The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-05-03
Batraiian Gazrtte.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3,.lss2
I5,o.n.. anal Prohibitiug Liquor Laws


That people are found who honestly believe
that more liquor would be used under Pro-
bibitory than under License Law, we have
no doubt. But we believe and reason differ
entity, and we think statistics sustain us. We
would as soon believe less stealing would
result BY a repeal Of the law against showing
or less numbering, II the law against killing
was repealed, as to believe more strong drink
would be used under strong prohibiiOry
statute, than would be drank if the law
licensed it and made it honorable. A law
license for the manufacture, importation and
sale Of strong drink is an Indulgence
granted not by the Church, as in the days OF
Luther, but by civilized prOfessed Christian
uations. Strong drink is the great curse Of all
civilized nations.
1t is true a license " indulgence is not
granted for the direct commission of crime as
Of old, yet under the operation of this indul-
gence great and many crimes are committed.
In the United States statistics inform us,
x that nine-tenths of all the crimes Of violence
committed are tue direct results of strong
drink" and about "33 per cent. of all tones
are made necessary by strong drink" This
is the result of the unlimited use of strong
drink under the laws sanction and protection;
results which would seem impossible under a
Prohibiiory Law.
It's true a large quantity of liquor is now
used in this kingdom under our partial Pro-
hibitory Law, and much Generalization and
misery is created by its use. The law at pre-
sent prohibits the sale Of liquor to certain
parties, but first permits it to be brought
within the reach of every inhabitant Of these
Islands. The Chinaman are willing tools for
Its distribution, we may almost say without
let or hindrance, as it is believed to be ped
died from every Chinese camp upon these
shores.
We hear that a bill is to be introduced into
our coming Legislature granting to the Kings
officers the power to sell "indulgences for
the sale Of strong drink, both wholesale and
retail to every inhabitant. If this should be
done it would seem like signing the death
warrant Of the native race.
Again. VIC hear that bill is to be intro
duced to extend our present Prohibitory Law
so as to include the Chinese as well us the
llatlNEs, WHICH WOulQ undoubtedly De q DLl
improvement upon our present law The
Chinese being now the chief transgressors by
reason Of their peddiing strong drink secretly
among the natives.
We are glad to hear that prohibitory law
extending to ali classes is to be passed by our
incoming Legislature. We hope it may be
true as that would be the proper thing to do.
Strong drink is the greatest enemy. against
...ss1swnI ha.-n 70 ,-,y,4npl Nd
it is a still greater curse to semi-civiIized
man. He has a strong appetite for the liquors
with less intellectual and moral force TO resist
temptation.
Hence while the first may seemingly prosper
under the curse, the latter would, if allowed
the free use of drink, sink almost out Of
existence Where strong drink is licensed by
the law, it is considered no disgrace TO drink,
but rather manly and sOciable to both treat
and be treated with the idea that what the
law allows must be good.
The rising generation grow up with the
example Of their fathers before them, and fol-
lowing the same social customs are inclined to
sustain the laws that make honorable the sale
of strong drink. This fact accounts in a
measure for the difficulty which is met with
in all civilized nations when an attempt is
made to pas probibitory laws.
But IN this kingdom the difficulty is not now
SO great for our native lawmakers have
wisely denied their own people the free use OF
intoxicating drinks.
The same class Of Lawmakers have still
full power to further protect their own people,
and protect foreigners at the same time, by
enacting a rigid prohibitOry liquor law-bind-
ing alike upon all, as all laws should do, and
we trust but a small opposition will be made
by foreigners to prevent it, now that the great
planting interest of this kingdom have RECON-
mended the enactment of such a law.
1t is quite eviC ent that should prohibitory
bill be brought before our coming Legislature
and properly engineered, it will become law
and the Justice Of such a law must be con-
ceded in a community where laws are enacted
not only for the greatest good TO the greatest
number" but for the greatest good 10 tie Ubole
people.
1t certainly is not Democratic nor States
man-like, TO allow the passions or appetites Of
few hundred foreigner to interfere with the
interest and welfare of whole kingdom.
May the Great Father be pleased to hasten a
Prohibition Law for this kingdom that there
may be one Christian Nation upon this earth
not ruled and cursed by King Alcohol. And
may every good man and woman lrOrk for the
enactment and enforcement Of such law.
Let the man who shall attempt 10 foist a
license law upon these inoffensiye natives, be-
come as the great lawyer of California who
received $4,000 from the whisky ring for his
eminent services in having California's Local
Option Law" declared unconstitutional; bat
in bringing misery and death upon others he
brought it also upon himself, the destroyer Of
bodies and souls seized him, and hurried him
into eternity in the prime of life, without
warning or preparation. His great learning,
his bright intellect and ready tongue 10 more
moves to retain the curse and bring misery
and death upon man.
license law would bring more misery
upon the natives. and thin their ranks more in
decade, than unquarantined small poI, and
as a moral leprosy is more to be dreaded, in a
moral sense it is not enough that we center
not into temptation" we must not put tempt
alton before our weak brother that may tempt
him TO sin or cause him to suffer
We must not dig pit for our neighbor to
fall into lest God may require his blood at our
hands. J NJ. II.