The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-06-12
Rum and our RevoIutIon.

Mr. EDITOR That the direct and in
direct consequence Of rum was the first
moving cause OF our revolution, and
may say the greatest Of the many causes
that brought on our revolution-yea, and
greater than all else combined, We think
will not be disputed by well balanced
mind that is posted upon the subject;
and to one not posted a reference to the
history OF those times, with the memory
refreshed by the reports of the recent
trials OF the revenue whiskey frauds,
will furnish sufficient proof that rum was
the supreme agent used in all attempts
at wrong doing and corruption, not only
to influence elections and defraud the
revenues, but the grand lever used by
the party in power TO influence members
to vote as they wished when they want
ed laws made to uphold their corrupt
actions. When they wished law passed
to raise the salaries of officials, they in
fiuenced members with rum when
they wished money raised by taxation
or otherwise, they used run as their in
direct agent. The opium bill, and in
fact all bills aiming at extrayaganees,
we-e passed by the aid OF rum This
was charged frequently at the time, and
never disputed, so lar as 1 saw So al
most all lines Of extravaganza, as well as
drunkenness, must be laid to this giant
coTupter, rum, and as stated above,
rum was both the direct and indirect
cause OF the evils that brought on the
revolution. To say that the Legislature
has no right to deal with this king of
evils, because inlemperance was not
specifically agitated during the election
campaign" is straining the point Of
sound logic, as it had been thoroughly
agitated and ventilated months before
the revolution, and no more needed a
specific agitation before election than
any other evil OF which the people COM
planned. The wisdom OF dealing with
the cause Of all evils, as we'll as the evils
themselves. is very apparent, az without
the drunken officials and their still
worse drunken acts, there would have
been kgt little cause for a revolution.
OF the many shortcomings Of the old
Government, no one item, 10 the exclu-
sion OF others, vas held up as q con-
spicuous object OF reform, but drunken
ness and tie evils arising from It, com.
hined with financial extravaganza, Off
cial corruption rum tie AGENT, inca
pacity, bribery and opium licenses were
the evils complained Of to be reformed
not one of them but all Of them. To
reform financial extragagance and leave
drunkenness and its attendant sviis un-
molested would make the revolution az
incomplete as il tiie evils Of drunken
ness had been removed and national ex-
travagance left unmolested. The Leqs-
lature was elected 70 make laws for re-
forming, as far as laws could be made 70
do 50, all Of the evils named above, and
70 repeal all laws that had tendency ~
encourage corruption either in high or
low places
Extravaganza and folly are being
checked by law, and opium prohibited.
Why not check OF try 70 check the WORSE
evils By the same means? Its certainly
expected If not demanded by the reform
mQyement.
We want prohibition pure and simple
as that would BE- the direct opposite d
what the old government practised.
Prohibition 81 official corruption and in
capacity, prohibition Of opium, prohibi-
ton Of rum, etc, is what We expected;
but a. the latter dies hard and seems 70
have friends among sober men we would
be satisfied for Tie present ii the Legisla-
ture would give us that part Of prohibi-
ton called " local option, as that would
give an opportunity for agitation and
secure % the paopls Of every district the
right 70 decide this question themselves,
and We would look 70 the future growing
power u temperance 10 insert 4 prohibl- !.
tory clause IN our Constitution. It will
surely BE- done, and these islands may
yet have the honor Of being the nrst
country 70 do away with rum BY constr
tutional prohibition. This done, these
islands would be gems u the eesan
IN lafa a. well ~ In name. being freed
hon the evils u king alcohol.
Jons n. HoeEEa,