The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-01-06

REWRITING TO the subject of the liquor
traffic, as developed under the new law, we
desire to-day to address a few words of
counsel to those who have lately been
giving public utterance to their views about
it. In their anxiety about the present
aspect of affairs. and in their desire to do
something to prevent the spread of intern
peraIe habits among the natives, our entire
sympathy is with them. Nevertheless we
cannot help saying that the recent tempe
rance meeting came to a very impotent
conclusion. 1t may be credited with a GER
tain degree o. usefulness in bringing pro-
minentIy before the public the facts of the
case as they have become known to the
speakers. But from an assemblage like
that to which We refer, we certainly ex-
pected more. At the outset of the meeting,
one of the speakers said . We ought to
show our colors, and fight this awful
demon" This is all very well bat those
who propose to go into battle have need
of weapons-have need of some know
ledge of the enemy's country, and
of how it may be invaded with success, have
need not only of leaders and of standard
bearers, but also of organized bodies of
soldiers and of the munitions of war Now
the ladies and gentlemen who were present
at the Temperance Meeting in Fort Street
Church undoubtedly FLEW their c~olors,"
but there was the end of it. The only idea
of a campaign that was suggested was ito
break up the liquor saloons" One speaker.
said abe thought that with a determ-
ined Committee from the Y. NJ. G.. a.
to 90 right into the saloons and fight
this awful curse, the thing could
be crushed out in a short WHILE" but
H. Al not i,1iaata ~ haf ha meant Inv tho
word : fight" in his connection. Another
speaker held a similar view, viz, THAT if
members of the Y. NJ. C. A. took this in
hand they could do much to break up the
the liquor Saloons" but he also failed to
to indicate how this was to be done. DIR.
Damon indicated a method which he
thought would do much to break up the
saloons" These gentlemen all seemed
to think that to break up the liquor
saloons" would certainly prove a cure for
the evil of intemperance among the na-
tiyes. They also seemed TO think that
the closing of all our saloons by means OF
complaints as to their cement is a
feasible thing, one of those campaigns in
which victory must belong to the persever-
ing and enthusiastic invader. 1t does not,
however, appear that even this sort of in
vasion of the country's enemies was resolv-
ed upon. Perhaps the majority of those
present saw as we see that neither is the
idea a practical one nor would it have
the effect which these speakers presumably
2 expected from it, if by any chance it coulC
be successfully carried out. 1t is probable
z that some good might be done by a watch
I ful supervision of what goes on in our liquo
/ saloons, and that a very strict compliance
4 with the law on the part of the keepers o
these establishments would be the re
. suit. 1t must. however, be remembers
a that saloon keepers value the businesse
which they conduct. They are thei
means of livelihood, and self-interest j
: a more constant and vigilant watchmal
. than the united forces of the Y. NJ. c
A. or of any other body of Temper
d ance workers could provide. Moreover j
8 is well known that much more intemper
= ance is carried on with the bottle of whisk.
Y carried home than is to be seen in an
t about the saloons. We therefore respectful.
suggest to all those who took part in tn
s late meeting and to all the friends of tenn
perance (and their name really is "legion'
II in this city, that an attempt "to break u
II the saloons" will prove to be a doubl.
futile expenditure of time and enorGv exc
e might easily hasSSSsef oes'o"eu' I VIII
n tha mon who drink too much, and not wit
Inc r.-5r-dealers that their eight" mus
e be made, a fight of affectionate persuasion
IS accompanied by the presentation of neN
II and harmless allurements-a personal hand
to-hand fght-not by public declamatio
k that, even if it should reach the ears, vii
not touch the hearts of those who need t
Il be saved from themselves.