The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-17

policy of continuing them would be |
open to consideration.
Such a logical sequence did not !
occur to the Planters Monthly, how
ever. 1t improved the opportunity" !
in an editorial article on the Liquor
Question" which we deliberately |.
characterize as disingenuous and I'M
fair. We do so upon a careful perusal
of the following passage in it:
When we consider the great injury that
will be done by issuing licenses and the alb
solute lack Of reason in favor Of them, why
do the powers that be insist upon forcing
the measure? Why are members Of the
Privy Council summoned from HiIo. from
Hamakua and from Wailuku, for the special
| purpose Of licensing the sale of intoxicating
liquor in the very centers Of the plantation
| districts? Is it for the purpose of raising
revenue to help out the deprecated credit
of the National Treasury? That might h
a reason, but that such is the reason Is
negatiyed by the action taken by the Privy
| Council After the vote had passed author
| izing the licenses to be issued, a motion was
made that the licenses be put up at auction.
| but the motion was promptly voted down by
| the same men who originally voted that
| licenses be issued. An increase in the reve-
nue. is not therefore the prime object. If
the revenue is not the object, and the
districts themselves do not wish the
| licenses, what is the object? There is one
answer, and one only. Tie object is to in
| crease the number Of positions at the abso-
| lutte disposal of the Government, in which
| tenure depends upon services rendered. By
! parceling out gin-mill licenses to persons of
| the right kind, potent influence will be
| conferred in each district with Govern
| ment cocktail mixer and political expounder
| in charge. Has it then come to this, that
| the lives of the few remaining natives, the
| peace of the rural districts and the pros
perity of the agricultural interests of the
country are to be jeopardized, and sacrificed
if need be, for the sake of little political
power? So it seems; and well may we say
that all countries progress except Hawaii.
1t is really depIorabIe that the Of
fetal organ of an influential Organi-
zation should give statements to the
world to damage political rivals
which are devoid Of truth, and un-
manly in their scope and purpose.
The action of the Privy Council was
taken after debate and due cOnsidera-
ton. It is not the action of the Gov
eminent. The Privy Council gave
effect to the law, and the Minister Of
the Interior in issuing these licenses
: is simply performing a Ministerial
act The Privy Council left some
thing to his discretion doubtless, and
it is fair to assume that this discre-
tionary power will not be abused. To
think otherwise is to judge meanly
of responsible Minister, and argues
an exceedingly mean spring of action
in the thinker, whoever he may be.
But this is not all. The reference to
the motion to putup the licenses at auc-
ton is unfortunate, because it displays
ut once the aniinus and ignorance OF
the Planters Monthly. 1t should not
be ignorant of the law, but it appears
to be so. Now, the law expressly
prescribes how liquor licenses shall
3 he granted, and the sale of them by
L
this cannot be done under the law,
9 and if the motion referred to by the
: | planters organ had been carried, ii
= would have been nullity. A reso
5 luton by the Privy Council is not a
4 | law. It is an expression of opinion
: and TO that extent may be valuablei
J., but it cannot repeal legislative en-
Y actment and substitute something
+ else in it's place. The motion tC
+ auction licenses was, therefore,
: "voted down" because it was use
t less, and not because the Govern
] corrupt political purposes, which they
were bent upon securing at the sacri'
:. fee of the lives of the native people
and the well-being and prosperity Of
the community at large. The reck'
lessness of this charge must occur tC
: every fair-minded person. 1t is
- wholly inexcusable. Whatever may
be thought of the Policy of the law,
o neither the Privy Council nor the
. Government were actuated by the
9 atrocious and detestable purpose at
tributed to them. Let our monthly
contemporary fight fair. The days
of successful political ambush in
Honolulu are at an end. Facts
should be plainly and correctly stated
d leaving the people to draw their own
e inference. This is much better way
Y than to attack by Justification anC
: | dishonest SuUppstiOD