The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-12
THE SALOON QUESTION.

e.. should ss<rce with 'Civis Secun-
6us- In his criticism OF the temperance
.alaon AZ such a place were the only
end To- be sought by temperance effort
hut the temperance saloon u only the
means 90 an end and many people VINO
have studied the subj-ct. some % whom
Rave written books about u. think that
the method - practical 30 far as u
r,s.s .-Civis Secuudus" apparently
hol,is that any system % organized
public aid towards making a man do
what - b--st for himself - a waste OF
tirse. lie cSuceives an ideal state
where man. realizing the baue % aleo-
hot. will simply let "a alone; but ne
must meet the prDsaic fact that all
men do not believe alcohol does them
harm and do not wish o. deprive them
selves OF its supposed value These
men must b. taught and urged and
made TO ses that alcohol - curse
they must b. helped to save themselves
from their appctites. they must b. LED
away from the pleasant places where
IN. fever hides and the serpent Turks.
lest. deceived by the flowers and shade.
they go there 20 their doom. To leave
them to decide for themselves may end
in the saving OF the wise and prudent
and In the loss OF those who do not al
ways stop Co think.
The teaching Of temperance or.
rather. OF total abstinence. has as
many forms as there are kinds OF men |
90 argue with. ''Civis Secundus'' has a |
way OF his own. In the many columns |
Of discussion with which he has. from |
year TO year. appealed To- the respect
Of the Advertisers readers. he has
sought TO convince By the citing OF au-
thoritIes and the force OF his deductive
reasoning. Many. perhaps. he has re-
claimed But the number OF men
whose powers OF resolution and self
control can b. reached and organized
through their inteIiects Is small. Some
must be dealt with through their emo
tons: others through their fear OF the
law: others through their social in
Stircts. and right here comes the use
OF the temperance saloon
IL IL seen that something must be
done TO keep out OF the rum shops
young men OF social instincts but with
out legitimate social openings. To
scores OF these the doors OF the Y. NJ.
g. A. are inviting: others find their
way to clubs or fraternities: some few
marry and settle down: the minority
drift with the human tide. The prob
lem with the latter class Is where 10
land. The only acceptable places open
To such street voyagt.rs are the saloons
places where they feel no constraint
and where good cheer. bright company
and the sense OF being on their own
ground obtain. These young men may
not care much for drink. but AZ human
beings they want to- know people: as
folk they want to know
them without formaiity. surveillance or
the need OF special dress Saloons Of
fer these privileges. with comfort and
only social factors that do. In what
they have To offer there Is no Odium OF
charity: the man with the price OF a
drink can go into the saloon as n he
s~ued the place: and SO the rum shop
becomes as powerful a magnet TO the
homeless. passing youth. hungry for
company and a good time as was the
island OF Sirens. which Ulysses saw.
The hope II to- set up another magnet
On the same coast-one that will not
lure TO ruin but To- as wholesome
social life as the man adrift Is fitted To
psrtake. The work Of the temperance
saloon IL not To- undo any other form Z
81 moral propaganda but to meet n
all which nothing else can answer. II
gives society. OF the average sort. a
piace OF as easy and careless meeting
~ any rum shop: giimpses OF luxury: |,
-omething To eat and drink for the !
price. II Is the poor mans club with 4
,ut alcohol. but with many innocent
'ubstitutes for IL: and We are loath to
relieve that poverty IS so allied with {
alcohol as TO make such a place super +
luous