The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-03-18
Able Speech by Ex-Minister L,
A. Thurston.
OPEN AMERICAN LEAGUE MEETING
The Ex-Minister Thinks Legislature
Should Attend to Other Matters.
Annexation the KeynOte--Settle that
First Liquor is Next-Prohibft1on.

There were about fifty persons pres
ent 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 a few remarks.
Mr.. Thurston began his address by say
| ing:
Some days ago the suggestion was
offered, in an evening paper, the Star.
L think it was, regarding the or
ganization of third house. l believe
it is a capital idea. What the people
lack in Honolulu is "a opportunity to
compare notes on topics of public in
terest. The newspapers take up sub
jects of a political interest and go at it
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.
81 was not asked, and have not come
here to make a set address. 1 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
short time ago Governor TilIman of
South Carolina took up the cudgels in
enforcing the law against illicit liquor
selling, and in the enforcement of
law based on The Gothenberg system.
You are aware that his action excited
call out the cntire s':a'e militia 70 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
who opposes them is possessed of the
devil. l do not believe in it, because 1
do not believe that any law can be
stronger than the people behind it. In
Honolulu the conditions are not right;
the lete. Dye .,.ns class of people f.
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; it is not 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-
looOn men are not a bad sort. / have
done business with them and have ever
found them honorable. But if we walk
up Nuuanu street on a 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 public-Spirited, but that |
has no effect upon the evil-it still re-
mains.
THE oGthenberg system has been es-
tablished at various times in different |
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 off the sup
ply from the public if they feel that |
they want it.
Its use may be controlled, perhaps, |
by taking away the attractions, break |
ing up what have been the social cen
ters. 1t is the social features of drink |
ing that are bad.
1T is a we'll established fact that a
man can buy bottle of liquor under the
system, or act, and take it