The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-03-20
Able Speech by Ex-Minister |.
A. Thurston.
OPEN AMERICAN LEAGUE MEETING
The Fx-Ninister Thinks Legislature
should Attend to Other Matters.
Annexation the Keynote-Settle that
Firsr-Liduor is Next-ProhIbition.

There were about fifty persons pres
ant at the American League hall last
night TO hear Hon. L. A. Thurston de-
liver an address on the opium and
LIQUOR traffic in Hawaii. The speaker
was introduced by T. B. Murray, presi-
dent of the league, in few remarks
Mr. Thurston began his address by say
ing:
Some days ago the suggestion was
offered. in an evening paper, the star,
I think il was, regarding the or
ganization of thru house. ] believe
it is a capital idea. What the people
lack in Honolulu is a opportunity 10
compare notes on topics of public in
terest The newspapers take up sub
jects of a political interest and go at 1t
hammer and tongs. 1t would be better
if we were TO meet oftener and confer
on certain aims and objects which are
for the public good.
Such conferences should serve to sOf-
ten the lines which divide the different
nationalities on the islands.
Il was not asked, and have not come
here to make a set address. I will speak
on the bill before the Legislature, and
trust there will be other speakers to
follow.
In regard to the liquor question, it
is needless TO say that the community
is divided. We are all aware that only
a short time ago Governor fillman of
South Carolina took up the cudgels in
enforcing the law against illicit liquor
selling. and in the enforcement of
law based OF The Gothenberg system.
You are aware that his action excited
much feeling, and it was necessary to
call out the entire Stare militia 10 en-
force that act, and three-fourths of
them threw down their arms. But Gov
ernor Tillman enforced the law against
all opposition. Not, however, without
first endangering the State in civil
war
There are those who earnestly be-
lieve prohibition is the only plan to
follow: AMI they bel!r"c Il at arv'!e
who opposes them is possessed of the
devil. | do not believe in it, because /
do not believe that any law can be
stronger than the people behind it. In
Honolulu the conditions are not right;
the heta De Ills class IF IeOpl. -
bids the success of any such measure.
1t is not question to be discussed.
There are graver measures to be legis-
lated upon than whether or not the
Gothenberg system is right 1t is best
to deal direct with the recognized evil.
There are men here just as good as any
one who take and will take liquor until
they die: il is not a matter on which we
can draw lines.
No one who walks up Nuuanu street
will say that whisky is not an evil; no
one will say that the whisky business
in Honolulu is not bad thing. The sa-
LOGON men are not bad sort. l have
done business with them and have ever
found them honorable. But if we walk
up Nuuanu street on Saturday night
and see the drunken men throwing
away money, their wages for the
weeks work, can we do aught but re-
gret the existence of the evil among us?
Il know from experience that the
liquor men are philosophical, but that
mains.
The Gutenberg system has been rs
tablished at various times in different |
countries, not because the missionaries |
wanted it. but because the conditions |
were such that the country demanded it |
and was willing TO accept and enforce |
it. In German speaking countries, |
where it is customary to baptise babies
in beer, it has been adopted.
THE use of liquor in some places has |
grown to such an extent that it is a |
nuisance to public health, but prohi- |
bition will not stop it to any material |
extent 1t does not do to cut of the sup
ply from the public if they feel that |
they want il.
Its use may be controlled, perhaps,
by taking away the attractions, break
ters 1t is the social features of drink
ing that are bad.
1T is well established fact that a
man can buy bottle of liquor under the
Gothenberg system, or act, and take it |
home with him: but it is also true that
he will take but one drink at home to
ten in saloon. The Gutenberg sys-
tenn takes away these special and in
ticing features. The saloons are con-
trolled by companies who turn over
their profits to the Government, and the
people are indirectly benefited thereby.
In South Carolina the Government
controls and sells, and il Days where
yer it may be bought the cheapest. The
liquor is always pure and is sold only
in bottles and at fixed prices. That
State is not running the liquor business
on fine lines; there is no sentiment be-
hind it, for | doubt if there are many
people south of Mason and Dixon's line
who do not like little Kentucky whis-
ky. Whether we shall take up the same
law here is grave question to answer
/ for one say No, We are in a transitory
state, with factions and cliques There
never was until three years ago sin
gle question leading up to the welfare
of the people upon which the public
stood shoulder to shoulder. That ques-
ton upon which we stand so united is