The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-12-07

I'VE all agree further, without
doubt, that the American saloon is
a most atrocious insult to decent
social life and that its influence
on corrupt politics and on an
temperate habits is detestable."
1t was in the application of the re-
medy for the conditions AMI the sort of
remedy to be sought that Professor
Muensterberg parted company with the
prohibitionists and declared that at
tempt at complete prohibition of the
sale of liquors meant other evils more
calamitous. In stating his position to-
ward the use of stimulants he said
after studying this problem
for more than 20 years and after
repeating frequently in the psy-
Geological laboratory all the signi-
ficant experiments and after cur
ing scores of drunkards by psy-
choteurapeutic means and thus be-
ing near the question all the time,
1 am fully convinced that under
the present conditions of Ameri-
can life the only wise way of re-
form is by working toward tenn
perance and not toward prohibi-
ton.
1T must be campaign of edu-
cation toward a moderate use Of
light alcoholic beverages"
SOME APPROVE, SOME DISSENT.
There were signs of assent and dis
sent in the audience, heads being nod
ded in approval or shaken in disap-
probation, but every ear was bent upon
the next sentence of the speaker:
ITO exclude all alcohol from this
country by prohibition laws" continued
the Harcard instructor, seeks to get
rid of the evil at one stroke. 1t needs,
indeed, much less effort than true
education toward temperance. But
the prohibition movement is like the
free silver movement in economics, or
like socialism in politics, or spiritua-
lism in religion, or like Christian
Science in medicine, or like pragma-
tism in hilosophy-they all contain a
little core of truth, but their truth is
old and they become new-fashioned
movements only by new, sensational
Foundations which appeal to the un-
thinking crowd.
81 have hardly any doubt that this
prohibition movement, too, will at first
Overwhelm by its very superficiality
the sober efforts for education and re-
form in this country, just as vaude.
vile and operetta have overwhelmed
the serious drama las the cheal
magazine has demolished the book
store, as the yellow press has captured
the masses and as in a hundred othe
forms the appeal to superficial judg
ment has been successful Then, o
course, will come the reaction ant
the cry for prohibition will just a
swiftly disappear as the cry for fire
silver"
With great earne5tnets Professo
Muensterberg declared that prohibitio
would prove a failure because it wa
an effort to legislate against a physio
, logical desire which belongs to a ma
+ jority of men, and in this statemen
, be met with a responsive chord in tn
hearts of the anti-local option part G
, his audience. Approval was ais
r shown when he said that it should nc
9 be forgotten that in asking for a pre-
hibition law in the United States a
), effort was being made to draft a sta
, tute for a nation whose habitual dis
! respect for the written enactments ha
. proved in the last few years to be tn
chief source of the country's troubles
IN PROHIBITION STATES.
In discussing the alleged results
States where prohibition laws hav
e been enacted Professor Muensterber
= said:
= THAT kind of abstinence legls-
n lation which prevails in certain
It parts of the country and is evil
f IDENTIFY near in others is surely not
+ for the common good That it
3 ueSlIOyS luuuSlTleS anu uudAeS
e hundreds of thousands breadless
n and that it deprives millions of a
# harmless joyful feeling is still the
smallest harm which it produces.
g BY far more important is the dis
d respect for law which it creates.
e Prohibition puts a premium on
y the systematic violation of law and
n produces a form of corruption
e which irradiates from the licensed
e saloon. Further, it reinforces
drinking in its most miserable and
d dangerous form. The moderate
l. drinker is cut off, while the i'm
st moderate drinker is created. 1t
It abolishes light wine and beer, and
lie opens wide the way for the worst
It kind Of whiskey.
,e 1T eliminates every sound SUI
pervision and makes minors and
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