The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-11-21


To-MoRRow is the day appointed FOR hear
ing arguments on the writ OF mandamus
brought by the proprietors of the GAZETTE
against the Minister Of Interior. The
proprietors of this paper have been
forced to this action by the continued In
action of the Minister As Is well known,
the petition for charter was put in last
April. During the incumbency of Mr.. Bush
nothing was done. When Nh. Gulick came
into Office q reasonable amount of time was
allowed to elapse before pressing the sub
ject Of the charter, and repeated rep
reservations have been made to him upon
the matter. As these representations have
had for reply nothing but evasion after
evasion, the proprietoTs of the GAZETTE
have at last been obliged to take the step
they have. The case will be an important
one, as it VIII definitely settle what are the
powers OF a Minister in such matters. Can
he of his own volition block Legitimate
business enterprise, or Is he a mere pas
sive instrument whose duty 1t Is to see
the papers Of charters are IN proper order
and finding them so, IS 1t not obligatory
that he should present them to the Privy
Council II viii be Of value to the coun-
try TO have this question properly argued
and definitely settled.
Tm evil effects Of the free gin laws were
very evident last Friday. Never has so
much drunkenness been seen Of late years
as was seen on that day: witness after wit
ness speaks Of 1t. A gentleman who has been
acquainted with this city for upwards Of
forty years says that during all that time
he has never seen drunkenness among the
natives displayed to the same extent as on
last Friday. A riding party returning
from hoolau report very large number
Of drunken people as streaming across IN
that direction. and finally a responsible
officer Of the police informed US that on
the night In question the cells were over
full: nearly all the arrests being made for
drunken brawling. The same officer went
on to say that. rs month after month went
by. be could perceive how the action of the
luuor law was slowly but surely under
mining the natives: the appetite for liquor
was spreading among them, and the quar-
rels and rows which owe their origin to
this cause are also on the increase. The
worst feature. perhaps, displayed last Fri
day was the prevalence Of drunkenness
among the native women. This Is indeed
terrible: the sight Of a drunken man Is
degrading enough, but the sight of a
drunken woman Is doubly SO. This makes
an inroad into Hawaiian home life so dan
gerous, so insiduous, that the most Gallons
cannot but shudder when they think Of its
effects.
The lessons of the past few months
should be taken to heart, when the next
Legislature meets. The effect of the new
liquor law upon the native population has
aienated many who were in favor Of it
twenty months ago. The party in favor
Of trying TO undo as much as possible the
evil that has been done, Will be a very
strong one. and it is to be hoped that it
Will have weight enough to once more in
teTpose the check which, as humane men,
and lovers of the native race, should be
put between the native and his self-det1uc-
ton.
The men who passed the free liquor
laws vapored loudly about their love for
the native Hawaiian; their consciences
must be scared indeed if they do not
realize how great and grevious harm they
have inflicted upon the race they professed
to love
This liquor question Is one which be
longs not to Hawaii alone, it belongs to
all countries and exercises the best thought
of the civilized world: the terrible effects
of drunkenness upon the national charac-
ter are fully realized and the best and
finest men are combating it in all parts of
the world. What our planters think upon
the subject was illustrated by their vote at
the annual meeting in 1882 Though many
We're not total abstainers, yet one and all
joined in condemning the free liquor law
1t remains now for the Legislature Of 1884
TO meet tins question, and it is in the
hands Of the electors to send men to the
House who viii see that the question is
properly handled The true lover OF Ha-
waii viii cast his vote for candidates who
will advocate the repeal Of the free liquor