PROHIBITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2264, 26 October 1889, Page 2

PROHIBITION.

XO THE BDITOB.

Sir, — Your correspondent •• Amicus" having opened the question of prohibition, will you kindly allow mo spaoe for a few remarks, I may say that lam not greatly m favor of prohibition, but like many other people I am quite willing that (t shonld be tried, provided that individuals oonneoted with tbe trade are not Injured, It seems to me that tbe temperanoe party are never any nearer their millenlum. At one time " local option" was their cry, then it was " elective committees." They have obtained these things, and are as far as ever from the happy time when " the drink shall be no more." Prohibition, or looal option prohibition Is now the ticket. I am pretty oertaln that if this proposal were to be put m foroa to-morrow, t.lngs would go on muoh aa they have done. What reason Is there to suppose that a vote on prohibition would be more emotive than tbe present looal option vote f Jf tbe voter* now do not return teetotal committees t curb the traffio, how are tbey to be brought to do it on tbe other question ? Temperanoe orators are aa a rule very eloquent ladles, and gontlemen ; they are great at pathetlo ato-tes of the ravages ff the demon drink, and they are not slow at raising a laugh at the expense of those who may differ from them, bn*; ai for solid reasoning tbey have none of it. Perhaps they prefer to work by faith. To a plain blunt person like myaelf, It appears these gentry really don't want the reforms they so violently support oarried ont. I verily believe most of them wp'uld be as hard up for a lining an they 9 ay (he publicans would be were prohibition brought Into foroe. Dnrlng tbe reoent mission we were informed officially, that "thoroughgoing teetotallers when elected to seats on Licensing Committees somehow refased to vote a Might, owing (I think) to the fact that they foel some qualms of 000---alenoe at taking away tbe livelihood of those In the trade. We were however further Informed officially, that •' the people when they o.me to vote at tbe ballot box would not be troubled with •ny aijch weakness.'.' This Is an inanlt to the publio and I for qoa. refuse to believe '-tsHhqogn.qL.qQa of the people will be found any harder than that of theOommlttees. The cause of prohibition would ,be greatly advanoed if the professional temperanoe man were prohibited from having a voice m tbe matter. Drink U » ourse, a fearful ourse, it *alns thousands of happy homo"* lot us ho rid of It These are the sentiments of temperance people, they know that a great many reasonable people would vote for prohibition with compensation, but not without, yet they will not listen. Now Is thla wise ? Is it ohrlstianllke ? Supposing compensation oost us ten millions would It uot be a barg >ln . To admit the qompen.aßtlon olause would probably i\ivadoa prohibition by ten yoafcs. Would it not bo well to g!*~e way to gain this time . I am, etc, Compensation, ]

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