The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-05-23
LIT ALL MEN STUDY
The LIQUOR PROBLEM


done though the heavens fail" You
correspondent who this morning com
plains, as a saIoonkeeper, of certai
statements made by the Rev. G. I
Edwards. does SO. 1 think, with reaso.
The rev. gentleman says: THE lfquo
traffic is based on the idea of prof
without any idea of rendering in returl
a real service" Let US see if thi
sta tement is correct. a man thinks
often thinks unquestionably thinks,
glass of beer, wine or spirits will III
him good if taken IN moderation
he has been told so over and ovel
again both by physicians, uphappily b
it said as well as by bishops, canons
priests and deacons! Such a one no
only thinks it will do him good. bu
he also likes the particular alcoholic
beverage he favors. The temporary
stimulation of the brain is pleasant
and, If he is poor after his drink be
owns the world: if he is weak, he feels
second Sandow; if nervous, the idea
of a possible earthquake simply gives
wine is a mocker, and he who is de-
ceived thereby is not wise, for these
decisions are dearly paid for, even if
the drinker stops long short of
housing at the happy
And getting fou and unco happy"
But to return to the subject of real
service" The man, the moderate
irinker so-called, because he likes his
l.; l., -.
told on what to him is good authority
that it will do him no harm, and be-
cause he is still further enforced by
the precepts and example of reverend
gentlemen from bishops down, the pro-
fessed followers of Christ, I say the
man, the moderate drinker, will have
his glass and resents as an ignorant
impertinence the acts of those who
would prevent his getting it. The sa-
loonkeeper does, emphatically, to that
man render a real service The man
can not conveniently carry his drink
about with him. and many such mod
crate" men would go without rather
than do so, go without altogether,
knowing that the spirit is willing but
the flesh weak! 1 think, Mr. Editor,
have not unfairly shown that the sa-
loonkeeper does, under present condi-
tions, render real service and as long
as a community tolerates the business,
and the law permits, nay, licenses, it,
and probably much more than half the
populace avails itself of the conven-
fences offered by saloons, it is alto
gether unreasonable, and wrong, to
class the keepers with thieves or
robbers" or even suggest the idea.
let society, let the great professions of
law and theology, let their
members one and all study the true
drift of the teaching of their great
leaders. and let them take congnizance
Of the inexorable logic of facts set forth,
in corporate GOODNESS. by insurance so
cieties and, having done SO, let them,
one and all, as duty owed to the
State, both by teaching and example,
make clear 20 the uniformed how
health, working efficiency, delight in
life and length of days are all en-
HANGED by total abstinence from intox-
icating beverages. Lee the highest in
the land, commencing with its Presi-
dent and down through all ranks of Of
ficials, make it a matter of principle
to strive to understand this burning
question of temperance, in its true
light. Investigation is necessary. In
words of Emerson, God offers to every
mind its choice between Truth and re-
pose. Take which you please, you can
never have both" Justice and Truth
call upon the classes to whom 1 have
to closely investigate. My ap-
peal embraces a living President-to
nin and to all others I commend the
surgeon. He says: I'VE are strug
Cling today in the mire of ignorance,
and bearing upon our shoulders the
burdens of superstition. We hold te-
iaciously to the traditions OF the past.
What is gray with years to man is
iod-like' and he insists on worshiping |
L. the feet of his idol. Thirty |
years ago alcohol was the principal |
lgent of our materia medica. Now we |
write of the passing of alcohol" If |
urther says this most successful |
surgeon, III the United States would t
vhiten the distant seas with the sails !
# her commerce, if she would extend |
Ter intellectual realm till her voice is |
aw in the capitals of the distant ORR !,
mt. then let her for two generations |
Lbandon alcohol, and she can realize !
Ter ambition. |
Let US, as medical men, he fur
her adds, look deeply into the scien- /
ific aspect of the question. 1t not
My concerns the recovery of our pa |
tents, but the eyes of the world are |
lpon us. The nations of the earth |
wait our dictum We, the medical |
profession, gave alcohol to the world; |
ur hands are still holding the cup to
he lips Of humanity. Now let US re-
train it, Surely, Mr. Editor, these
re brave, encouraging words and fit
o be followed by others of the noble
President Abraham Lincoln, passed on,
nut whose memory ever lives in the
Ieart of a great and grateful nation.
1t the close of an address on temper
nee he uttered these glowing words:
"All can give aid that will; and who
hall be excused that can. and will not,
id? Far around us as human breath
las ever blown, he (the demon of al
ohoD keeps our fathers our brothers,