Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-09-17
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.


In our last issue, we advertcd to the subject
Of alcoholic intemperance, its recognized evils
extended far and widc and its existence as de-
pendent upon prevailing customs, and they
again as fostered by what we hold to be a mis-
taken notion as to mans ability to use in mod
Grafton narcotic agent whose prime effect
is to paralyze the will and batter down by its
cumulative action, tho very moral power by
which we would attempt to hold it in sub
lection.
We now present for the consideration Of our
readers few collated statistics as applied to
our own Island Kingdom, which perhaps in
their impartial consideration, may reveal an
amount of expenditure for n useless indnl-
| gencc, which if diverted TO the purchase of
necessares, would represent vast amount of
misery and want as actually relieved. And
yet this purely pecuniary consideration, al
| though great in itself, is but an aom infinitely
small in proportion to the amount OF social
misery and degradation which should be
added to the price of its purchase
We find by reference to Customs statistics
that the total value of spirits imported during
the year $50, amounted to Sl2s, ,Ol 6. 90; the
duties thereon to Sl56, 100000, making their
total value, before passing through the hands
of the dealer amount to S2si ,OlsOO. And we
think it a reasonable estimate of the profits
accruing therefrom. before this amount of
spirits has been finally disposed of tn the
drinker, to place it at 40 per cent, thus giving
total of $780,, 600 90 as actually expended in
drink. The total revenue from internal taxes
(real estate, personal property, poll and the
like) amounted during the biennial period end
ing March 3lst, 1850, to $465,252. 90. Conse-
quently we have voluntarily taxed ourselves
for this one article Of luxury nearly doube the
amount we pay grudgingly to Government for
the protection Of our " lives, liberty and prop
crty."
The total of duties on all other goods. ex-
cept!ng spirits, imported during the year $50,
was $4,000. 00 while the duties paid on
slints alone during the same period, amounted
to Sl5E 100000. We are well aware that the
valse u dutiable goods, through the operation
of thS Treaty has been greatly reduced, and
that It's ratio to the total valuo of imports is
only a little in advance of one to three: but
when consider that the ratio in the number
of those legally entitled to drink alcoholic
beverage is also less than one to three of the
whole population, the amount of expenditure
in single item of luxury is both prodigal and
great. The estimate of expenditure involved,
has been made purpose'y low; and nothing has
been taken into account of the thousands of
gallons of spirits and beer of domestic manu-
tacture ilictly vended throughout the country.
Represented as an investment, the amount of
money actually spent in gratifying the appe-
tito for spirituous liquors, would be equal to
the purchase OF sufficient land for, and the
proper equipment of, moderately large sugar
plantation each year. Now, that drink is a
luxury and utterly needless, is recognized by
our law makers, who have seen fit to prohibit
lis use, by legal enaotments, among natives, to
whom it is denied, even as a medicine. And
although we would say, keep it always, as
much as possible, from The natives, we cannot
avoid the inconsistency that faces us in the
laws that would attempt classification only in
this particular direction.
There arc those who argue an equal ability
in the native with the foreigner, to use ntoxi-
cants in moderation, and that rightfnly the
! privilge Of drinking, should be equally ac-
corded to them. But regarding il other than
n privilege, we would say that because one
, class of men have obtained legal right to de-
stroy themselves, it does not necessarily fol-
low, upon principle sound policy, that the
same privilege should be made universal; hut