The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-08-14
the ISSUING OF LIQUOR LICENSES ON
THE OTHER ISLANDS,
COMMUNICATED.

in localities on these Islands othcr
than Honolulu. Much has been said
and written in desultory manner in
opposition to the policy, with but
little apology for the action, or in
vindication of those on whom the
responsibility rests.
Those estimablc, astutc, and de-
termined men have their supporters,
and a paper to champion their cause,
so that, if thought necessary by
them, this particular act could be
publicly defended by means always
to their hand. 1t is therefore to be
understood at the outset that what
ever statements appear in this paper,
whatever arguments may be employ
cd, or recognized authorities produc-
ed, they are not to be taken as an
intended defense of the Govern
ment, but as part of n calm enquiry
into the subject matter, lie, wheth-
er the granting of these licenses is
lawful, and if lawful, expedient.
That is the question we have to
examine; but before doing so it will
be well to take cursory view of the
virtue of temperance, of the strict
duty of all men to practise it, and
of the manner in which the duty is
performed by some opponents of
Govern nent in this matter.
Temperance would appear to be
understood by some of those OPP
posed to the issue of licenses, to be
found only in the total prohibition
of the use of fermented liquors to
every member of every grade of
society. That, however, does not
agree with the writer's view of tenn
perance, but would be the enforce
ment Of total abstinence on, in most
cases, unwilling recipients. 1t is
undoubtedly the duty of every man
to practise temperance and temper
ateness in all the relations and occu
pations of life, not only in the use of
fermented liquors and the avoidance
Of gluttony in eating, but in speak
ing or writing, in amusement, pleas
ure, or anger. Before proceeding
further it will be well to notice and
dispose of a fallacy too frequently
urged by certain advocates of total
prohibition, by which the virtue ten
perance, it might be added the maj
esty of truth itself, is insulted; this
is that the wine mentioned in holy
writ was devoid of spirit, and con-
sequently innocent of causing in
toXication. So far from this being
the case, it will be found, on the
contrary, that from the earliest time
of which we have any record wine
was in common use and possessed
intoxicating qualities, and that it
was used when vicious designs were
harpored, to carry them out. Thus
we find that 2347 years B. c., Noah
planted q vineyard and not only
drank of the wine but was made
drunk by it. Again we find that
Lots two daughters made their
father drunk with wine. The evil
dence that the wine of antiquity
possessed intoxicating qualities to
all who believe in revealed religion
will be found in abundance. A study
of the book of Proverbs and other
writings Of Solomon fully prove the
truth of that predicate. The Apos-
tie Paul, in the 18th chapter of the
epistle to the Romans, says, "Let us
walk honestly as in the day, not in
rioting and drunkenness in the
lst Corinthians, 9th chapter, "Neith-
er thieves nor covetous nor drunk
ards ~ Sc shall inherit the King
dom of God;" again, Ephcsians,
9Th Chapter, "And be not drunk
with wine wherein is excess"
So we find by holy writ not only
that the wine Of those days contain
ed spirit, but that it was of general
use, and was furnished by the Say
Jour, the incarnate God, to His fol-
lowers and disciples. Is any one
protesting to be Christian prepared
to say that what He did was wrong,
Or could be improved upon? |
think not. The fault, then, is not
the lawful and innocent use of wine
but over-indulgence in it. Few or
none will be found to deny that
over-indulgence is an atrocious vice.
Why, then, the cutlery that we
hear in these days against liquor
drinking and selling? Why these
denunciations against those who in
these matters think for themselves
and are content TO range themselves
in the ranks of those who through
out all ages have thankfully accepted
and enjoyed the blessings bestowed
by an allwise and beneiicent Creator,
seeing that they are also taught by
the same holy writ that every man
must bear his own burden, and ac-
count for himself and all his acts
Surely those denunciations against