The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-07-12

lutlon, except that IL would ne eh-
tircly abortive. There were no per-
sons in this country interested in the
cultivation of poppy, and unless the
hon. gentleman got persons engaged
in smuggling opium into the coun-
try to appear before the committee,
he did not see from whom he was to
get information. He did not think
that those engaged in smuggling
opium were likely toattend and give
information to this committee. The
gentleman referred TO (Rev. Dr.
Leckler) could merely give an opin-
ion on the moral side of the opium
traffic. 1t was generally believed
that the use of opium was injurious,
and he did not think that gentleman
could give them any additional in
formation on that point. There was
nothing whatever in the law which
prevented the cultivation of the
poppy, therefore he did not see
what advantage was to he gained
from persons appearing before the
committee and saying whether they
thought the cultivation of opium
would be proper or otherwise. The
question narrowed itself down to
one whether it was better to license
opium or not; whether the law pro-
hibiting the importation of opium
should be repealed and licenses be
granted. Speaking for himself and
without reference TO his colleagues,
he was decidedly in favor of licens-
ing opium. 1t would add consider
ably to the revenue and in his opin-
ion would not increase the consump-
ton one bit. Since he had the honor
of holding the position of Minister
of Foreign Affairs it had come to
his knowledge that a very consider
able illicit trade in opium was being
carried on in vessels trading between
Brithsh Columbia and Washington
Territory and this country. The
means at the disposal of the Gov
ernment were not sufficient to pre-
vent the importation of opium. The
Collector of Customs had not Il staff
large enough to cope with the SNUG
Cling of the article. 1t might he
possible to prevent it here in Homo
lulu, but in the outlying ports he
believed it was impossible. He could
not help thinking that good morals
were more injuriously affected by
the illegal traffic in opium than they
would be by a licensed trade. He
did not propose to offer any objec-
ton to the resolution, but in his
idea it would be only, as Scotch
men say, "a chip in the porridge. :"
Rep. Thurston said they had
heard the Minister of Foreign Af-
fair make his maiden speech aud it
was very disappointing. Being the
editor of public newspaper they
should expect him to have given a
straightforward argument, but in
stead he had treated them to mis-
erable quibble. 1t was no use to
appoint a committee of enquiry,
according to the Minister, because
they could not get persons engaged
in smuggling opium to appear. That
was simply tritling with the mean.
ing of the English word ''inter-
ested." The Appropriation Bill,
sometimes held to be the most i'm
portant subject before the Legisla-
ture, did not affect the life of the
nation as did the opium business.
This resolution was only designed to
get information on the question
from persons who could give it..
This was not the time to discuss the
opium question, but it was the time
for all persons to say whether they
believed in licensing it or not. This
was the time to look at the question
fairly and squarely from every point
of view. The Minister of Foreign
Affairs had come into this house to
treat this question in the same way
as he did in his newspaper, worship
ping the very dirt that Claus Spreck-
els walked on. Ii the Minister be-
leved in licensing opium let him
bring in his arguments, and let him
not go on insinuatingth that otherpeople
were dishonest because they dis
agreed with him. That being fol
the purpose of gaining information
it seemed to him that it was not the
time for quibbling such as the Min
lister of Foreign Affairs indulged in.
Rep. Brown was not in favor OF
opium licensing, nor in favor of the
resolution. He thought it was ;
little premature because they hat
no opium bill before the house. HI
moved the resolution be laid on tn
table and taken up when the opium
bill was brought in.
n Minister Gibson would be glad t
0 have information from persons at
0 fected by opium in any way. III
f had no objection to the resolution
only concurred with the Attorney
q General that the time should b
/ shorter. AS the Minister of Foreig
s. Affairs said, it was an evil that the
f all recognized. Would to God the
a could Danish it from the land c
s. confine it to the apothecary shops
=, He had seen the evil effect of
l. himself among servants and other:
l. He was sorry to find the hon. men
y; Der for Molokai disposed to corre'
t. the Minister of Foreign Affairs ft
ID fault that he made himself. II
id appealed to the Minister to come
III the matter directly without limit