The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-04-24
The Liquor Question.

The Legislative Committee on the Liquor Law
gave a hearing in the Hall OF Representatives,
Boston. Feb, l3. to the Woman's Christian Prohibi-
tory League, upon the question of allowing the
whole population of the State, women as well as
men, to vote upon the questions, Shall the License
Law be repealed, Yes or No? and /" Shall a Pro-
hibitory Law be enacted. Yes or No ?' The hear
ing was held in connection with the continued
hearing upon the petition of the Temperance Ali
ance for the enactment OF a strict PTohibitOryL Law.
The committee were addressed by Mrs. E. NJ. H..
Richards, President of the League. Mrs. E. J. Cor
don, Vice President, and Mrs. NJ. O.. Stevens of
Peabody, Secretary, which closed the hearing on
the part OF the women.
Wendell Philips then took the floor, saying that
he had no satisfaction in addressing a committee of
the Legislature, for the Legislature did not dare to
go against their political interest, and were an Or
ganiZed hypocrisy who passed laws which they did
not believe in, and did not mean to enforce. They
have all the light they want upon the subject now,
but do not dare TO pass a prohibitory law. for rum
rules the Government. He said it was of little use
to address a Legislative committee on this subject,
as he might as well address a committee of masks,
for there was scarcely a member of the Legislature
who dares vote according to his conscience in
deed, the city and State was an organized hypoc-
risy. There were forty rum shops within a few
rods of where he lived, in all of which liquor was
sold both Sunday and week day and the police
would not see it, and he commented on this to
show fhe hypocrisy of the city authority. Mr..
Philips said that for the past 40 years the city gov
eminent of Boston had been a standing committee
on all the rum shops. \ man has Il right to drink
all be wants to. but when it comes to the sale of
liquor, the law has a right TO interfere and regu-
late or prohibit the sale as it may see fit, for the
benefit OF the State. But there never has been,
aud will not be for forty years, u Mayor who will
dare to enforce a license law against the liquor in
terest, and the law is only a tub thrown to amuse
the whale. II the whole trade was shut ont by a
prohibitory law the distinctions made under the
license law would be avoided, and the law being
consistent and resting on u moral basis. would
have a chance of being enforced and being sup
ported by the best opinion. 1t was the logic and
consistency of the abolition cause which caused its
triumph. The votes Of the liquor sellers can more
than turn the majority in Boston elections. 1t had
been suggested that that the crusade against rum
cease, but he would say d" fght,'' and he claimed
that the vast interests OF the question lustlfes act
ion by the State. Every man knew that two-thirds
of the crime was from rum drinking, and. without
the sale of liquor, taxes would be reduced more
than one-half. He said from 200 to $50 license
laws had been on the statute books of the State.
and the cause OF temperance had never succeeded
for a moment. There was not a Republican in
Massachusetts who could look into the face of an
other Republican, on this matter of liquor, without
laughing at the deception which was being prac-
ticed. When the civil damage law was passed
last Winter a dire blow was struck - the sale of
liquor. a license law cannot be executed but a
prOhibitory law might be, as it rests on a moral
basis. If the present license law was allowed to
remain on the statute book be should charge that
the Legislature was hiding itself from the respon-
sibility.
DR.. a. A. Miner said You can't make men viz
tuous by act of Parliament, Massachusetts echoes
that sentiment with all her heart. But by hang
ing the murderer we believe that by an act Of Par
lament men will be deferred from committing
murder. We compel parents to educate their chill
dren. If we can stand between the child and the
fathers greed, why may we not interfere sbetween
his appetite and the rum-seller? DR.. Miner denied
that there was any foundation in the statement
that prohibition wherever tried had been IA fail
IRE. that statement being made for sinister purpose.
The prohIbitory law in Massachusetts. he said.
never had a fair chance. though the Mayors Of
Boston were the best men TO elect-but not the