Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1885-11-04
WEDNESDAY. go. NOV. 4, 1888.
THE LIoUOR QUESTION.

or the enormity of the evils of alco-
holsm as they actually exist, and the
vital bearing Of the temperance ques-
ton upon the condition Of society COM
paratively few are aware, else there
would be terrible earnestness Of
united endeavor by the best classes Of
all people to rid the world of the curse
Of drink. But tardy as reform in this
matter has been, the promise is al
ready in bud, and the prospective full
bloom flower is with certainty accumu-
lating sap to its future perfection. 1t
has been said that, "a practice often
lasts for long time after the theory
which inspired it has lost its hold on
the belief of mankind J" and it might
also be said with equal truth, as amply
exempliiied in human history, that the
abrogation of belief must sooner or
later be followed by the downfall Of
that to which it has given sustenance
In regard to the question of drink,
although there are yet many who hold
to the belief that use without abuse is
possible, and in accord with the
teachings of morality and religion, yet
the number is by no means insignifi-
cant of those ready to forsake and who
have forsaken the uncertainty of purely
metaphorical speculation, for the more
rational teachings OF inductive philo-
sophy in this and allied matters. 1t is
hopeful indeed to know for certainty
that many minds Of the first order
representing politics, science, and reli
gion, are arranging themselves in oppo
sition to the long dominant and fata
belief of the ability of a man, to hold
in subjection by moral effort, his appe
tite for spirituous liquors. While by a
purely mental process Of self introsPeC-
ton, we may be-~able TO propose an
imagined philosophy in justification OF
such belief, it can hold against the
argument afforded by inductive reason
ing only in minds which by nature
prefer error to truth.
Statistics varied in their character and
extending in many directions 90 to
prove, beyond the shadow of doubt,
a vast accumulation Of misery. want
and premature death as consequential
upon the custom of drinking endorsed
by conyential rules and legal enact
ments which are again based upon the
idea OF free will and moral respon
sibility in the individual. While stats
tics and scientific investigation go also
to establish the fact that the aggregate
of miseries dependent upon the habit
of social drinking is in no wise ade-
quately Offset by accruing benefits.
Even as a medicine the use oi
alcohol is becoming restricted to a mar
rover sphere Many diseases once
thought to be incurable now progress
toward recovery at an accelerated
pace without the use of stimulants
Perhaps we are not wrong in saying
that the tendency of modern medicine
is to eventually, exclude liquor alto
gether from the maieria medifa, anc
confne its uses to the druggists com
pounding-room and laboratory-no
upon moral or religious grounds, bn
upon those of scientific experience.
Abstinence principles are spreading
everywhere wider and wider, but not Sc
much are they the result Of the decla
nations of enthusiastic reformers as thu
cool conviction among statesmen ane
philosophers in many different portions
of the globe. Some years since j
would have been thought breach o
etiquette to refuse profered glass o
vine; but to-day we find the mos
respectable, people, both in Englanc
and America abstainers by choice
They recognize "intemperance as
great national SIM" and regarding it a
the legitimate offspring of the custom
Of social drinking, have withdraw
their example in its favor. The people
Of Hawaii should take a lesson from
the experiences OF older nations