The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-20
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.


prominent place in the politics of
South Carolina and the new Demo-
cratic Governor has much to say on
the point. South Carolina has wrestled
with this acknowledged evil in very
different manner from Maine and the
prohibition States, and it is very evil
dent that South Carolina is really on
the right path. 1t IS not the ,Iother-
burg system, but it is Il practical APP
plicaton of it to the nee Is of the
States. What underlies the idea is
that it is recognized that a large num-
Der of the inhabitants of the State
must have liquor in some form. 1t is
hoped to reform the future genera
ton, but the present, if it cannot be
reformed. can be controlled. mis- is
a great deal better than total prohi
bition, because total prohibition only
leads to Illicit nquor selling, no matter
what the fines and penalties may be,
and, moreover, it produces plentiful
crop of hypocrites and also of mean
spies.
OF Illicit liquor selling. where the
law is prohibitory, there is no better
instance than these islands. The Star
can venture to say that in no part of
the Islands, even in the wilds of Kaupo
and Puma, can liquor not be obtained.
1t is even true of Honolulu Though
the saloons are closed on Sunday,
there is probably greater amount of
drunkenness on that day than on any
other day in the week. The police can
not be blamed for this, they are con-
stantly making raids, constanuy de-
tecting Illicit selling, but it is like
fighting against the Lyrnean Hydra of
Hercules, as soon as you cut off one
head several more rise from the
wound.
The argument against the Gothen
burg system and against the Carolina
plan is the same and is ably confuted
in Governor Ellerbce's message. He
says: "Of what use is it to argue that
the State should not So liquor to its
citizens or reap a profit from the
blood money as some term it, when
they advocate licensing its sale and
thus sharing in the profits made by
the private dealcr?"
There is good sense in the state
ment. There are many people who
hesitate or even shudder at the idea of
the State controlling and managing
the liquor business, who see no wrong
in taking the license money and APP
plying it to good purposes. Yet stare
control is a wonderful step in advance.
1t does away with many unavoidable
abuses, and it assures a proper and
pure liquor to those who have to use
it, instead of deleterious and poison
Gus compounds. Moreover, what prof
it's are made go to the general good of
the State and not to individuals. One
has only to look to the United States
and England to see how enormous the
profits run not only into the millions
of dollars, but into the millions of
pounds.
1t being acknowledged that there
must be control of this triflic, why
should not the State both control and
reap benefit from it? From the re-
sources thus gained by the State much
of the burden of the punishment for
crime that is caused by the liquor
habit, can be made practically self
supporting. The funds for those who
are imprisoned being practically fur
nished by the drinkers themselves.
One other objection is brought
against the system and is touched up
on in the Governors speech. 1t IS
that at some of the Government dis
pensaries of liquor there have been
shortages in the funds. But that, sure
ly, is no reason why a good system
should be thrown aside. The instru-
ments may not prove satisfactory, but
the plan may be perfectly good, 1t
is very easy to obtain proper !nstru-
ments after little experience.
The Star is no rabid temperance IL
gan, but it recognizes the evils of in
temperance, and would do all in its
power to alleviate them. 1t believes
very firmly in the Gutenberg system
and watches with intense interest the
South Carolina plan. Among our re-
formers it would be good plan to get
together a committee and have the
subject thoroughly investigated
against the next Legislature.