of others. But so long as
one mans liberty impairs another mans,
the personal aspect of the thing disappears,
and it becomes public, to be dealt with as
government deals with all public matters.
Cl aIp Of fba al.
point when examined appears to be without
ground, and the very strongest argument
can be formed in favor of prOhi6jtory laws,
where liquor men deny the right to the
slightest governmental interference.
But liquor men seek the adoption of
license laws that May may procure the
governments moral sanction Of their other-
wise cUtioaoea tra6fc. Sin loves to be res
pectable. The worst class of men prefer
having their business recognized as legiti-
mate TO having it practically or virtually
outiawed. Besides, legitimate business
can be moro audaciously pushed and its
tales increased. 1t makes a deal of DIFF
ference whether man hides his trade in
liquor and sells it on the sly, or neither
he temptingly arranges his decanters and
exposes his wares SO that the public as it
passes hears the mock refrain. The law
sanctions this. 1t makes a deal of diff
ference to the liquor seller for license in
increases his business and releases him
from the fear of interruption at the hands
of the law. 1t makes deal of difference
to government for by license it receives
money for thus selling its moral support.
And it makes a deal of difference to the
public for this same license increases the
temptations of youth, removes all restraint,
multiplies drunkenness, increases crime,
occasions increased suffering. and causes
greater poverty, and practic ally defeats for
perhaps long term of years all efforts to
increase the stringency of the law. Good
men will exclaim at such a state of things,
can you do about it. ?" Aud the dispenser
of all this suffering and crime and poverty,
behind his bar will echo, " Yes, what can
you do about it. Z" Aud what can be done
when the time comes that government it.
self sanctions it, and the liquor power is
awake to its interests, and the bulk of the
public are Indifferent, or not united on any
definite course of action. To-day it would
require one-tenth the effort to prevent new
license laws being framed that it will in FIVE
years to repeal such laws should they be
passed.
1t is claimed that that government is
utterly impotent to control social eUiis.
But this plea of government inability is
always an argument for new government.
What one class of laws and one set of
officers cannot accomplish, another class
of laws and another set of officers can. 1t
is puerile to claim that government hasn't
basis power to enforce necessary laws.
If there is any point made in such
a claim. it is not against government
as such but against particular adj
of that government, which
can be changed. IF such
q claim as this is advanced by gov
eminent officials it is a shameful con-
fession and ought to close the commission
Of every such officer. If it comes from
legislators, it is an acknowledgment in
and ought to remand the in
iividual to private life. If it proceeds from