The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-03-09
REMARKS OF HEFR|END'
THE VENERABLE EDITOR WRITES
ABOUT IwILEI.
He Does Not Defend or Condemn the
Course of the Authorities but Objects
To Recent Criticism.

In the following remarks 1t is not our
purpose either to defend or to condemn
the course of the authorities in respect
to the loathsome institution which mas
been maintained for a large part of
year at Iwilei. Many of our good peo-
pie probably a majority, believe that
those in authority have adopted the
least of two alternate evils, both OF
which possibly could not be escaped.
One alternative was to permit the aDo-
mnation to spread itself indiscrimtna-
tely through the city as formerly. me
other was strictly to segregate 1t in
narrow limits at a distance from the
center. On the other hand, many be-
lieve that there should be no compro-
mise with so vile thing; nothing
short of war; absolute and eXtermina-
ting, should be waged upon It, Two
esteemed Temperance promoters, MISS
Ackermann and Miss Murcutt, have
lifted up strong remonstrance against
it. Mrs. Helen Cougar Vehemently de-
nounces it, and proposes TO denounce
our people and Government in the pub
| lie Journals of the United States for our
! shameless conduct.
The Friend desires to point out that
whether the course pursued here as to
/ this evil is blameworthy or not, our au-
| thorities are comparatively not eX-
| IRENE sinners, nor our city as bad as
other seaports. We object to any one
/ holding Honolulu up to a public scOrn
! which is not deserved. Nothing as more
certain than that our authorities, with
/ the appreciation of many good citizens
/ are striving to deal with this evil in the
best manner that seems to them prac-
teal. If they are in error, II is error
of Judgment, possibly misled by made
quate vigor of conscience. 1t is not
from any disposition to tamper with
/ vileness, or to make crime easy, as Is
the case in shameless city government
! like those of Chicago and New YORK
our people sincerely desire to narrow
the evil down to the smallest practical
BILE dimensions.
The conditions to be dealth with are
first, a large seaport with a large
transient and fluctuating population o.
males of immoral character, also ar
overwhelming majority of residen
males, largely Asiatics, of similar
morals: secondly, perhaps only half th'
number of females, considerable por
ton of whom are Hawaiians and Asia
tics of low morals, especially the latter
With such elements, it is claimed TO b'
simply impossible to coerce apd resis
the imperious force of human appetites
Practically, it has been found to be 81
in the past. Until a year ago by polic'
efforts the wretched creatures had beer
mainly limited to a small section IL
chinatown" one-fourth of a mile from
the post office. Their operations Their
were a public nuisance and stencil. AT
ter the fire which destroyed that sec
ton they became scattered about thu
city, to the deep annoyance of the de
cent population, on account OF whose
remonstrances a place was found TO
them in the very isolated section o
Iwilei, over a mile from the post otfic
There they now ply their horrible ira
fife, without openly insulting the publ
who are exempt from the pollution o
their presence on the streets.
When a better day comes, undoubted
ly there will be such general zeal an
resolve for purity that all such abomi
nations will be cleaned out of civilize
cities. In nearly all great American
, cities this evil flaunts itself unabashe
on the great public gathering places
Honolulu has probably less of the evi
and segregates it. 1t is indeed blot
, ting shame but we deprecate bein
: held up by jealous but undiscriminat
1 ing reformers as being EXCEPTIONAL
e bad Honolulu is bad enough, Ma,
Z God be merciful, and so turn the heart
. of this Indifferent or foul-minded popu
lace as to make the cleansing of on
: CITY POSSIBLE.