PROHIBITION—IGNORING FACTS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 75, 25 September 1896, Page 2

PROHIBITION— IGNORING FACTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The wholesale ignoring of the most important facts by the advocates of|the liquor traffic is very remarkable and significant. The all-bat unanimous verdict of the meat celebrated men — That alcohol in any quantity is not only unnecessary, but always more or less hurtful to the human being, according to the quantity taken ; and that it should be treated as, indeed what it is, a dangerous poison. That, unlike other poisons, it creates an insatiable appetite for itself. That, having got its fatal grip on the individnal, the family, or the community, it is the source of more misery, ruin, and crime, than any other evil civilised nations are subject to. That it causes the greatest waste of the rescources of every country encouraging it. That every attempt made to control it during hundreds of years, and by all nations, has absolutely failed — in fact, that regulation is simply impossible. That those advocating Prohibition only accept the inevitable. That the most intense selfishness mankind is capable of is alone responssible for carrying on the trade. That the colony to pay or throw away £1,500,000 for the right to collect £500,000 is the cream of folly. That these are not mere statements, but well attested facts. Now. sir, such being the case, does it not naturally devolve upon the said advocates of the traffic to find a reasonable remedy for this lamentable state of things ? The Prohibitionists bring forward what they consider the only care, and are abused in no measured terms for doing so. Has anyone a right_ to speak or write on this or any evil, without introducing some scheme likely to aoate or do away with it ? I was amused with Mr Murtagh— who we may take for granted is a native of the Emerald Isle— finding fault with agitatim. When his countryman, O'Connell, was asked the best way to bring about the redressing of Irish grievances, his wise reply was, Agitate 1 agitated agitate 111 No great reform has been secured without agitation. What is agitation but letting the searchlight shine on the subject ? Why does the liquor traffic hate the light ? Go on, Mr Murtagb I Your letters will do the good you don't intend. I am, etc., SearcbsLight. P.S.— The above are a few of the notable facts quietly ignored by the advocates of liquor license. — S.L.