Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-10-18

organize and successfully defeat the
perfectly disciplined organization OF the
government. But there is a second
compromise which must also be made
and the sooner the better Many
Independents who feel strong indigna
ton at what they consider the out
rageous character of the administration
make use habitually of strong language
to express their feelings. Such lnde-
pendents ntsnaturalIyapplaud unsparing
denunciation of Independent speakers
and the singing inyective OF the public
press But many other Independents
are habitually temperate in their dis
cussion of public affairs, and dislike to
hear, or read, violent or abusive Ian
guage no matter how much provoked
These last mentioned Independents
may see as clearly as their nelghors,
but they may also consider more care
fully the results OF appeal to passion
and to them invcctive is nearly always
that, directly or indirectly. They may
even feel as strongly as their more
openly indignant neighbors and yet be
able to exercise more rigid control over
their impulses. 1t is an open secret
that two directly contrary opinions OBJ
tain as to the wisdom or unwisdum OF
the public discussion of the present
minister of foreign affairs. The ad-
ministratlon paper recently asserted
and a prominent citizen, an lndepend-
dent is frequently quoted to the same
general efieCt-that the official above
mentioned had been ridden into power
and kept there solely because of the
violent attacks of the opposition press.
We disagree with the view just ex-
pressed II we agreed with ii the
course of this journal would have been
altogether different But we are willing
to admit that middle course mighf
have been wiscrone; and will cheerfully
conform to any agreement among In
dependent newspapers whereby useless
personalities may be abandoned.
There must also be compromise as
to the objects to be attained. Whole
sale, instantaneous, reform is out Of the
question We must win reform step
by step and inch by inch. One stumb
ling block always has been, and still is,
the liquor question The proprietor OF
this paper is total abstainer and con
slstent prohibitionist. Nearly all reli.
gious residents of American nativity OF
of American birth, believe in prohibl-
ton. But their fellow workers for re.
form in national administration are OF
divided belief in this particular. French
and Germans, each race as people,
and most Englishmen,, do not look
upon the liquor traffic as Americans
do. In America liquor selling is very
generally looked upon with disapproval.
In France, Germany or England little
or no discredlt attaches to even the re.
tail traffic, if carried on quietly and the
wholesale liquor business is looked upon
as a shade more reputable than that OF
similar kinds of trade Now we all
want reform in the liquor laws, and in
their execution. But we who want
prohibition are in minority. 1t is not
better that we join hands with all who
honestly want to stop drunkenness and
try and do something that shall have
the force of united action2 These
Germans, English and French are hon.
est in a belief we think mistaken-the
belief in the possibility of general
enjoyment of wines and spirits in
moderation" We differ honestly from
that belief But it is majority belief.
We think that nearly all among our
respected citizens who sell liquors OF
habitually use them, will join in any
concerted effort to restrict the number
of saloons, to enforce the law against
selling liquor to minors, to try and
break up the system of Illicit sale OF
liquors by and through Chinese, and to
expose and punish adulteration. Is 1t
not maniiestly better to have the sup
port of all who want to prevent the
spread of drunkenness, and the con
sequent decentralization of society and
business, rather than to insist on having
what we cannot possibly obtain ? Is
not half loaf better than no bread,
fellow prohibitionists
A writer in the administration paper
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