THE WAR CITY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3750, 23 July 1883, Page 2

THE WAR CITY.

We translate the following articlo by " Capitainc Mouche " from the Neo Zelandais, a French newspaper published in Auckland: —

1 commence like the " Lutrin " "Je chnnle. les combats . . . ." This homestich applies admirably to our situation.

We arc invaded by whole armies : the salvation army ; the blue ribbon army—an army of heroes ! all its soldiers are decorated —without counting' the legion of Templars who are coming out of the grave after a repose of more than four centuries.

These different warriors aro all armed with . . . good intentions — we

know that the road to hell is paved with them—and they have for their enemy an important branch of the commerco and industry of the civilised world.

Here is their war cry:—Down with tho hop-cultivators! Down with tho vincgrowers! Down with those who distil spirituous liquors! Down with the importers of beer, wino, brandy, &c. ! May they bo cursed ! !

This is what those oxccllent people call temperance and what in Prance we call by quite a different name : " The excitation of the citizens to hatred and scorn of ono another." But the object of their most ardent detestation is ho or she who keeps an hotel, and whom they contemptuously call " the publican."

To me this scorn of the retailer seems very envious. Why ! I s;iy to myself, they have elevated Messrs Guinness and Bass to the dignity of baronet.

Jirasiteunt illicstri/tnimcs, et coimus dans le inoiide. Vnn potty sal/rime biert, el i'aufre pour sir hlunde ; and they look down upon those who retail tho products of these two great manufactures.

The great battle took place on the subject of the customary renewal of licenses of hotels, &c. On both sides they fought with fury, but in the end, as many killed as wounded, there are no dead.

Let no ono suppose that I am an enemy to tho cause of Temperance Far from it. I would wish that drunkenness might be treated much more severely than it is, and, above all, I would like to see the vendors of poisoned liquors punished in an exemplary manner.

In conclusion, Mr Editor, receive my best compliments, and as for myself romembcring that: Excess in all is a mistake, Glass in hand joyfully I trust To the God of good people Captain Mouche.