The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-01-31
THE FIRST RETURN RECEIVED.

The first return from the ADvER
Users statement of the loathsom,
conditions thst exist in many sec
tionS of our city comes in the form
( OF a threat 10 member of the re
! portorial force, who was detailed
to make an investigation and place
before the public true statement
concerning the miserable dives
that have been established with
in our midst in a compare
lively short time. So far as
. the warning effects personnel of
this paper, it is of comparatively
little Importance. II the hoodlums
are looking" for Us, the city is not
a large one. Nor will their threats
influence US in the least TO cease
our efforts to inform the public Of
the growing power Of these brazen-
souled representatives. OF the lowest
order OF vicious immortality. The
evil is here; it is On the increase
and We shall continue to paint the
situation in calm but none the less
truthful colors until every licen-
tious Asiatic is at least driven from
the business portions OF the town,
or, better still, sent out ofthe coun-
try unless they see fit to find
some occupation other than living
like unwholesome beasts in dens OF
iniquity.
To the people of the city, how
ever, this expression of feeling from
our Asiatic friends is proof positive
that this social evil is fast assum-
ing an Importance that cannot be
overlooked. 1t is proof positive
that the prostitutes are here; that
they are protected by a crowd OF
gamblers and blackmailers, and
that these promoters OF licentious-
ness are fairly well organized. If
allowed to continue as at present,
we may, without the least exagger-
alton, forecast serious results not
alone to the moral welfare of the
country. This has always been,
and is today, a remarkably peace
full community. Men, women and
children have felt little fear in
going unattended through any part
of the city at any time OF day or
night. Locks and keys in private
residences are practically unknown.
The happy condition cannot con-
tinue long, however, if the idlers
from the plantations are to con-
tinue plying their nefarious bust
ness. The problem is many-sided
and must be given careful consider
alton. 1t is impossible to wipe out
the evil in one fell swoop. We
must 90 slowly but when the first
step has been decided upon there
should be no delay in carrying out
the plan OF action. 1t is next
to impossible to run a thousand
people, more or less, out of the
country, but it is possible to pre-
vent their populating the business
thoroughfares and smirching every
portion of the city. A partial solu-
ton of the problem may be accomp-
ished by restricting these people to
a well defined locality. This might
breed devils half acre" but we
believe half~acre of this descrip-
.tion is better than a whole one,
and by gradually bringing the law
to bear the evil can be wiped out
by degrees, until the city is finally
able to show a clean bill OF health
and morality. We trust that the
Board of Health will not delay in
calling the proposed public meet
ing and that their request viii meet
with a good response from the peo-
pie. With the cooperation of the
white residents and the better class
Asiatics this work can be accom-
plished quietly and successfully.