The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-10-28
Prohibition and It's Advocacy From
An Opposite Point of View.
Communicated ]

1865 ~ NAN
legislative session, a great commotion
was made by a few individuals in their
efforts to carry through the Legislature
a law prohibiting the Importation of
fermented liquors.
Each of the islands was ~canvassed
throughout. Honolulu was divided into
districts; each district being allotted TO a
so-called advocate of temperance princi-
pies in which he or she-for ladies were
in some cases the pleadcrs-employed
all arts and diligence to persuade dis
believers in the doctrines of total alb
stinence TO abandon their scepticism and
join the noble army of devotees who
had declared war al Outragice against
every description of solid or liquid food
which taken in im%moderate quantity
would induce a state of drunkenness
with its accompanying evils. Sermon
were preached, meetings were held,
committees appointed TO further the
cause. Invitations were issued to citi-
Gems of all ranks and creeds to join the
crusade against fermented Liquors, TO be-
come champions of prohibition in the
holy war proclaimed. not only against
drunkenness, but against the senselcss
inanimate objects which according to
the leaders of the movement were the
cause of the evil, and all those persons
who, in the exercise of their reason and
judgment, felt no guilt in p%artaking of
the comforts and blessings bestowed on
them by a bountiful Creator, because
some others perverted or abused them.
AS was to be expected the arguments
employed 10y some of these apostles i'm
their endeavors to gain proselytes were
futile, the evident intent being to carry
the desired point at any price, regard
less of the duty of consciousness on
their w n part or of the smallest
show of consideration for the intelli-
gence or veracity of those whose sutf-
RACES they were attempting to win. Two
persons living in different parts of the
related substantially the same
story of an interview which each had
with these canvassers. Upon applica- y
ton to them to sign the presented me-
mortal and their refusal as not believing
either in the doctrine or practice of total
abstinence, they were Immediately as
sailed with "Oh do sign it; il will not
interfere with you in the least. We
know we have M chance of passing the
law; but we should so like to have your
amongst all the others in its
AS these were both persons of
responsibility, their names might
have added some weight to the cause IL
exhibited to others who were unable or
unwilling to think out these matters for
themselves, but being truthful as well as
respectable, they closed their ears and
held back their hands. They did not
give way to the Establishments brought
to bear OF them.
OF the same character was an invita-
ton sent to a member of the Assembly
inviting him TO attend what was called
"a mass meeting of the citizens of
Honolulu and the Islands " for consider
and discussion Of the subject of
of the importation and sale
of Intoxicating liquors, at the Mnsic
Hall, oil the presumption that the legis-
lature would wish to be informed as to
the sentiments and wishes of the people
on that subject. The invitation was
signed by three gentlemen sin behalf
of the Temperance Committee"
OF what society this committee was
an offset there was no information, but
it may be assumed it was a branch of
that known as the Young Mems Christ
ian Association.
Now, why not call things by their
proper names Z? Why call a theatre
a music hall ? Is il TO save the scru-
pies and slave the consciences of some
exemplary persons whose punctilious-
ness would prevent their entering the
building if it were called Il theatre?
Why call a company of highly respect
able gentlemen and ladies Of peculiar
numbering all told a very small
fraction of the population, ga mass
meeting of the citizens of Honolulu and
the islands," and why call their pre-
determined resolve to impose, If posi-
bic, those views on a reluctant commun-
lty "the sentiments and wishes of the
people z" Such misnomers and misre-
presentations do not attract thinking
men to swell the ranks of those making
them.
The reason given for the invitation
above mentioned "presuming that the
members OF the Legislature will wish to
be informed etc. etc, was equally hollow
The members of the legislature would
not have cared Il straw about what had
passed at the meeting nor would thew
have neglected their business for one
half hour to listen to the uninterestino
tale.
In the note declining to accept the in
vltation, the proposed victim declared,
that he considered prohibition antap-
onistic to he Christian sligion. He
not only still entertains the same
opinion, but the dogmas propagated by
OF Its eXpositors as positively anti
Christian. To support this view, por-
lions OF a sermon said to have been de-
llyered at Fort Street Church, Sunday
evening, May 9TH, 1882, entitled "Moder-
alton; shall we drink wine and beer" as
The sermon having been print
ed and sent round, undoubtedly by
some kind hearted person hoping that
the uninitiated in prohibition might
benefit by its study.
Before remarking on the doctrine
which one would suppose to be shocking
to a Christian, it will be as well TO point
ost a few of the Inconsistencies and
weak or erroneous statements which
otherwise disfgure the discourse and
damage a cause, the inculcation of sobri-
ETY., which in itself is good and praise
worthy.
AT the very outset it is stated that