The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-14
TEMPERANCE REFORM.

Senator Tillman Is the author of the
Disnensary system In South Carolina,
and what he says about its efficacy, az
ter so many years of experience. must
be given weight. In one OF the current
magazines the Senator declares that OF
the Federal licenses TO sell liquor. issued
in his State. ninety-four are being USED
by state dispensers while the remain
In. s52 are held by Illicit dealers. OF
course the difference between TINS
showing and that of Kansas. Prohi-
hilton State, where the Federal licenses
number 2727, Is greatly In favor or
South Carolina, but the point remains
that when a State. engaged in the liq-
nor traffic and having vested monop-
oily of II, is not able to keep from hav-
ing It's dIspensaries outnumbered near
'Iy four to one by ordinary saloons. the
disreusary cannot be said to have
made the reform II promised nor a re-
form which other States. DESTROYS of
controlling their liquor business. can
safely adopt.
1t may be granted that government
control Of the sale Of liquor in Russia
Is absolute without encouraging the
belief that 1t can be made absolute in
America The difference is that OF
method between an empire and a re-
between a citizen and his lawful duty
TO the government; 1t does not permit
a writ of habeas corpus to Interfere
with the machinery OF the law; its po-
lice must be everywhere and know ev-
erything; and all its punishments are
swift and dire. No man in his senses
will either become a moonshiner nor
an Illicit salesman of liquor in the
Cars domain. Even in Sweden con-
ditions differ only in degree, but not in
kind. There law is law; here 1t is law
providing public sentiment sustains 1t
or IL lawyers cannot outwit 1t. Indeed,
we may call IL an automatic truth that
no law can be success In the United
States which lacks an assertive and
fearless and absorbed public sentiment
behind it-especially a State or munic-
ipal law or one of sumptuary nature.
It seems the precedent condition,
therefore, when any kind of public re-
public opinion in favor of 1t and then.
II the reform Is enacted. to keep this
sentiment up to the mark. The trouble
with our people Is that they begin at
the wrong end. They enact the law and
then await the popular results. More
wisdom would make the law stand
aside until the people have been work |
ed up to the point where they will re- |
ceive Ii as a boon and make a business !
Of seeing that IL does not become a |
lead letter. What makes prohibition a !
success in the little towns of Maine? !
What but an approving public senti- |
nent. What makes it a failure in the
cities of Maine? What but the want
If an approving public sentiment?
Shall this lesson be lost to Hawaii? |
lust now the temperance leaders are
for the Legislature to meet
and pass a bill. But what good will
he enactment of bill do If the ma
ority sentiment OF the public shall be
against 1t or shall approve of the liz
ior system as it Is? Such a measure
night as well be kept of the books for
III the good 1t will do. What Hawaii
reeds is not more law at first, but a
profound awakening on the subject of
and its evils. If such an
can be had. not only will a
eform law come of 1t. but that law
viii not be permitted to fail in it's OPP
rations or to fall into disuse.