The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-05-17

bition, there can be no doubt of its
impraciicahility at present. 1t would
be premature step for our legisla-
lure to enact law against the sale
Of intoxicating liquors. Such law
would be in contravention of the
wishes of an overwhelming majority.
The legislation of such law would
be the legislation of large class of
law observers into law-breakcrs. A
demand so universal whose supply is
prohibited by law would be filed by
supply contrary to law. The
minority cannot repress and control
the majority. Such legislation would
be tyranny. Prohibition can only
succeed when the majority of senti-
ment is decidedly in favor of it.
The greatest good 10 the greatest
number is only obtainable when the
greatest numner demand it. The
greatest number at present recog-
nize the greatest good in restriction.
Restriction may be a torerunner of
prohibition.
Prohibition at this stage is futile.
But advocates of temperance will
continue to make use of available
agencies.
SUAsIoN
is The education of the masses which
seems most likely to lead to the ex-
tirpation of rum selling. Its natural
field IL among the imbibers rather
than sellers. 1t is the contest Of
reason against appetite. But as ap-
petite is alIuring, so should reason
be backed by a,luremen Reason
cannot satisfy appetite. 1t must
supersede 1t. Reason should be
guided by tact and even strategy.
Temperance agencies are not as
numerous as formerly. They seem
at present monopolized by the
church, and merely wings of it..
Such agencies will naturally attract
only those religiously inclined.
Their potency will be precisely as
great and no greater than that of the
church itself. If the good people
who conduct the crusade in this
manner are satisfied with the re-
suits obtained, nothing remains to
he said, But if they desire greater
victories they must broaden the
style Of attack. They must swell
their ranks with recruits sound in
their temperance sentiments, what
ever may be their religious views.
They must not make common fight
against sin and intemperance. Such
warfare is distraction of effici-
ency.
We are led to the expression OF
these views from no disrespect tc
the church or from no want of sym.
psthy with evangelical work, but
from not being aware of any dis
tiuctively temperance alliance in thi:
city. We have attended entertain
ments at which pieces were recited
songs and music rendered anC
speeches of a semi-religious ant
semi-temperance character were
made. We have listened to invita-
tions TO sign the pledge made from
the platform and have gone away
panied to observe that no direct per
sonal appeals were made and indeed
that those who came as stranger!
went away as strangers. The pro
moters of this kind of influence ma,
continue TO pit entertainment agains
appetite, but we entertain no hope o
great results. Platform invitation
for signatures to the pledge ma,
find few signers, but many viii
through sensitiveness shrink from
advertising depravcd appetite b.
marching up before q crowd Q
strangers which only shows its in
teresc frsm the platform spokesman
Wild speeches against liquor dealer
} and ponderous statistics may pos
sibly win some responsive converts
bat the average man will see n
more reason for not ticking drin
because so many millions OF liquo
J are consumed than for not runnin
', in debt Tor sack of -four becaus
= the national debt is stupendoil'
> The suasion used may be pure an
l. righteous, hut it is not adapted.
. shell might he fired into crowd an
~ ~ hit few men, leaving many othe,
II unharmed. We feel that an inf
e ence adapted to the exigencies
=" this case should be directed, not ;
! the audience but TO each memb,
&c 'e that composes it. Appetite is n,
c formal, neither should the alur
-. ments from it be so. If you had sc
- - or brother going astray, would yo
~ take him out to hear speech, (
&c would you, by your counsel and a
u mon. tions, endeavor 10 change h
~ course? We feel constrained to S;
30 that the present agencies of tempe
:, ance in Honolulu are masquerad
~ in which the majority of those soug
~ to he influenced are speclato
81 rather than participants. In writil
~ the above we are actuated by
1 lo desire to disparage every inhnen
:" IN use against intemperance, b
u with a fervent wish to have that
~ fluence broadened and made mo
" available. MAJORITY,