The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-08-30
THE OPIUM LICENSE BILL.

THE OPIUM LICENSE BILL.
EDITOR BULLETIN 1T is not
my habit to express my opinions i'll
the newspapers, but | feel moved at
this time to say few words in re-
ference to Il matter, which is of vital
Importance to all living on the Ha-
waiian Islands. With others. l had
shared the hope that the present
session of the Legislature might
close without the introduction of a
bill to license the importation and
sale of opium, though this possibili-
ty had been threatened some time
ago. 1t is with the greatest regret
that | learn that such bill has been
formally brought before the House.
1t is not my purpose here to rehearse
the arguments which have been so
frequently and with such force, en-
ployed by those, who are opposed
conscentiously to the opium traffic.
The terrible evils resulting from the
use of this pernicious drug are pa
tent to all, and here in these Islands
we have most overwhelming evil
dence of what this poison is able to
accomplish, morally and physically.
Brought in contact, as | am in my
missionary work throughout the
group, with those whose life has
been wrecked by opium, it is no
wonder that / foresee with appre-
hension the great increased extern
sion of so ruinous vice, result
which would certainly follow the
licensing of this now forbidden
drug. 1t is simply playing with the
truth to say that the use of opium
would not be increased. Intelligent
Chinese with whom l have spoken
on this point, have laughed at such
an idea. | am willing to acknow edge
that the present state of illicit i'm
portation and sale is most deplorable
and calls for the severest investiga-
ton, and / hope no man or woman,
high or low, who engages in this
meanest kind of illegal trade will
escape detection and punishment.
| Il
our constituted authorities for, if
not to put down evil and wrong
doing? License the vice and you
raise up host of evils which the
authorities will find it still more
difficult to deal with, while the
moral evil which will be wrought
will be incalculable. Such steI
would result in greatest injury tC
both employer and laborer. Oul
plantations would be among the
greatest sufferers. Those engaged
in the traffic would use every means
in their power to awaken the appe-
tite for, when once created, they are
sure of their victim and his wages
The Chinese who become so earl,
addicted to the use of opium would
speedily show the evil effects of thi
new departure--but all natiOnalitie
, would suffer as well in greater o
less degree. 1t can scarcel
be possible that Japan, which ha
so vigorously prohibited opium will
in its own borders, would view wit
satisfaction, this new temptatltio
: laid in the way of the laborers {
that nationality who have come here
AS understand it, it is designed b
the provisions of this bill to prohib
the sale of opium to native born III;
/, waiians. With opium otherwis
$ free in the country, is it possib
that it could be kept from any on
nationality and especially one whic
could be tempted so easily to il
J. use, as past history has shown us
y One might as well apply fire
/ combustible material, and not e,
pect conAagration. The passae
. of such bill would be retrogre
> sive, fatal step for public minds
= this Kingdom. / cannot see ho
O men of wisdom, thoughtful for'
sight and love for humanity can fl
a moment entertain such an idei
= 1t will place an obstacle in the wa
y of the moral, intellectual an
+ spiritual elevation of the mass
). the inhabitants of these Island
a. which will with difficulty be owe
come. God grant that this calamil
y may be averted! Iwpte at di
'e tance and hence am not aware VIII
is progress this bill has made but prs
,e most fervently that it may suffer Il
- defeat it deserves, and if this be n
- the case, that His Majesty will
Y graciously pleased to veto it, wh'
ic it comes before him.
'e Yours truly,
Ia FRANK w. DAMON.
= Hilo, Hawaii, Aug. 27, 1886.