The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-10-05
OPIUM AGAIN.

resulting lTOu Iile use VI oPiuiu'
there is no division of opinion. 1t
is universally conceded by all in
vestigators, that opium weakens the
intellect, vitiates the moral nature,
and debilitates the body of the
user, and ultimately produces pre-
mature death. These points being
undisputed, arguments in support of
them are supertluous. Herein there
is wide difference between this
question and the one of somewhat
similar nature, in some respects,
which has of late come into pro-
minence in Western nations-the
drinking question. In the latter
there is no unanimity of opinion.
While some able and thorough in
vestigators hold that the use of in
toxicants, in ever so moderate a
degree, is injurious, others, as much
entitled to credence, are of the con-
trary belief. No doubt, the reason
Of the general concurrence of OPT
Mon concerning the bad effects of
smoking or eating opium, results
from the fact that those effects are
certain, sure, soon produced, and
palpable.
But there is difference of OPT
MON as to whether, where con-
siderable portion of the population,
having become habituated to the use
of the drug, will procure it if posi-
BILE, it is better to prohibit its i'm
portation and use by law, or to lega-
lze the trade and regulate it by
stringent enactments. This commu-
nifty is divided here. Some say,
Cinnamon will have opium. You
cannot keep it from them. 1t is use
less to try. Prohibit as much as
you please, you cannot prevent its
being smuggled into the country.
Therefore, admit it free, and let it
be sold under costly license, and
the legalized trade will be less in
furious than the illicit traffic. Others
argue, that as opium is admitted to
be a great evil, destructive to its
users, it should be kept out of the
country, or if it cannot be entirely
excluded, every effort possible should
be made to exclude it: that if snug
Cling cannot be altogether pre-
vented, it can be reduced to very
small proportions; and that licens-
ing its sale will not have the effect
anticipated by its advocates, but
will eventuate in incalculable mis-
chief to the native Hawaiian as well
as to the Mongolian.
These are the two opposite posi-.
tions maintained by the advocate:
and opponents of opium in thi.
kingdom. We long ago registered
ourselves on the list of the latter
which we believe to include ,
majority Of the intelligence, respect
ability and patriotism of the popula
ton. We have taken the sid'
against licensing, because we con
scientiously believe it to be the sd(
of right and reason. We do no
question the sincerity of some OF
the other side, but nevertheless be
lieve them to be in the wrong
They have never advanced n singl,
argament that would stand the ties
OF analysis, or stated solitary fac
TO support their conclusions. II
say that because there is a possibi
lity of the drug being smuggled int
the country in spite of police vigil
ance, therefore one or two indivi
duals should, in exchange for
large Zee, nave The privilege TO i'm
port and sell, is about equal to tell
ing the British Government that a
all the detectives of Scotland Yart
and the entire police force of Eng
land cannot stop the importation o.
dynamite, the best thing they cal
do is to license one or two RESPONSE
BILE parties, and let them do all the
importing they please. And to say
that the license is going to prevent
clandestine importations, and tha,
a restrictive clause tabuing its use
by native Hawaians after it has
been placed within their reach, is
on a par with the notion that the
licensing of dynamite is going II