The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1890. The Licensing Act

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 144, 29 May 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1890. The Licensing Act

Ona esteemed correspondent and friend "Come Quickly " has another interesting letter in our correspond- . ence column to-day. VVe observe that he studiously avoids giving any reasons for opposing the contention that where licensed houses were closed, and thus rendered of little or no value.,

the owoers shonld be compensated for their consequent loss. That is the whole point at issue. Sentiment is at no time a compensation for robbery, and however dreadfully wicked the publicans may by, in the eyea of " Come Quickly" and his fellow-think-ers, they are just as much entitled to justice as the good people who would like to remove them off the face of the earth. We are told that our information anent the failure of the Prohibition laws in the United States of America, was from 'a " one' sided quarter"— whatever that may mean. We know that most people when they enter the arena to do * battle for or against the temperance — or in fact any cause— -are apt to magnify their facts when such facts are evidences on their side, and to suppress or dispar age evidence which would tell against them. Therefore we will iaave the doubtful statements of our American contemporaries aside, and accept those of ." Spectator," whose letter on the same subject was published in a recent issue of this journal. We know that writer to be truthful and perfectly impartial. He shows clearly enough, because he has been an eye witness, what a failure prohibition has been in those States he is familiar with. Will our correspondent kindly explain how a man can " drink the fiery fluid —even from a wooden leg."« We dislike touching or referring to religious subjects in these columns at any time, and still more do we dislike it when we have to call in question, .or correct, the Biblictil or Scriptural knowledge of one who has, we believe, made the sacred writings his special study; but we almost feel justified when he writes that " Christianity is certainly historically if not geographically, a far. fetched illustration of a reform coming from the fountain head, and the first teachers were poor fishermen." The first teacher of Christianity was Chhist — the others came afterwards. We draw the attention of "Come Quickly" to the singular, to say the least of it, mistake he .has made. Another point. Our correspondent says that he would use the following language as a means of " gentle suasion" to a drunkard, whom he first assails as "a poor, degraded, blear eyed, bloated faced, victim, with muddled brain, heavy heart and light pockets." If such language would not cause the most amiable " drunk " to commit a breach of the peace it would be a surprise — and lucky escape for the man who so insulted him. . This sort of thing is not racir.il suasion, it is bullying in its worst form, because the object is sup* posod to be unfit, to resent it. However, we know " Come Quickly" to be sincere in his desire to'promote temperance, and we feel assured that if he were witness to even a publican being injured he would be the first to put out his hand in his defence.