The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-04-22

II must be admitted that the women Of this world
are the greatest sufferers from alcohol, though
they suffer as victims Of the drink habit IN others
thousand times ofteuer than from their own Gp-
petite for strong drink. There is something pa
thetic and appealing in this helpless suffering II
its cause were anything else, how would every
one who had not u heart Of stone, be moved to do
something for the relief Of the large and helpless
numbers When the Christians Of Bulgaria were
under persecution. two or three years ago the sym
pathy Of the Christian world was reused in their
behalf, and universal sentiment in Christian
countries would have supported IN effort for the
relief Of the small number Of sufferers ID l. strange
more stress Is not laid upon the suffering of help
less women and children, which Is entaied by liq-
nor. True, it is one Of the stock arguments Of
temperance people who are pTufeSsedly religious,
but has it with others the weight righitully belong
ing 10 II as an argument IN favor OF prohibition
and against the manufacture and sale of liquorg
The argument with the anti -pruhlbitunists and
moderate drinkers always seemed to be; II can
use liquor with moderation. No man has n right
TO say what shall eat what shall drink, or TO
restrain my liberty therein. If my neighbOr can
not control Iims II in the use Of liquor that is his
lookout. If he uses It to excess and brings want
and suffering upon his family, no measure Of re
strHnt must be passed for the relief of that suffer
ing family which would in any way interfere with
my pleasure or my moderate indulgence II is
well and right that every man should be jealous Of
any infringement Of his liberty, but the question
Is whether men may not lawfully be restricted,
even in moderate use Of liquor, If it is necessary
10 restrain them IN order 10 reach other men who
have no self control. ProhibitiouIsts aim at the
suppression Of the manufacture, we'll the sale
of liquor; and If 1t is not manufactured. 1t can't be
drank, even in moderation. When the Legislature
was about to open. three years ago, and it was
bDovn that an ehort would be made to repeal the
liquor llW tRER in fgTCt, lAEEE EETE gD2l number
OF tueu ready 20 stgu petittJu tJE pEdhlbttidu.
Some VI these men hNd III their lives been Neea--
toned TO 4 moderate use Of vine and beer and ay-
TrrrHHy were not harmed by II. Bat they feared
the effect Of free liquor on their busnUss-it WOnid
demOTlllTg the labor on their pllHtltlDUs-lul gD
in the interests OF their business they were willing
the importation OF liquor should be prohibited,
and they themselves would fOreg1 the pleasure
th9y had from the us Of wine. Thay lid not, Of
course. pretend TO be aCtUatei by any motive of
philanthropy. but they confessed by their willing
ness for prohibition that free liquor is bad They
feared they wOlld be pecuuiary sufferers by it,
That others agree with them in their opinion of
free liquor Is proved by the statement made TO the
writer by member of one Of the leading mercan-
tile houses here that of the reasons of the hard
times was free liquOr-that since the last liquor
Law went into effect, the natives spend tifty cents
for dry goods and hardware, where previously they
spent dollars. Their money goes for liquor II
that is so, 1t is as II Is in other countries The
husband and father who drinks spends nearly all
his earnings On himself. while his family have the
bare necessities of lite, and in many many instan-
ses, reduced 10 actual want In very few places
indeed, Is there any legal relief for such wife and
family. The article which keeps them in poverty
Is an article of legitimate merchandise The man
who sells 1t may entice her husband TO buy, by
every means in his power, and practically for the
wife there shall be relief, redress. Attract
i've saloons, screens 10 hide the driuker and free
lunches beguile husbands and fathers with all tue
power OF the original serpent, and what should be
spent IN the support Of comfortable BONES, and in
educating children for the good Of the State slips
into the rumsellgr's tall and makes one man rich
At the expense Of poverty tn many.
Practically, say, for women and children there
Is no relief Where laws exist which are less than
prUhibitOry Of any sale, they FOR certain class
Of cases, and very few women know how TO invoke
their aud, even If they were ia Circumstances to do
50. Liqnor laws are needed which individual suf-
ferers need not enforce laws which shall be en-
forced by State officers. For the protection Of
women and children, laws are needed winch shall
not only restrain drinking, but prevent there being
anything TO drink, Nothing short Of the prohibi-
tiOn Of the manufacture and sale Of iuuor will
serve. Surely the large aud helpless class Of inno-
cent sufferers have rights, and these rights ought
10 be respected bv law makers.