The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-06-24
Tho Right OF SupproSsing the Liquor
Traffic.

There has never been any general attempt
NJ suppreSsiug the liquor traffic in our Islands,
but il is to be hoped that the day is not far distant
when az earnest, persistent attempt will be made
and carried to successful issue. There is a wide
spread feeling, even among people who ara them
selves ahStainers that prohibition carries with il
wrong somehow. q certain restraint and infringe
ment Of that liberty which Is one Of the inalien-
able rights of every man. Let US see. The liquor
business is q bad business confessedly. Probably
every man engaged in the business to-day in these
Islands at any mention of the moral status Of his
business would be quick to say I'm as good AS
You are showing that he himself recognizes its
badness, and Is always either defiant or Spologetc.
Liquor carries TO thousands of men and women
and even innocent children untold misery and
woe every year There IS nothing like 1t for this
in any Christian country. Men get crazy upon il,
they commit murder under its infuence-they
starye and freeze their families to get liquor for
themselves. To suppress the manufacture and
sale Of any article which can do all this is to
prevent crime, disease and sufering and the pre-
ventIon of crime disease and suffering is not only
the right of a government but its bounden duty.
Ihera some people who would like to keep pigs
within the city limits of Honolulu, but the keep
| ing of such animals within the town limits is
thought 10 be against the public health and it is
| for hidden and no one complains, not even the
man who could make mouey if he were allowed
/ the right of keeping pigs. Nor would any man
think of saying II don't want to keep pigs myself
| but my neichbor does, and don't know that /
! have any right TO interfere with his business"
I lug luAl NQuIu MS OI
very soon. And If there was no law toprotect him
be would better himself at the first opportunity to
| secure such law. l do not want 10 sell liquor,
but my neighbor does. Have any right to say
| he shall not do it: Most certainly 1 have, the
right gf self defense, q right recognized in all
I civilized countries. But the suppression of the
/ liquor traffic would bear in an annoying way on
/ the moderate drinker, who neither harms himself
nor any one else by his drinking. Does he not,
them Few physicians of to-day would say his
/ wine and moderate quantities of liquor did him
any Jooi, but that aside, the law must include all
or then will be raised the dreadful cry of "class
I legislation The right in the matter is the good
of the majority Of the community and TO this the
moderate drlnker must yield his tastes and prefer
/ ences rs he does in many other matters. That
no man liveih to himself is true in law as well
as in morals no questions the right of the Law
/ which restraius the sale of deadly poisons. A
| gentleman high in the government once went to d
/ drugstore here for a certain poison which he
| wanted TO use medicine for a sick animal. The
! druggist refused to let the gentleman have the
poison although he had been told the use he visheC
/ TO make OF it. The same druggist had been hnet
/ i've hundred dollars only few weeks before thi.
for selling small quantity Of the same poison bl
| which life had been innocently lost. The Oni
| who wanted the poison was inconyenienced but hi
Z did not feel himself aggueved or that his hbert!
I was restrained because the sale of that which
might 50 easily cause death was prohibited TO him
Every one Is glad the sale of poison is 50 rigidlI
I guarded. 1t IS dangerous and that is reasoI
enough in every ones mind for what is practically
the prohibition Of its sale. The right of suppress
Is the root of 50 much crime-that it is harmful Il
/ the man who drinks 1t, and makes him dangerous
TO himself and Others-thAt it impoverishes th,
state and degrades the people.