The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-03-18
A STRONG SPEECH MADE.
ADDRESS OF BON. l.. A. THURsTON
ON LIVE TOPICS.
The Liquor and Opium Questions As to
New system and License
Clear Views.

There was not large attendance
at the open meeting Of the Amer
lean League Tuesday evening.
Several Senators and House menu
beers were present. At S:I5 T. B.
Murray introduced Hon. l.. A.
THU ston, who said in part: 1.-THE
suggestion was made in city paper,
l believe THE STAR, some weeks
ago, that the American League or
ganize a third house for the discus
sion Of leading questions that may
come before the Legislature and
topics of the day. At the time it
seemed to me capital idea and
am still Of that opinion. 1t would
afford all an opportunity of getting
tnoether expressing views. conn
pairing notes and finding out
what other people are thinking
about. No sucn opportunities were
now to be availed of. Newspapers
take UP a thing and advocate it
only to be pitched into by a rival
paper, while the general public are
forced to sit by with no opportunity
to express their opinions or prefer
ences in the matters under discus
sion. Therefore, l sincerely hope
to see this proposal for third house
carried out.
II did not come here to make a
set speech. When invited. thought
it was to address a meeting of the
kind described, one for free and
open discussion. l have made no
preparation whatever, and propose
to give you my personal opinions
on the two subjects before us just
as the thoughts occur to me.
First we will take the liquor
question. This question is one so
great, of such vast importance and
so general in effect, that whole
communities have been split up
and divided upon it. We have
seen almost civil war in the State
of South Carolina OH account Of it
When Governor Tillman took up
the gavel to enforce the liquor law,
so much feeling was excited
that the militia had to be called
out, when the spectacle Of three
fourths of the militia refusing to
respond was seen. The companies
actually disbanded, and left the
Governor with a special force OF
1000 men with which to quell
what was practically a rebellion
against the law. The question has
divided communities everywhere it
has come up. No act of prohibition
can succeed unless it has the en-
dorsement of the people behind it.
Twill the Gothenburg system
suit us' AS principle, l believe
it the soundest for dealing with
recognized evils. By recognized
evils l mean anything that is harm
full. Liquor Is one Of the creates,
of these. admit that there are as
good men as walk the streets OF
Honolulu who take liquor, and will
continue to do SO. But no man,
whether he drinks or does not
drink, can walk down Nuuanu
street on Saturday night and see
the sights there to be seen, and say
that liquor is a good thing. There
is nothing so demoralizing as the
scenes to be witnessed on the
streets every Saturday night.
THE Gothenburg system has
been established in a number of
countries. 1t is not the outgrowth
of fapaticism nor a missionary
idea. 1t originated away up in tha,
good Saxon country Of Northern
Europe.
Whether or not such system
is feasible here is great question.
AS for me, speaking at the present
time, would say No. We are in
state of transition. In our mids,
are people oil many nationalities
there are factions, differences and
conflicting interests. Prior toISo3 the
situation was at times deplorable.
But since annexation became our
guiding star we have stood togeth-
er, together as we have never stood
before. We must so continue, at
all hazards, until annexation is
reached. Side issues must be pu,
aside until the first and most i'm
portant question is settled.
Such system intaoduced here al
the present time would create al
manner of splits. Suppose the
Legislature should today pass suct
law, should confscate the bust
ness property of liquor dealers ane
took their licenses away from then
and you can imagine a state o
feeling like a political revolution
1t would be utterly impossible t.
stick together. The communit,
feeling would be instantly disrupt
ed, and most serious condition o
things would ensue.
Now for the next question, tina
of licensing opium. l an not afraic
of being called hereto when sa,
that do not aquiesce entirely il
the assertion that the go opium bill
was the cause OF the overthrow O
the monarchy, 1t was one of tn,
causes, but lesser one. Becaus,
the opium license was adopted wa
not the reason that actuated men t,
take steps for the overthrow Of tn
monarchy. 1 did not vote agains
the bill in 1892, because l was no
decided as to whether or not
would be a good thing for tn
country. And l do not W
feel sure on the question. Tn
reason for feeling over the opium
matter in go was not ON account G
the passage Of the bill but the wa,
in which it was passed, Member
who had pledged themselves to vot