The Rev L. M. Isitt on Prohibition

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 134, 2 May 1893, Page 2

The Rev L. M. Isitt on Prohibition

Tho Salvation Army Barracks was crowded last night, when the Rey L. M. Isitt the New Zealand champion of prohibition, delivered a very able and forcible address. Mr J. C. Thompson presided, and in introducing the lecturer requested a fair hearing from those present. Mr Isitt said he hoped that they would not allow their enthusiasm to wane, and that next time he came amongst them he should find large numbers not present on this occasion enrolled iv their various Good Templar Lodges. The longer he lived, the less in favor of any particular denomination did he become, and in advocating the cause of temperance, his conscience assured that he was doing bis duty as a churchman. He hoped to benefit not one but all denominations by his advocacy of prohibition. He had to propose a drastic remedy for the liquor traffic. Supposing a man were to ship a large cargo of dynamite, does not the Goyernment step in with most stringent regulations as to the carrying of the same. So we say we must put our feet down and regulate this liquor traffic. There are those who nay that prohibitionists drink excessively strong tea and therefore as a natural result they must only drink cold water. Ho dared to say, and challenged contradiction, that in a world cursed by numberless evils, there is no ill so great as that caused by tho liquor traffic. Four hundred years ago, so great was the evil, that special laws and stringent measures were passed for its suppression. Even one hundred years ago, a prominent writer had said that tbo national charaoter was bejng changed by the cur 99 of drink. In some villages at Home, there is one publio house to every 150 inhabitants. Is it to be wondered at, that there are so many prosecutions for drunkeuness every year. As we grow older, we hear more and more of th© brotherhood of mankind, and our national differences are being gradually broken down. It is not in our own country alone, that we find the evil effects of drink. In Germany the Emperor has had to take strong measures to put down the drink traffic, m France likewise, though it is the country where light wines are principally consumed, so greatly

has drunkenness increased that the Gov eminent has had to intervene. In America, during the past 26 years, ware have cost 700,000 lives, and in that period fully 1,600.000 persons haye' been destroyed by drink. If we were to ; start now, and parade a year's victims before us, and they kept on passing continuously till Friday night, still 300.000 would have to follow. At least 1,500,000 are annually destroyed by drink. It behoves us to take drastic measures. Some 20 or 30 years ago, there was three or four I times os much liquor drunk in New Zealand as at the present time, and yet there is at least teu times as much liquor consumed as thore ought to be in the country. The Hereford, in Christchurch, has never had less than 200 in one hour on a Saturday night enter its portals, and often as many as 350 (mostly young men) have been counted to enter tbis hotel in that space of time. Numerous instances were then cited, showing the dire effects of drink amongst tho community in this land, You say, why should a man give up his g»o«r ? The reply is because he is a man, that he is not to put his appetite, for the sake of mere self-gratification, before the good of tho people. Their platform is the result of the abominable condition into which the trade has been allowed to drift. Why pass laws so long as the police are hampered in their endeavours to grapple with the traffic. No doubt, many a zealous policeman is anxious to do his duty, but he runs the risk of being degraded and rapped over the knuckles for his energy, as, the speaker asserted, was the case all over the country. In' this town there may be four publicans keeping every clause of the Licensing Act, but, if they are, then they deserve labelling and putting in the Wellington museum as curiosities. Will they not servo a traveller on Sundays? The puplican may be very respectable, but he is a parasite, and as the shingles go on his roof, tbey go off his customers. The speaker knew lots of parasitic injects, bnt he knew of no insect which preyed upon its kind to the extent that these men prey upon mankind. Personally he would rather starve on 5s a day lhan engage in the liquor traffic. They cannot regulate this traffic until they are able to regulate the customer — and that is impossible. Cannot people see that so long as drink is within reach, so long as human nature is what it is, so long as alcohol has the power of creating the desire for it — whether scryed in a palace or in a shanty — so long will the only way to regulate the traffic, be, to abolish it altogether. Is any sensible man present prepared tp suggest any other re* medy? In Maine, where prohibition has recently kept its jubilee, the yast bulk of the people said they would not have the trade re established . Certainly there is sly grog selling in that State, but the consumption is only one tenth of what it used to be. In every instance in America, records proye that prohibition is a huge success. They Say it will neyer come in England, but already there are 1500 centres of prohibition in that country. Once when travelling in a train, the speaker met three gentlemen, of contrary opinions to his own, and they naturally fell into an argument. He offered that if they took a large bottle of stout to Professor Bicker ton, for analysis, the result would give more nourishment from a spoonful of oatmeal tban from the contents of the bottle. These men declined the contest, and '* backed down." In Tyrone, where there are now no publio houses, tbey re« quire no policemen, whereas, formerly, when drink could be obtained, 15 policemen were necessary. In Liverpool, England, the council, by 20 votes to 3, passed a resolution in favor of probibi tion. Eighty per cent of gaol-birds are there from drink. It makes men lower than the animals, and any one who attempted to say that this traffic was not damnable, was flying in the face of what he knew to be untrue. It is wonderful how compassionate some people can be for the poor publican, and speak up in favor of compensation, to whicb the publican has no shadow of a right, as the law has now firmly laid down, the licence only being granted for one year. Whicb of your four publicans was lured into and requested by the inhabitants to build his hotel ? As soon as prohibitionists can educate their minority into a majority, then will they show their power and sweep the thing away. If the four hotels m Feilding were converted into mere houses of accommodation, and they found they could not thrive, would not the logical conclusion be that they had been kept open and baoked up on a fraud and a delusion ? So soon as men enjoy and repeat the benefits of civilisation, tbey will find that the trend of public opinion is to limit the rights and freedom of the people. All the prohibitionists asked, was, that the people should say every three or five years tbrough the ballot box, whether this traffic should be continued or not. If they were true liberals they would agree to the verdict being given by the people. Was anyone present prepared to argue to the contrary ? Then his contention was correct. See that the man who would represent you, no matter what his political principles, does not get your vote unles he is for the direct veto. Do that, and the traffic will soon be killed. Think how the slave trade lias been swept away, but to day there exists a far greater slavery, in the shape of the liquor traffic, which will lead to an eternity of despair. Do your best in this cause, and God's blessing will attend your efforts. The speaker was listened to with rapt attention throughout his eloquent address, and resumed his seat amidst great applause. Mr Shearer's choir was in attendance, and sang two or three anthems very pleasingly. Hearty votes of thanks accorded to Mr Isitt for his lecture, and to the Captain of the Salvation Army for the use of the Barracks, brought a most successful meeting to a close.