Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-04-25

the minds and consciences of the
rising generation that they will rea-
lie the great danger of the habitual
and unnecessary use of intoxicants
and we must do what we can by mo-
raj influences to so strengthen the
will and character that there may be
the power of command to guard
against the acquisition of an inordl.
nate. appetite for drinks and drugs,
and to control within the limits OF
moderation natural or inherited
tastes for them.
On the surface of things there
would appear to be something wrong
and unjustifiable in the license
which our Government issues for the
selling of intoxicating drinks; and
| agree with DR.. Willis and the gem
tlemen of the Newport League that
such licenses are so many evils. The
difference between us is that you be-
lieve the license system to be an "un-
necessary evil" and therefore con-
denim the government for establish
ing and maintaining it, whereas
believe II to be necessary and hence
a justifiable measure.
The Government could not II 1t
would, and ought not II It could.
compel men to be total abstainers,
but II can do much, and II ought
to do all that It can, to compel them
to be temperate. In my humble
judgment the establishment of rea-
sonable saloon license and good
system of saloon supervision, with
proper punishments for the disregard
of their regulations, is the limit to
which It is either possible or advis-
able for government to go in the
attempt to prohibit the evil of in
temperance.
More than this would be to un-
Americanize ourselves and worse: Il
would be to direct the axe at the
root OF Righteousness II would be Il
futile effort to make ourselves ideal
ly perfect above the example which
God has set us and above the wis
dom of the ages us 1t is condensed
in the Bible. The wlsest book that
the world possesses does not require
mea to be total abstaincrs: and the
divincst man who ever lived turned
water into wine for festive wedding
uests, who in their drinking had
already exceeded the expectation of
their host. know of no way in
which a human government can or
ought, in the case OF any evil. TO go
! bayGad the requirements of God and
of the Law and the Prophets and OF
the example of Christ, who ordained
that wine should be used in the celc-
bration of His. religious system.
Therefore, gentlemen, instead OF
trying to compel the Government to
give up its present course In dealing
with the drink evil. would rather
advocate the continuance in and i'm.
provement of this way and the adop,
tion OF IL In dealing with 1t In some
other deadly vices which. unfortu'
nately, | think, are without govern,
mental restraint. In the matter OF
licensing and regulating indulgence
in the most dangerous among the
natural and ineradicable "lusts Of
the flesh. Americans are far behind
the Germans. Let us learn wisdom
from the conspicuous successes OF
their adult praCticalism and from the
notorious failures of our childish
idealism.
fear. gentlemen, that this is moi
the kind of letter that you HOPED
for, but | could not write otherwise
without disloyalty to long standing
and ever deepening convictions.
Very cordially yours,
WIN. NJ. BROWN,
| Bishop of Arkansas.
|