The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-06-05
ILLICIT @ TRAFFIC.

A great deal has appeared from time to time
in the papers of this place upon the subject of the
illicit traffic in the alcoholic beverages, carried on
by the Chinese, both in the Metropolis and
throughout the country generally but a clear
idea of the enormous extent to which this trade
has been and is carried on to-day in the country
districts, can be had by few who have not resided
somewhere among them. Letters from Makawao,
Waikiki and Kohala upon this subject, which
have repeatedly been published, might perhaps
suggest the idea either that the worst of settlers
had by singular coincidence congregated at these
three several sections of the country, or that the
most inefficient executors of the law had been ap-
pointed over some of the most thriving districts,
or perhaps both facts together might have con-
spIred in thus locating the maximum of this de-
moralizing trade. But, having travelled through
many districts, and on all the different islands,
we are led 10 believe there is little difference in
the amount of this business done in reference to
place, excepting as prOportioned to the poPula-
ton.
The fact is, there are few Chinese tenements In
the Kingdom where a vendor of liquor may not
be found. Tea and coffee shops everywhere in
the country are VIGOROUSLY but blinds for the
less legal, but more profitable trade in rum,
while coolie houses on plantations often pour it
forth under the very nose of the employer with a
heathenish skill he is unable to battle.
OF all delinquents none are more difficult of de-
lection than the Chinese, bound together as they
are in secrecy by the fear of penalties decreed
among themselves and it is little strange to one
at all acquainted with their characteristics that
the efforts Of the executive in upholding the laws
against them should so often be baked.
In one country district it is known that as
many as sixty cases of liquor arrived in a week,
all for Cinnamon. This was at one landing only,
while the place has FIVE. How many might have
been landed at the others, it would be impossible
to conjecture. Omitting however the possibility
Of more, surely this is enough to give an idea
that the trade is by no means of meagre dimen-
sions. Bought at an average of about fifteen
dollars a case, or less, and again retailed at
thirty-six dollars a case, there would be q net pro-
fit of over twelve hundred dollars on the whole.
And this amount, according to the testimony Of
Cinnamon themselves, was nearly all disposed Of
within a week. Now the existence of large pro-
fits from some occult source is necessary to ac-
count for the sustenance of the numbers Of Chi
nese without ostensible means of support, that
throng the stores and tea shops Of the country
districts, and IN profits from the sale of rum we
have ready explanation of what would otherwise
be a mysterious existence of so many Migrants.
And we might say just here, that a vigorous en-
of our yagrant law would vastly benefit
society generally, and the sugar proprietary in
particular. Testimony from all parts of the
country, and from most respectable sources,
might be adduced in proof of the prevalence Of
this Ubiquitous trade, and it is almost entire mOnoP
oEzed By the Chinese.
10 view of such facts. is it not fine that some
thing should be done to shore up our t%ottcring
Droscriptiye law, undermined by an influence that
Is extending every day2 Surely if the Hawaiian
Legislator is Influenced only by a sincere regard
or the welI-being of his constituents, and the gen.
sral veal, in SO repeatedly and overwhelmingly