The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-16

anu OI lllilONny lueIe was iiol Nie use
of ardent spirits which has been the
curse of a couple of centuries.
Those who are against this coming
law, for one may as well acknowledge
that the law is virtually passed-the
majority of the Legislature is pledged
to it, it is the keynote of the opposl-
ton to the majority and the Governor
favors it. What better opportunity for
a bill to pass it would be hardly posi-
BILE to conceive. The bill will pass no
matter what may be done Probably
it's passage may be of the greatest ad-
vantage to the Territory, and then
again 1t may possibly not be an ad-
vantage. Only time can tell.
What those who object to the law
advance is that 1t is a restriction Of
personal liberty which they feel ex-
tremely irksome. They do not find
such restrictions in most of the states
and in few parts of Europe. They con-
tend that in such a matter 1t is as
much a matter of conscience as the
eating of meat The law of Mahomet
believer drinks brandy. The law for
bids many things, but they are got
round for the benefit of the law makers
and eXpounders. Many Eastern law
makers drink freely in privacy.
The liquor question is one which is
of vital Importance to a community. 1t
cannot be dismissed with a testing
word, or a careless phrase. We see
men and women succumb to liquor and
we naturally rush to the other ex-
bad. When we do that we run afiaunt
of the Saviour and of many of the best
men in the world. But that men and
women should be protected from their
own evil environment is a totally
different proposition. To this no one
can say word in contradiction, and
The Star heartily endorses any move
towards that contamination.
The quetion has to be considered in
many lights, as for instance (a) person
might go on considering and extending
even the basis of the argument very
much more fully. Before entering on
the argument The Star would like it to
be distinctly understood that it is an
argument in the strict sense. 1t is a
valuation Of ideas, and that views are
made as coldly impersonal as possible.
The Star will grant that the bill which
will pass is a rood one, but it wishes to
consider from opposing views, which
purely presents a case, and sets it as an
absolute outsider.
Taking (a) the personal view. The
question comes in how far community
is justified in restricting a mans per-
sonal acts. This matter of drinking at
public bars, now so-called, but in the
essence being really places for refresh
ment of man or breast" is very old,
and a very honored custom. Has any
one the right, so long as a man be-
HAYES himself to dictate whether his
refreshment shall be bologna sausage
or a glass of ale, leg of a duck or a.
glass of claret, an ortolan or a glass
of champagne. The comparisons have
been made with thought. The law will
probably prevent the man of the
bologna sausage from getting his glass
Of ale, it will not by any means pre-
vent the millionaire from picking his
ortolan and swallowing his pint or
quart of champagne. The liberty of
the poor man is curtailed. The rich
man can and will do as he pleases. This
for (a) the personal view The poor
man is restricted. The rich goes free.
1t may be right and wise. The Star
merely makes the argument in cold
faith,
The Economic" question is the next
advanced. And this comes under CD.
1t is an excellent proposition. Looked
at from the standpoint of dollars it
seems incontrovertible. The theory is
that people will drink, so let us make
all the money we can out of
them. Drink is an evil, let us ally our
selves with evil and make ali the mo-
ney we can get out of it. We will
SpCilu the IlOilSJ WISELY. we VIII Bullu
up great moral and social organIza-
ton, but we are going to make our mo-
ney out of the vices of the present gem
GRAFTON. The more the present genera
ton and the one to follow it drinks of
the liquor which we are going to supply
to it under government supervision,
the grander will be our municipal, ter
ritorial and philanthropic successes. 1t
does not look a very logical PROPOSE
ton, but any one knows that it can be
argued with apparent reason. How
ever labored argument is not what The
Star is considering. 1t is putting a
case.
To take Co the foreign head up is
probably hardly worth while, and yet
it is a phase which has been so much
dwelt upon of late. The tourist trade
ha been talked about again and again