The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-03-20

aim The discussion of the minor mat
ters creates feelings akin to strife.
"The trouble in South Carolina was
rot between the missionaries and any
other class of people; it was between al
classes, in politics and out. The for
: mer friends of the Governor were ther
among the strongest opponents Of she
measure. and the battle is not ended
vet.
Ii the Legislature should pass such
a law here, and confiscate the property
of the liquor men, it would cause an ex-
element that would border on a revo-
luton, and while that was going on we
could not stick together on any one is
sue. Annexation would be lost sight of
/ believe that in time we will have to
adopt some plan 20 regulate, not wipe
out, the liquor business; but hope the
Legislature will not bother with it while
there are important matters to be con-
sidered
Regarding the opium bill my friends
say / am a hereto because | have not
taken sides with the leaders in an eff
fort to kill the opium bill. 1t has been
published all over the world that opium
was the cause of the overthrow of the
monarchy. That is not so. That it was
one of the causes believe, but so far as
am concerned it was very small.
Il did not vote against the bill in
1892, nor do | feel today that it is not
the best thing for the country. The
complaint in 1898 was not so much
against the passage of the opium bill,
but the manner of passing it. Men who
had pledged themselves TO stand with
us and by us were seen coming from the
Palace with leis around their necks.
and voted for the passage of the bill.
Some people thought then, and do now,
that the passage of such an act was
murderous.
Il do not think the financial side of
the opium subject should be considered.
Opium is an unmitigated evil anywhere,
and compared with liquor it was an
undivided evil. Liquor has always been
used by our race, but there has never
been use of opium that does not work
harm. 1t is a death-dealing evil that
should not be kept on.
Does prohibition prohibit This
is not a new question. Under license
the use of the drug increased. Those of
you who were here will remember how
young men who began the use of the
drug became total physical wrecks
Those who are not wrecks today are
dead from the effects of its use. There
are men here who say: There's no use
trying to save the Kanakas; they are
going to the devil anyhow; give them
the same chance as the whites and let
them get on if they can
But this is not the way to look at
it. The Government must face things
as they are. We have taken it upon our
selves, the task of conducting the af-
fairs of Government, and it is as much
a part of those duties to look after the
Hawaiian as if he was younger
brother
Prohibition does prohibit, to a GER
tain extent; the police records show it
and you seldom find Kanaka arrested
for smoking opium or having 1t in his
possession. 1t is only those who have
the habit who take the risk.
"A stricter law should be made and a
higher penalty fixed for the crime. The
fine for having opium in possession
should be 5000, with the option given
to the culprit of leaving the country,
never to return. In that way from 900
to 1000 fiends would be out of the coun-
try in year. In this way the demand
for opium would decrease, and the sup
ply which tempts the smuggler would
not be required. There never was an
opium fiend in Jail who earned his
board, and that is only Is cents day. |
so much as against license. There is |
such large profit in opium that there |
is no use trying to keep it out, and |
there is too much temptation to the |
forty-dollar policeman or the hundred
dollar customs guard to expect them to |
assist in keeping it out. They need not
be bribed to pass opium that they know
is on vessel; they simply take cou
pie of hundred dollars to look the other
way.
so long as these conditions exist we
will have Generalization in the custom
house and police department. Many of
the cases come to the surface, but there
are many we never hear of. 1t IS eel
dom that principals are brought TO JUS
tice, and the public has grown not to
expect it, and they have become used
to a laXity in the law. The profit on
opium is so high that the
men can afford to pay largely for pro-
lection, and the force is demoraliZed in
Il believe it is preferable to remain
as we are, but with an increase in the
amount of fine, because of the prepon-
aerance of evil that is against it. 1t has
gone abroad, whether right or wrong,
that one of the reasons for the over
throw of the monarchy was the licens-
ing of opium. We can hardly dare to
pass bill that the world believes was
the cause of our government toppling
over. John D. Spreckles, who is now a
particular friend of the Goverprlc3t,
has given it out as his opinion, and
others hold the same. In Lay own mind
do not think it sound for the Legisla-
ture to take the matter up az his ses-
sion; it will cause comment on the other