The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-13

/ or British people to force opium upon this
country. This statement was absolutely
without foundation in fact. He need not
stop TO disprove it, however, because
its very extravaganza showed its alb
surdity. He was sorry that Mr.. Thurston
had given way to such flights OF fancy, and
| thus impaired his usefulness in the House
and influence in the community.
! He 1.-THE speaker) was in favor
OF regulating the opium traffic by
law as a matter of principle, but could
not say that he supported this bill He
thought it would be found impracticable,
and would not effect the object contem-
! plated. Therefore he reserved the right to
vote against the third reading il the
| amendments introduced did not convince
( him that its defects had been removed.
! Mr.. ThurstOn regretted that this ques-
ton of privilege had come up. AS mat
ter of fact, His Excellency was in error.
| What he did say yesterday was that opium
had been forced upon China by the British
Government, and now one of those who
were doing their utmost to force it upon
this country was an Englishman. Some
time ago the Minister was the
recognized editor of the ADVERTISER
he did not know whether he
was now-but at the time referred to he
would not listen to anyone who differed
from him, charging them right and left
with being advocates if not assisters in
smuggling opium.
His ExcelIency Mr.. Creighton said he
was referring to what Mr.. Thurston was
reported to have said, which differed from
his explanation. The report was as fol-
lows: Had not England disgraced her
self enough already, that she should still
further lower herself by sending one of
her citizens here to do this thing?" He
preferred to rely upon the accuracy of the
reporters notes rather than upon the Mr..
Thurstons memory. Mr.. Thurston had
no right to make this charge against him.
He (the speaker) had as much right .
charge Mr.. Thurston with making his
fight against opium in the interest of
friends engaged in opium smuggling and
with greater show of probability. than that
honorable gentleman had to charge him
with being an emissary of the British
nation to force opium upon an unwilling
people.
Mr.. Thurston said he did not see how his
words could be so construed, but he did
not intend to make such ar. Impression.
He desired to confine his remarks to His
Excellency personally. If he wished to
back out of it now he might
Mr. Kaunamano said the House might
have got through with the matter if the
time had not been taken up with this little
personal matter. He did not believe in
Minister of the Crown crying dewn this
Act, which was intended to control the
opium traffic. The fact remained that we
had got opium in the country, and if the
bill would not do why did not those who
opposed it propose a better remedy? The
Minister of Foreign Affairs seemed very
anxious to get into a quarrel with Mr..
Thurston. He accepted Mr.. Thurston's
amendment.
His Excellency Mr.. Dare said that if it
were really desired to stop the traffic it
was not to be accomplished by putting
charge upon it which would offer a pre-
MUM to smuggling. What was the use of
putting duty of SIS on a half-pOund tin
when it could be purchased in Honolulu
for So? 1t had appeared in evidence in the
case of the King VS.. c.. Michiels-[Mr.
hdOluhOu lISipOSS0 tAAdJ hS 1dNl ACdl0
hope expressed that we should have the
charge in order to give the smugglers a
show that the opium was so bargained |
for. If they charged $5. did they not know
that it was offering premium for none to |
import but for all to smuggle? He did not
know what others feelings were, but he |
was opposed to licensing and smuggling. |
Opium ought to be kept out, and they |
ought to legislate with the view of keeping |
it out
The amendment offered by Hon. Mr.. !
Cleghorn was lost, while Mr.. Thurston's !
was passed.
Mr. Kaunamano moved the section pass
as amended.
Mr.. Dole moved to insert "advalorem"
after the words "per cent" Agreed to-
The section then passed as amended.
Section 6. The person who has obtained |
a license, who shall violate any of the pro-
visions of this Act, shall have his license |
cancelled, and the penalty of the bond |
provided for in this Act enforced, and if |
the Court think proper, be imprisoned at |
hard labor for a term not longer than two !
years, and pay fine of not more than five |
hundred dollars.
Mr.. Thurston pointed out that there was |
pretty severe penalty on persons in pos |
session of opium but those who made the |
profit out of it should suffer the worst, not !
the poor devil who had twenty-five cents |
worth. The section did not provide pen
atty sufficiently severe for the many who |
was doing a big business. Such a man did !
not care for a fine of $4,000. |
He moved to amend the sec
ton by striking out the words land if the !
Court think proper" and fixing the pun |
ishment as follows: BE imprisoned at |
hard labor for term not exceeding ten |
years nor less than two years, and !
pay fine of not more than five thousand |
dollars nor less than one thousand" |
Agreed to.
The section then passed as amended.
Nr. Brown moved to insert new section !
to read as follows:
Section I. In addition to the license pre- |
scribed by section of this Act, it shall be |
incumbent upon any person or persons |
desiring to purchase or use opium or any |
preparation thereof, that they obtain a /
license from the Marshal or his deputy, as |
hereinbefore provided, authorizing the in |
70