PROHIBITION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 39, 14 August 1896, Page 2

PROHIBITION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAB. Sib, — So England's greatness is built on a beer barrel, trom which her groat men have drank, that they might become heroes and makers of the nation. So argnes H. C. Wilson. We hare been taught by teachers who professed to know that the foundations of our Em* pire's greatness must be traced to Christianity, and the intelligence, energy, and perseverance of oar citizens and leaders ; but from henceforth we . must bow before the beer barrel and cry " Thou art the source of England's preatness," " Thou* art the power which fired our soldiers' hearts, enlightened the minds of our Statesmen, and has advanced our civilization." Has beet made England's greatness ? We answer a thousand times, No 1 It is the great* est hindrance to England's progress today. £140,000,000 are spent annually on drink in England, 60,000 persona every year are laid in a drunken grave; ; and the State has to help to support the widows and orphans of the drunkards. Dr Bamado declares that 90 per cent, of the poor children who enter his Homes are brought there through drink, and we might multiply instances to show that drink is England's greatest foe ; in fact, the Duke of Albany— who was no fanatic, but from the stops of the Imperial throne took a wide view of the nation — declared that drink was the only enemy England need to fear. " Did • Nelson fight the Battle of Trafalgar on a bottle of gingerpop ?" enquires Mr Wilson. We really cannot answer that question, but we know be fought the battle on water. We know that many a vessel has been wrecked at sea through drink, and the Union Shipping Com* pany, recognising the dangers arising from their hands drinking, have decided that no drink shall be sold on vessels whilst in port, and that, all things beinp eqaal, abstainers shall have the first chance of promotion. Preservation of life and property is more to the Union Company than the worship of the beer barrel, and shouting about England's glory. Did Hawkins, Drake and Gilbert crush the Spaniards by the help of Prohibition cordials ? We really cannot say bat this we can vouch for that when the pick of oar English army, including the Royal Horse Guards, were fighting in Egypt under a scorching sun and on the hot burning sand they fought without strong drink. Previous to the famous battle of Tel-el- Kebir Sir Garnet Wolseley, the leader of the British forces, gave com* inand that the soldiers should have their flasks filled with tea. Oh 1 shades of Nelson, Hawkins, Drake and Gilbert we call you to witness that one of the biggest battles of modern times was won on tea* Soldiers who have been in India have been abstainers for self preservation as the drinkers had the worst chance of life when cholera came. Some years age Littlewood, the champion walker, went to America, and for six days competed for the world's belt, and won it. Brine. ing it back to England he sud in the writer's hearing " Drink could not have woo it." Total abstainers have travelled as near to the North Pole as any men. In fact Prohibition is constantly adding to England's glory, but drink is covering us with shame and disgrace. Mr Wilson poses as a defendant of the liberties of the people, and yet he calls women's franchise * rubbish.* Bead that, ladies please This so-called champion of liberty would not give yon liberty to vote. Is not that inconsistent ? Wishing to enslave the women and cos detuning the Prohibitionists for trying to break the drunkard's chain and give him hia liberty, yet posing as a champion of liberty t The Prohibition movement appeals to the highest and nobleat principle a wan can be governed by, namely, sacrifice for the welfare of others. But lam afraid there are too many professing Christiana wbo are not prepared to act upon the principle, or tbe dr^nk would soon be wiped oat of existence, Yours etc.* J. Cockbk] . ?eUsos August 12kb, 1896. ,