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

nation thus cursed, depreciating the value
of taxable property and so placing heavier
burdens on the very class whose industry
holds the nation together, and finally caus-
ing such physical, mental, moral and social
disorders as to result in serious degenera.
ton of national character.
Aside from any moral Issue at stake. it
is wise policy foe a nation to increase it's
powers of production, to limit the rate of
taxation, to reduce criminal statistics to A
minimum, to insure social order and thus
encourage an increase in the number of
property holders, to guarantee anything
and everything that threatens physical or
social disorders, and to throttle the Iionor
interest because it operates against these
good results. The strength of nation is
IN the industrious, sturdy, physically
healthy citizen, and whatever contributes
to these things likewise contributes to ma
tional Importance ard prosperity; and
whatever nterferes with the industrious
habits or irnpairs the sturd::,e- 81 rt.-;cai
health of single citizen, Just in that mea
sure tends toward national degeneracy.
II government insists on a revenue from
the sale of liquor to the natives bv licensed
parties throughout Hawaii nei, then it sells
its seal to most suicidal course. To one
who from only years residence finds so
much that is disastrously affecting the ma
tive character, such a privilege granted to
liquor-men would seem like the death.
warrant of this people. Are there any
more agencies needed to accelerate tie dis
appearance of this race? Must there be n
return to the days when no restraint held
passion in check? Can any honest man
favor law that, awaiting itself of the
peculiarly vacillating temperament of this
over-much be'et and tempted people, shall
plunge them into physical and financial
ruin And can any amount of revenue.
least of all the pnltry sum that license.
law will yield, entice the powers that be to
snch a fatal courseY But what is the
moral aspect of such a policy Can
money compensate for moral ruin Shall
government with one hand clasp with
misers grip the bride of the liquor interest,
and with the other deal out poison to those
for whose protection alone government
exists Is it honorable in government to
propagate pauperism and imbecility and
crimef Has any government the moral
right to give special privileges to an inter-
est whose work is to curse the community
and ruin individuals, and sap the nations
strength 7 1t is strange that any man can
bold that it is moral or social or political
duty even to foster the forces that are al
ways multiplying criminality and poverty.
There are strong reasons why at this time
license should not be extended SO as to in
clude the privilege of selling liquor to the
native population and the same reasons
which apply in this case likewise hold good
agnnst any greater privilege in the sale of
liquor to foreigners. If we are to have any
legislation on the matter at ALL let it be
toward more stringent laws, and not toward
grelter license. 1t is better for the honor
of government not to identify itself with
such an immoral, impoltic course as the
licensure of liquor. 1t would be better for
the community and business interests to
have this evil restricted rather than en-
larged. 1t would be better for the native
population to have one of the open door
ways to its ruin and extinction shut and
forever blocked. 1t would be greatly to
the honor of those who, blessed by the soil
and climate of Hawaii nei, to endeavor to
make some small return, by defending the
interests and protecting the integrity of the
native race, in excluding that race from the
scope of license laws.
In conclusion, am heartily opposed to
license, because license laws have never
proved effective in restricting liquor-seIIing
or liquor drinking; because they have never
ministered to the honor of government or
to the good order of the community; be-
cause unless accompanied by civil damage
clause there is no responsibility for the |
crime and ruin occ ,sioned; because the |
revenue received by government is only
a fractional percentage of the loss sustained |
by the nation in the operation of License
laws; because the material interests of a
country are seriously burdened and its pro-
ductive capacity limited, aud the poverty
and social degeneracy of the population ac-
CELEBRATED by the privileged sale of liquor
because such a law is proposed by the liquor
interest, supported by the liquor constitu-
ency, and operates only to the benefit of
the liquor-dealer because such law is an
affront offered to the intelligent convictions
and enlightened sentiment of the best cit-
sens; because it violates every moral, social
and political claim on the part of citizens
that government sh1ll be friend to good
order, to virtue, and to the personal rights
Pitts supporters. and not an abettor of vice or
| prop g .tor of crime, or the consumer of
he homes aud property of its subjects.
Finally, am heartily opposed to the Ii
,enseof liquor to any and all classes, because
here are better ways of dealing with this
iquor question. And | am opposed -es-
,ecially to the license of liquor to tives,
because we already hive an excellent law
hat only needs enforcement to make its
rood qualities known; and because it is
light to insist That if we are to have license
It all, it shall be limited as it is now, and
lot be extended to all classes.
1t is at least likely TINT such persistent
fort to enlarge the license laws should be
made, and TINT white men should be so
ellous in the movement. Well might the
ative population say to snch men, !" How
ones it TINT You have SO suddenly taken
uch stand in behalf Of race whom You .