The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-04-14
RREsPoNDENCE.
statements made, or opinions expressed by our
correspondents.

correspondents.
Mr.. EDITOR: SIR-Although but
s brief sojourner in your beautiful
and exceptionally hospitable city
of Honolulu, l have read with in
terest and sympathy the significant
letter Of Mr.. P. c. Jones in your
issue of the Sth.
The EDITOR of the Bulletin, in the
issue Of the 9th, while in
general terms agreeing with
Mr.. Jones, eadeavors to shift
large part of the respon-
sibily for the increased consump-
ton of liquors to the men-of-war.
Is this right, or fair, or true? 1
say no. The editor of the BuIIe-
tin was ANXIOUS 10 find a scape-gOat,
and nothing was within his reach
but the officers and crews OF the
war vessels that have, for years,
made your property secure and
guaranteed the safety of your fami-
lies. Aye, and have dropped many
thousands of good American dollars
into the pockets Of your business
men of all classes.
Your municipal laws authorize
the selling of rum to sailors. Who
is the greatest sinner, the tempter
or he who submits to temptation?
Who received the greatest punish
ment, the serpent or Eve?
| would like 10 ask the editor Of
the Bulletin two or three questions:
Do merchant sailors ever drink
spirituous liquors? For every man
of-war that has visited this harbOr
the past year, how many merchant
vessels have entered this port? For
every quart Of beer. or drink of
whiskey, purchased by : men-Of-
wars-man, how many bottles of
gin or alcohol have been sold by
respectable merchants of Honolulu
to whaIers for purposes of illegal
traffic among the Alaska Indians2
These vessels cannot get their
cargoes Of rum in San Francisco
without great risk.
Spiritu0us liquors are absolutely
prohibited on board q. S. ships Of
war. Wines and malt liquors are,
under certain restrictions, allowed
IN officers messes for their own
use Of IN moderation) and for the
entertainment Of guests.
In respect to the excessive use Of
liquors on board {. S. ships, the
improvement has been so great
during the past twenty-five years
that the people on board ship viii
compare faT0rabIy with any com-
munity on shore, even though that
community he Honolulu.
I an told by an officer of the
man-Of-war now in this port that
during the past two months but
ten men have returned on board
drunk. The men, On their return
from liberty, are carefully inspect
Sd and their condition noted over
the signature Of an officer. Liberty
has been given daily, and when .
man commits himself he does not
soon have another opportunity TO
help increase the consumption Of
Honolulu rum. and lessen the bur
| dens OF the permanent residents.
The number Of liberty men has
averaged twenty per day, or 1900
IN two months; the number of
DRINKS having been ten, the pro.
portion OF inebriety has been con-
siderably less than one per cent.
Can you show : better record in
any district On shore2 l have
shown that the men-0f-War men
are not the heavy consumers;
neither are the permanent resi-
dents Who then are? During the
past year your harbvr has been
crowded with merchant vessels
from ali parts Of the world There
are certain restraints, moral or
physical, On the permanent resi-
dents and sailors, bat none on the
others.
Statistics prove coRclusiFeIy that
the amount Of spirituous liquors
consumed IN any community bears
definite proportion to the preFa-
Ience Of crime. disease, unhappy
homes, misery. poverty and suffer
ing, and be who car discover the
remedy for this great evil will
truly be 2 benefactOr TO the human
race c. AssYL
Honolulu, April 10Th