Correspondence.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 136, 8 December 1896, Page 2

Correspondence.

PROHIBITION. A Retbospect and a Wabning. to the editor. Sic, — Now tbat the political battle of Prohibition has been fought, and before the most striking features grow dim, there are one or two matters it would be well to refer te. One, if not the most prominent, characteristic has been the vigorous push and advocacy by persons who may now be classed in politics and sociology as the Probioition party. Anyone who lias given close attention to the movement dnring the past twelve months will have noticed that as the time for the general election approached Prohibition zeal advanced rapidly, tbe desire to shackle in bondage the people of tbis colony grow so fierce that prudence, justice, and all charity, were cast aside. Every moderate drinker was calumni* ated, every licensed victualler was a rogue, every man who took a modest glass of beer was little short of a criminal. Mis statements, even untruths, have been vindictively uttered throughout the colony in the most effective language at command. In short, every mean dodge has been resorted to for the sole purpose of robbing tbe people of their liberty and just rights. Now, the campaign just 1 over is a small sample of the discord, strife, aud viciousness, that will prevail and deepen in character, unless the Prohibition party are made to nnder* stand in tbe most unmistakeable manner tbat we don't intend to play into their hands. One thing must be always in remembrance, and tbat is, the Prohibitionists were the aggressors. It is they who opened the fight, and they bave been about as hateful in their warfare as they could be, whilo the other side has acted simply ou the defensive. Perhaps tbe sorriest phase of a sorry busiuess is the active malignant part taken by numbers of dissenting clergyman. When tbe excitement is over, and actions, motives, and results, are de* liberately judged, surely it will be seen these men have been wanting^ in much tbat goes to make tbe comprehensive Christian teacher, and tbat sensible people will hold them in lower estima* tion, and they themselves mast expect to receive a diminished respect, and a vanishing power to do good. At all events, tho advanced Prohibition cleric appears to me to be equally as undesirable as the confirmed drunkard. The latter chiefly injures himself ; the former, from his position, bis influence, and tbe bond of relationship inseperable from his calling, has done, and can do, an amount of mischief beyond immediate calculation by inciting weak and half formed minds to act and vote in a way contrary to the happiness and well-being of the State. Had it not been for tbe injudicious zeal of the clerics we should have bad bat little bad feeling. We bave in Feilding a cleric wbo illustrates very fairly what has been going on tbronghout tbe colony. So far as I am aware, no person writing to yonr journal against the question but what has been pounced npon by him ; not always augmentatively, bnt with a fiendish attempt to squash everyone daring to say a word against Prohibition— a sort of bull dog attack. In days' of yore it was a common thing for rich, gay sparks in London to engage a pugilistic bully to attend tbem and fight for them when thoy got into scrapes . and rows. It has often struck me that some of the Prohibition advocates have been taking the part of pugilists, striking at overy decent, honest man opposed to their method of compulsory temperance. Well, sir, the fight is over for the present. Let the Prohibition party learn a lesson of moderation and respect for those who differ from them. Let the people at large do all in tbeir power to forward true temperance in a loving, patriotic way. Let them at the same time make it plainly understood that moral and political slavery in the form of Prohibition they will not bave. I am, &c, H. C. Wilson.