The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-02-11
HISTORY OF TEMPERANCE
IN The HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
Early Efforts to Keep Down the Drink Evil
Which Was introduced Here by
Botany Bay Convicts

| Il. We will not drink ardent spirits
for pleasure.
"2. We will not deal in ardent spirits
for the sake of gain.
IS. We will not engage in distilling
ardent spirits.
"a. We will not treat our relatives,
acquaintance, or strangers with ardent
spirits.
go. We viii not give ardent spirits to
workmen on account of their labor"
And this was four years before the
first National Temperance Convention
in the United States declared in favor
of total abstinence, and nine years be-
fore the great Washingtonian movement
in 1870. They really took decided stand
here for temperance before any other
country.
In 1882 the nation experienced great
loss in the death of the regent Kaa-
humanu, whose influence had always
been in favor of good order and tenn
perance. She was soon succeeded by
the young prince, Kauikeaouli, as Ka-
mehameha Ill, and for a time the re-
straints upon the manufacture, sale and
use of intoxicating liquors were relaxed,
favored by a large class of foreigners
residing here, who used the well-known
argument that by encouraging the traf-
fffc the revenues of the country would
be increased. Men were always ready
to bring to the country as much of the
poison as could find sale.
In November, 1885. at great temper
ance meeting held in Honolulu, com
mittee of natives wss appointed, who
drew up the following memorial, said
to be the first formal written petition
ever presented to a Hawaiian monarch:
TRANSLATION.
Know thou, o King Kauikeaouli,
this is our mature and undisguised SEN
timent. We make our earnest petition
to you. Let the purchase of spirits and
the retailing of spirits at the rumselling
houses, and the distilling of spirits come
to total end-just these three things.
I'VE believe that the kingdom. would
not be impoverished should these sew
eral things cease, for the people and the
foreigners too are ensnared by these
evil things.
'Thou myself hast seen the drunken
ness, contentious, the wounds and death
of the. people and foreigners by means
of ardent spirits during thy reign.
mot ourselves alone, thy own people.
this evil, but certain ship
masters know the evil of this thing
and on account of it, many are bound
in irons through the prevalence of this
traffic, both of natives and foreigners.
Wherefore, we greatly desire these
evils may be utterly abolished; not for
our individual benefit only is this petit
ton set forth that this course may be
abandoned, but for your own good, OI
King, and that of your chiefs and
people.
I'VE who abominate the practices
here complained of, therefore set our
names under this writing to oppose the
wholesale traffic, the manufacture, and
the retail of spirits at these Islands.
Let your true consent also be subjoined
to forbid these things, for thou knowest
it would not be adverse, but a great
safeguard to the people of this country
and of other countries here in thy king
dom, o King. And if thou understand
est this matter make known thy will, |
that We may see and hear"
(To be continued1