The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-12

THE LEGISLATURE.


nineteen affirmative to seventeen mega
tive votes. So close a vote IN fuii
House is point not to be overlooked
in the consideration Of 50 important q
measure Of public policy How far this
almost equal division Of opinion may be
accepted as an indication Of the general
wish Of the country at large we are not
prepared to say, but the fact is signifi-
cant that with one exception all the
affirmative votes were cast by native
Hawaiians. 1t follows, if the sign does
not fail, that Hawaiians are not 50 averse
to the opium traffic as those Of European
descent, although they have more
danger to apprehend from it perhaps
than the foreign element Of the popula-
ton
The practical objection to the bill,
however, is the one which presents the
strongest argument to our judgment,
although we are by no means insensi bic
TO the force Of the moral arguments
against it. If it be true, or even ap-
proximately true, that the legalized use
of opium would disorganize labor on
plantations, as alleged by the responsible
managers, then we say at once that no
pretense of revenue should be permitted
to intervene to the detriment OF the
great sugar producing industry Of the
Kingdom. This argument is paramount,
and it has not been either fully or salts
factorily met But we are free to con-
fess that We think it is possible to draft
a bill which would bring the opium traf-
fic under complete and satisfactory con-
troll, and protect plantation hands from
the baneful and demoralizing effects OF
opium smoking. The bill under consid-
Grafton, however, does not provide any
machinery Of this kind. 1t is therefore
Objectionable Ii the Opposition to the
bill had taken this position it might
have accomplished something, but ii
was almost exclusively directed against
the principle of legalizing the traffic,
going for absolute prohibition.
To those who make this a matter of
conscience we have nothing to say. We
respect their convictions, and if they
could give them practical effect we
would not say a word to thwart them in
their humane object. 1t would IN
doubtedly be very much better if the
importation and use of opium could be
prevented absolutely; but when that IS
apparently impossible, the next best
thing to do is to bring it within
the reach and the control OF the
police, and this can only be
done by regulating the importation, sale
and use OF opium by law. There is no
reason why the consumer should not be
registered as well as the importer or
licensed dealer. But the bill under con-
sideration is loosely drawn and leaves
the door open for evasion and abuse OF
every kind. 1t is not practical measure
in any sense, and it may become a very
injurious one if passed in its present
shape.
When it is considered that something
like thirty thousand tins of opium go
into consumption annually here, despite
the law prohibiting its importation and
sale, any practical mind will perceive
that something should be done to change
the conditions of the opium trade 1t
should be brought under control. That
is our position. We recognize the evil
effects OF opium smoking and opium
eating, and of its habitual use in other
forms; but that does not get rid of the
evil. Despite our prohibiting the i'm
portatiOn of opium, despite the vigilance
the jealous aid of amateur detectives.
the fact remains that any one who wants
to buy opium in Honolulu, or elsewhere
in this Kingdom, can get as much or as
little Of it as he needs. And vet we are
told that the consumption would be
largely increased were the traffic regu-
lated by law, instead OF being an Illicit
one. We are bound, however, TO respect
the views of those who have the man
agenent of large gangs Of men, and to
assume that there is pregnant danger in
that direction. On the moral side of
the argument We do not recognize so
much force, because the drug is in ha-
bitual use now by ali who indulge in it,
the arrests and punishment for opium
smoking being mere droppings Of the
opium shower.
We object to the bill on many grounds,
but shall mention only few objections.
The license is to be for four years. This is /
clearly against public policy; it should
only be for one year, which would adj
nit of a change of system if in working
it was made evident that the law was
injurious TO the community at large A
four years license creates a monopoly,
and the Hcensee could demand compen-
sation were his privilege cancelled for
reasons Of public policy. Again, the
bill provides that a four years license
may be granted by the King in Cabinet .
Council to some one applying thereto, .
on payment OF $4,000. The license {!
should be put up to public competition,