PROHIBITION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1896, Page 2

PROHIBITION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, — For the third time Peilding has been honored with a visit from the Demosthenes of Prohibition, the gentleman whom bis admiring friends speak of as the " celebrated lecturer," describing him as a very " colossns in debate." If the fare served np by him in his last visit to Feilding was a specimen of his oratorical powers, then, sir, I should say that his fame rests on a very slender foundation indeed, and that my friends the Prohibitionists have little taste and less knowledge of what constitutes a good speaker. If, however, unlimited and petty abase of his opponents, together with a mistaken notion that " bathos " is " pathos," then our friend would deservedly rank high as such. But, sir, I cannot imagine the publio taste so debased as to mistake such stuff as he favored us with as either argument or eloquence. Mr Isitt's address was merely a re-bash of the worn out statement of " the evils of drink," garnished with tit bits of the evil doings of certain drunks and publicans, which none would seek to justify. But, sir, these cases are no worse than the evil doings of many Prohibitionist lecturers who have turned out badly. Would it be fair to select these exceptional cases and charge them against Prohibition ? Certainly not. Neither is it just and proper to charge the trade with the sins of the few. What would you say, sir, to a case of assault in a public hall at one of Mr Isitt's own meetings by one of his most ardent disciples ? Such a case occurred at Mr Igitt's last meeting in Feilding, but much as I am opposed to Prohibition and Messrs Isitt and Cocker, as exponents of this odious measure, I could not think of being so unjust as to charge them with being privy to it. Bat, sir, while freeing them personally from any complicity in regard to the assault above referred to. I cannot help remarking that drunkenness and violence do not always proceed from alcobolio intemperance. This man was positively " drunk with rage," full of Prohibitive fury. He, after grossly insulting the party in question, rushed down the ball and seized the victim of his bate, whose only crime was that he is a strong opponent of Prohibition, and violently shook him. Such is the violent fanaticism engendered by the movement and is, sir, a fair earnest of the treatment antiProhibitionists would receive were these men in power. Id future when attending Prohibition meetings the person soassaulted will require a safe conduct to and from the meeting duly signed and wealed with the official signature of the President of the Feilding Prohibition League, failing which he wiil have; to apply for a police escort to protect him from the violence of drunken Prohibitionists who, intoxicated with the foolish verbosity of their speakers, are ready to run amuck against opponents. I am, etc., J. B. Roots. P.S.— This case not having occur'^ at Kansas or Maine, or some other 'place difficult to get reliable evidence, q^ u be vouched for. — J.8.8.

Sib, — I am informed that it has been stated in your paper that i ne ver have had any connections ith the Hquor trade. I beg toinforr^ yO u that I have had four years oonnv^j^j^ that bngi%< ness. I have also b een Secretary for the West Coast Licen^ ed victuallers' Association. lam unr Able t0 be preßent at the meeting on Fr iday night| B0 take this op . portumty of 'correcting any erroneous impressions, i }, O p e at eome fnt^e tj me | 0 be able 1- 0 Bpeß^ at priding O n this important BU bject. I am, etc., Thos. Stagpoole. ' Paltueraton N., October 1, 1896.