The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-21

| questions, and while the question IS
once more before the public, I wish
that one page of the Advertiser might
be open one week for opinions and sug-
gestions, from all IN the community,
who are interested enough 10 give any
thought 10 questions that are so vital
10 the public welfare.
| When public attention was called 10
| this question of temperance. some if
teen years ago. a public meeting was
called and the whole subject was refer
| red to committee of twenty-one. They
| inaugurated a series Of public meetings
| which were continued for two years.
and did much to arouse and concen-
| tTate public interest in regard TO vari-
Gus phases of the question. the use of
wine at the table. the power and the
peril of social usages in the constant
invitation to take drink" the means
of care for the victims OF intemperance
| the use of the pledge, the reasons for
advocating total abstinence. Following
upon those meeting came a series of
| revival meetings, under the leader
ship of Mr.. Hallenbeck, an associate of
Mr.. Moody in his Gospel Temperance
meetings in San Francisco. Succeed
ling these were Gospel Temperance
meetings held in the chapel of the old
Bethel church, every Saturday evening.
The leader, himself a reformed man,
was instrumental in the reformation of
Ieighty-two men that one winter. Then
came the Blue Ribbon work under Mr..
r. 7. Booth, which had great success
among the HaWaiianS, 500 of whom
were rescued from degeneration, caus-
ed by drunkenness. For two years and
more, meetings were held every Friday
levening at Queen Emma hall. But the
|
three who We're responsible for the
management of those meetings, and
since then the temperance work has
been under the charge of the w. G. T.
u. and the temperance committee OF
the Y NJ. c.. \. \ new phase of the
question is now presented in the new
legislation that is possible by Congress
sional enactment since annexation
has put the full legislative control into
the hands of the United States Con-
grass We have already more legisla-
ton and more favorable to the side of
temperance, than most other communi-
ties. We have a pecuniary liability law
to protect the family of the drunkard
against the wiles of the unprincipled
and grasping liquor seller. We have
| CLOSE" legislation and not a liquor bus
mess "runs wide OPEN
The question, however, has not been
so long and thoroughly discussed in
this community, as to cryStallze pup
| lie sentiment in any given direction. Of
l the two departments of prevention and
; of rescue work, l wish that more at
l tention might be given to the former.
| could give many personal histories OF
victims of incompetence and effort for
, their rescue. But, alasi TO many OF
! them would be stories Of temporary
iSb a. r.r
{ Instances of complete deliverance and
| transformation, there are enough to
. encourage the faithful and patient lab
u orer in this field; but the fact is that
the power of the human will is so i'm
paired, if not utterly impoverished by
, lcontinuad habits of intOxicatiOn, that
the redemption of the drunkard is one
: of these miracles of Gods saving grace
Turn now to the sphere of preventive
Il action, and note the strength OF th1
! force allied against all restrictive leg
Il islation The practical distinction be
Tween license and prohibition is yer.
i small All sales are not forbidden OF
e either system. License sanctions tn
/ saloon, makes the government grin
: partner and makes the saloon pay
/ revenue to the public treasury. Pro
u hibition makes the saloon business IL
4 legal, and makes a government realiza
: ton out of fines instead of taxes. a
III the case now stands, the liquor inter
/ est demands and gets political, as wei
u as legal protection. The practical ques
re ton is what to do to prevent tn
u Iiouor interest from being a dOminan
IL power in politics. 1t is often allege
u, that it is because good men stay ava
a. from the primaries that the hoodluI
/ element finds it opportunity. But i
ha thH
Z the balance of power is in the contr(
he of that indeterminate element, whic
v only occasionally comes TO the polls
.; do its duty as citizens in giving expire:
III sion to that public opinion, which
eI the reflection of the greatest aggregS
~ ton of private interests. When
II, comes to the regulation of the liquC
III traffic and it's allied interests, thOs
IL who favor the non-enforcement of law
IS against gambling, prostitution, saloo
III drinking, Sunday disorder are sou
- unit. regardless of all other polite;
Vi issues. They are in such position
ne to favor also the methods of polite
ne corruption, as those on the other sic
Nc cannot, in order TO carry out their d,
Il SIGNS. In regard to sentiment al:
re which is as much of factor in polite
~ as personal interest on the side
III those who favor the saloon is to a.
rs peal to personal liberty which it
e claimed. is violated by these so-callC
10 lsunptuary laws. The representation
ne also made that the abolition Of II
u saloon is a covert attack upon the s
- ciaI pleasures of the poorer class, viii
III the rich are allowed full enjoyment
all their IuXurieS at the table and
ba the club room.
he Can anyone suggest such legislatiC
I'M as Would EN- oouS hVeoLu4 - ~ ~
;u- without aUIachlnS NSHC0d me-
I'm arousing a plausible if not justifiab
od sentiment of opposition? In the pc
h sonal condition of affairs, since drum
Ks enness is a vice that demands caref
,se and sympathetic medical treatmer