Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-04-01
PRESENT PHASE OF THE LIQUOR
QUESTION.


At each session of the Legislature FOR many
years past there have been attempts made to
repeal the existing law prohibitive of the use
Of spirituous liquors by native llawaiians, and
each gear with an apparently growing support.
During the session of 1880, the probability
ihat the existing law would then be abrogated
was apparently SO great that the minds of
many became greatly exercised at the pros
pective result, and petitions from religious
bodies and various other sources flowed freely
in agains, the proposed repeal, while the press
as a unit. consistently with morality and CO.
incident with these appeals, lifted up its voice
in favor of the existing law. And the Cham
ber of Commerce, more properly representing
the mercantile interests of the community, also
entered an earnest protest against the franchise
Of rum, some Of that body then indicating it as
their preference that total prohibition should
lie placed upon tho Importation of spirits than
that their use should be made free to Ha-
waiians.
To-day the disposition among IIawaiians to
sce the existing law repealed is in no wise
abated; and under existing circumstances it
is scarcely possible that it's specific dsinc-
ions can bo maintained beyond the coming
session, and day such rs were anxious as to
the fate of the law in 1880 have still moro
reason to fear the result. Comprehending this,
aud alive to the magnitude of the existing evils
OF intemperance among these Islands and tho
absolute necessity of obviating their increase,
the Planters Association has unanimously re-
solved to recommend to tho Legislature the
passage of a law totally prohibitive of tho i'm
portation, manufacture and sale of spirits.
Let it be remembered that this body of men
have assembled together in conformity with
their own interests and for the purpose Of adj
vancing those interests and it cannot be laid
to their charge that such recommendation is
the result of any ephemeral religious or moral
enthusiasm, but is more properly TO be viewed
an the deliberate conclusion Of men who have
carefully considered the labor question in all
its phases, and who have recognized as vastly
detrimental thereto the nordinate prevalence
of intcmperancc among their workmen.
Among those forming the Planters Associa- =
ton aud interested in plantations, there are
members who, additionally, are also dealers
in spirits themselves AMI yet they, by their
vote in favor of universal prohibition, have
acknowledged that the benefit derived fron
their profitable trade in spirds 10 in no wise
commensurate with the evils lhoy have Incl
dentaliy to Sustain as a side result OF it's use
among their employees.
| Aud now, il tho planter is 30 seriously ag-
grieved 10y II depreciation in the quantity anC
quality Of labor performed, consequential npoI
the use of rum, how are we to estimate the in
jury TO the laborcr himself. This is lripl
loss physical, pecunary and moral land in
volying those who are dependent upon him 10
support.
The legal ability to drink Spirits beinI
looked upon as privilege by Hlwaiians, AM
one from which they are uneyenly debarred,
is no wonder that they should fret under ii,
supposed restraint, and that their inurmur
should grow louder as their civilization an
enlightenment Increase. Let us then relieve ia
Hawaiian Of the sense OF injustice lie sustain
at the maintenance OF an uneven law and mes
him upon ,be fair and oven ground propose
by the Planters Association, and prohibit I'll
use Of rum TO all. Such ia the only alternatis
IL We would save the remnant Of the Hawaiis
race. and We doubt not that such measuI
would be cheerfuIly agreed to by msjoril
Of the foreigners lsxcluding cbinese) on ihe'
islands, not for the benefit Of Hawaians alor
but for those Of shcir own class also.
We trust that due deliberalion will te en-
ployed upon this Important subject At the oon
Ing session of the Legislature, and that q