The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-02
SCOPE OF THE HONOLULU
ANTESALOON LEAGUE GIVEN

The plan of the Anti-Saloon League is
to do here, as elsewhere, a general tenn
perance work of education, moral sua-
sion, legal suasion, or whatever is prac-
| teal and best for the cause. We have
no thought of spending much time in
quiring into individual habits, or ones
partisan politics or any mere incidental,
but our plan is first to sense the situa-
| ton. To this end 1 have spent some
little time and pains in the study of the
history, institutions, spirit. laws and GUS
toms of this group of Islands, pertain
| ing to the liquor traffic and its results
and have gotten much information and
some encouragement. We have also
| made it point, and shall continue to do
| so, to get by personal inquiry, from so
many as we can reach and talk with, the
consensus of the best citizens as to what
is the real situation and need and what
methods to adopt for practical results.
Our League is a practical organization
of practical citizens, and We have no time
nor disposition for things that are fanat-
ical nor simply ideal, but are plan
ming for that and only that which is
practical. reasonable and reachable.
We recognize that temperance success
is largely conditional upon temperance
sentiment When public sentiment Is not
high and strong II is hard for any gov
eminent to control the liquor traffic. The
finance department finds it difficult TO
fuse applications for license by whomso
ever made. The police department finds
1t hard to enforce or even defend the
temperance provisions of the law, and the
legislature can more easily enact for
further license than for further restric-
nings. and Drunkenness, gambling and
their concomitants have their rampage.
Then good people can be persuaded that
alcoholic liquors are licensed in the in
terest of temperance and sobriety-that
the way to decrease drunkenness is to in
crease the institutions which produce it.
Then-GOD SAVE THE DAY!
But when there Is a lively public inter
est in the question and the people are
alert to the damage and iniquity of the
liquor curse, and to the fact that the
government is of the people and by the
people" and that they (the people, have
the power and responsibility of its 0he
trafiics) control the conditions are so
changed that temperance success is
greatly facilitated and often becomes
popular. 1t is plain that much good tenn
perance work has been done in these ISL
anus curing the last century and good
sentiment builded. During the later part
of the period ii is possible that govern
mental transition was so absorbing that
temperance agitation somewhat relaxed,
also that the coming of a mixed null
utude to these Isles. many Of whom are
not temperance people, has decreased the
average of temperance sentiment Doubt
less there is considerable of it that is
latent, waiting to be stirred to potential
action.
Approaching therefore what good senti-
ment exists the League has planned 10 |
increase the same by a rational, whole
some agitation through pulpit, press and
much literature, freely circulated amona |
the people.
An item Of this literature will be a |
folder, setting forth the laws Of Hawaii |
pertaining TO the liquor traffic. by which !