The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-03-28

IsTElFEEAScE IN Switzerland Is increa,
Ing with alarming rapidity. and It may no
b. auiss 70 apply 10 Hawaii the lessor
which + 70 be learned from the ure-au
condition of the former country. To Shev
what nine years Of unlimited Equ1r traffi,
have done for a people who were al one
time noted for their abstemi0u=neSs anf
trugality
In 1874 new constitution. ratified hy
the general vote Of the people came mt
force. Among the provisions It took away
from the Cant0ns the power Of regulating
/ the liquor traffic. The consequence has
been an alarming increase in the number
I of establishments where liquor l. sold
Z and stil more alarming increase in its
/ consumption During the nine years
/ which have elapsed since the passage of
the new constitution the population has
! increased 6 per cent. while during the
/ same period the increase in the number
Of places at which liquor l. sold has been
= per cent There ! now. so II i stated.
one liquor shop to every 13D persons resi-
dent IN Switzerland. IN one Canton the
proportion j fairly appalling. one Hquor
establishment 70 eyerT Is voters
The result Of al tins has been gradual
increase Of drunkenness and a large in
crease in the amount Of crime. these
thing always 20 hand in hand. crime l.
inevitable even among sober populations
but crime ever increases when We add
drunkenness. Not only l. there an in
crease Of crime. but in other WAYS the
prosperity Of the country is being sapped:
failures. bankruptcies and forced sales Of
property are al on the increase. an in
Crease utterly disproportionate to the
advance in population
Here then We have g practical illustra
ton Of the effect Of an unlimited hnuor
traffic upon people of ~ much eharac
ter a. the Swiss. the results were not
patent at first. i i only after the lapsa 0f
years that they ara beginning to shew.
What have We To look for IN the future
IN this country The wise restrictions
which were put upon the native Ha
wauans. not by the white legislator. but
by their oVn farseeing hereditary rulers.
have been swept aside. and In their place
perfect freedom Of rum buviue has been
allowed II the effect has been 30 rapid
upon such people AZ the Swiss. how
much more rapid vii It be on the Iess
hardy and weaker charactered Hawaiian
The Swiss before 1874 were by no means
noted among European nations for iufen-
Ferance- that uaenviable pre- erninenee. We
telleve. was equally divided between the
English Germans and Russians and vet
the Swiss have s-ccumbed- The Hs-
Vailans On the other hand were ackuowl-
edged by their own chiefs as certain to
Ian INTO habits Of intemperance. unless
protected By a stringent law. Already
me EVIL effects d the free rum system are
neelnnlng TO sheW- There Is a decided |
increase II drunkenness Of course. there |
has been a. We have before shown. de- |
eiaed falling on IN the purchase Of the |
necessaries OF hfe and consequently the /
growing families are beng neglected In /
hlgh plsees- a. By one CaJiaa Minis 4
ter drrnkenness has been osteutafiouslv
parsded- But We have BIZ no means
reached anything Ike res5ization Of Ire
eylls which are yet 10 come. Ressouiny
from what has occurred elsewhere We NAV
form very far estimate OF what i b..fora
fllls unfortunate people the ills viii
advance IN their case With accelerated
force.
And what then shall BE- said Of those
who have helped to bring about this state
q th1ngs; the men Of education. experf-
stee and knowledge Of the world Who for
Lne sake Of making political capital Of
Dstletlng 2 Little their worldly position. OF
d catciiing AZ such feeble phantom of
power az ls presented to them here. ad
'ised tne signing Of a law. which the
good sense q the Hawaiian Chiefs of
I'D and the self interest Al least il not
ne good sense Of every thinker N the
''ilzlE'nity condemned A heavy burden !