A PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1252, 7 October 1911, Page 14

A PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

Sir,—Would you kindly allow mo tho ?i PP ?'i J ll **- to corrcct a fa'so iinpreseion that I find is abroad concerning my views on tho subject of Iho licensed sale of alcoholic beverages? In arguing from tho public platform I have attacked tho salo ot such on tho grounds that liavo led to tho restriction of the sale of opium: I have fired at tho thing itself, not merely i j " a,nlse " of alcoholic beverages, where the abuse is placed in a position of contrariety to that of a supposed "use" my contention being, to quoto tho words ot Dr. Koppo, that "tho abuse of alcohol commences with its use." _ Further, I seek your assistance in helping me to stamp out a belief gaining currency that , I am tho product of tho licensed system that allows tho free sale ot alcoholic beverages. A strengthened character that is tho result of resisting temptation cannot truly be called tho product of tho means of temptation, and the temptation exalted into a road to virtue. Sorrow and suffering may play their part' in the development of noblo qualities, yet I term that man a '&<.<. who is the causo of sorrow to his mother and suffering to his wife and children. Tho means of the suffering should not be credited with tho virtue of producing tho qualities which do appear: nor should the means of temptation bo • encouraged and multiplied, and furthermore, credited with the work of producing tho resisting forces and all my feelings revolt at the thought of my being considered the "result" of the system that licenses and encourages tho open temptation. I trust your valuable space will allow of these personal explanations, and tho clearing away,; of.-, misunderstanding 'eon--corning my views. Thanking you- for tlio anticipated favour,—l am, etc, E. 0. BLAMIRES.