The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-16
WO0LLEYS
ARE PLEASED
Visitors Delighted
With This
City.
IAN INTERVIEW
WITH REFORMER
The Temperance Question and
Social Evil Are Considered
Hopefully.

John G. Woolley, the eminent prohibi-
tion advocate, and Mrs. Woolley were
interviewed last night in regard to their
impressions of the Islands during their
visit here, which terminates with the
sailing of the Ventura tomorrow Both
were enthusiastic in their praises of
Hawaii's beauties.
Il have exhausted my adjectives,"
said Mrs. Woolley, I'm exc1aiming at
the wonderful beauties of the scenery.
1 am enraptured over your mountains
and our drive to the Pail was like
dream; in fact, 1 have been pinching
myself ever since our arrival to make
sure that this beautiful bit of Gods
garden in the middle of the Pacific is
real; 1t seems like some wonderful arti
fec, and I cannot realize that it is all
true. / have expressed my regret that
in our tour of the world we have come
upon Honolulu first, for I fear we shall
Lot find any place else so beautiful in
our travels, and 1 should have liked to
have Honolulu and it's entrancing seen
cry for climax at the end of our tour"
Mr.. Woolley also paid cordial tribute
to Hawaii's charms. II have no hope"
said he, "of ever, at any time or any
where, seeing any place more beauti-
full than Honolulu and its environments.
1t seems pity that the political ideals
CT the community can not be held up
to match the scenery"
Here the prehibitionist advocate ex-
pressed his views on the local outlook
. e., H., L.
perance legislation.
II have had the general difficulties of
the situation in the Islands summed up
for me-" he said. "I understand that
there are in Hawaii some 10000 Chi
nese, some 10000 japanese, some 10000
or so Hawaiians and an indiscrim,natc
land mixed population of uncertain thou
sends including Porto Ricans, negroes
and all classes of white people: also
that there are frequently as many rs
500 sailors in port at one time. the lat-
To- element. of course. being specially
addicted to the use of intoXicants; they
! tell me also that the Hawaiians are a
drinking people, and that if they can't
get intoxicants by permission of the
| law they will manufacture 1t and
'noonshine' it-and that, too, of a very
ular brew being, I believe known as
| 'swipes' The inclinations of the Chi
reese and japanese in this respect are
well known. and it is said that owing
to the effect of the climate. the white
| people are inclined to the use of in
! toxicants, especially of light drinks.
Now, with this situation. I am asked
if think there is much hope of proa
curing prohibitory legislation, and
again, If so, what l think the prospect
of enforcing such legislation in a place
of such a population would be.
THAT Is the situation as it is put to
me- Now, In the first place. it must
be understood that I look at this ques-
ton from the standpoint of an agita-
tor or rather of a Christian philoso-
pher, and not from the standpoint OF
a practical politician. That is to say
from the standpoint of character, rath-
er than from the standpoint of a con-
structive statesman or practical politi-
clan. What I mean by the term OF
character I will explain.
"I hold that for any government, mu-
nicipal, territorial, state or national
to do right, is the highest expediency
in the long run. The workings of sys-
TENS and traffics are too big for any
mind to comprehend at once, but one
who believes that governments are OF
divine origin and that men are living
for high destiny. knows that the safe
thing in all the emergencies of life is
to do right.
Now, granted that the Hawaiian fol
instance, will drink and that If he
can't get his drink at a saloon that he
will make 1t himself or smuggle it
nevertheless the government, which
has undertaken to provide for him the
lbest environment possible, ought not tc
lend itself in any wise or for any con
sideration to his hurt or injury. If he
will drink. let him drink and take his
/ chances, but the government that has
prohibited the open temptation to hin
will be free from any responsibility fol
his failure. But by the licensing ot
saloons the government, instead Of
holding before him high ideals ant
I striving for his good. becomes party
to his destruction and takes money fol
it, which is outrageous from whatever
standpoint you look at It.
\ ''If I We're convinced that the out
lawry of the saloons would not prevent
one man from drinking but that tht
use and abuse of intoxicants would &c
right on in spite of prohibitory legisla
ton, should yet claim, with absolute