The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-08
LAYS THE BLAME ON
"
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Anti-Saoon League Charges That They Protect
Saloons and Gambling tiouses---Ad-
dress By Dr. Scudder.

bling dens by government officials is
charged by Rev. w. D. westerveIt.
president of the Anti-SaIoon League. in
his annual address before that body
| last evening. He charges that the
apathy of government officials is the
most serious obstacle with which the
league has had TO contend and specific
reference is made to the gambling den
at the corner OF Hotel and Fort streets,
which it is alleged has been allowed to
flourish for months. Mr.. westervelt
held drink responsible for the great
mortality among the Hawaiian people.
Music followed by prayer by Rev. Mr.
Tfmoteo opened the annual meeting in
the z. M. c. A. rooms last evening.
There was fairly large attendance.
Rev. P. M. Snodgrass read the minutes
of the last meeting. W. A. Bowen the
treasurer, reported that the expenses of
the league from April 1, 1902 to April
/, 1908, had been s240O. From 1903 to
1904 the expenses had been $244 One
third of the expense has been IN print
ing and circulating pamphlets.
DR. Mitamura reported on the work
of the japanese league, which has been
increasing on Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and
in Honolulu. There are a number of
societies with the membership running
into hundreds In one plantation camp
at OIaa japanese contractor has pro-
hibited the use of liquor in his camp.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
Mr. westervelt read his annual re-
port as president which is given in full
as follows:
Any student of the ethical develop
ment of Hawaii knows that much
thought and toll in this direction were
expended by the missionaries who
were men of strong convictions con-
corning right ard wrong. They had
principles which they were not afraid
to advocate and for which they could
give substantial reasons. They knew
the exceedingly injurious effects of the
continued use of Intoxicating liquors
they knew also that appetite" ''lust"
and money were absolutely unscrup-
lllous foes when even so great a ques-
ton as saving a nation was consider
ed. UnhesitatingIy these missionaries
raised their voices against the preva-
lent drunkenness-as one of the great
est destructive forces attacking the
T1f~, Sc
book THE Making of Hawaii says
that as result of this earnest presen-
tation of right and wrong "tabu meet
ings-a kind of rude Ethical Society
sprang up spontaneously being guided
rather than suggested in the first in
stance by the missionaries The
members We're numbered first by tens,
then by hundreds, and soon by thous-
ands. At these meetings We're dis
cussed practical questions concerning
characters and conduct. 1t will
suffice to say that for nearly fifty
years from the landing of the first
the moral Improvement Of
the native population continued, and
that then retrogressive movement set
in which has only just now been check
ed If indeed it does not still continue"
The awful pathos of Blackman's
statement needs careful meditation in
order to be realized. Notice that for
fifty years the earnest expression of
conviction founded on abiding princi-
pies concerning right and wrong,
brought continued moral Improvement.
The cessation of those voices one by
one in death and the divided thoughts
Of the descendants of those who had
been their folIowers-allowed open en-
- he Ions NH
have struck death dealing blows at the
continuance of the Hawaiian people. i
And it is absolutely sure that the !
death of this people must continue un- i
i'll immortality and drunkenness are
treated by US and by them as their
deadly enemies. I have never stood
by the bedside of dying nation be-
ore coming to these islands. But here
we have a people very near its end,
1nder the scourge of immortality and
and the horrible disease,
eprosy, which fattens and grows more i
md more destructive as it feeds upon
10Th of it's colaborers. We are watch
ng the death throes OF a people. Some
4 us look on carelessly. Some of US
re touched but do not give a second
bought. May Divine agitation make
Use more responsive to saving those (
Tho are about to die. II
HAwAIIANs NOT AWAKE.
The Hawaiian ministers are not g
wake to their danger. A very large
ody of foreigners q mean foreign to I
he Hawaiian people, carelessly ignore I
II moral responsibility for the dying f
eople as we'll as for the other classes, !"
mong whom they have their business ! 7
lterests. But believe that the time II.
absolutely sure to come when many
len who have not given much thought s
their personal responsibility will look c
pom the temperance question not from | c
lie extent of personal injury, but from S
lie feeling that decisive and earnest o
stion must be taken for the good of
le whole. 1t is not This will not
1rt me-" but This will destroy many
the people" that will touch the con- q