Crawford’s Reply to East.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 566, 8 November 1902, Page 2

Crawford’s Reply to East.

(To the Editor of the Times.) Sir,—Mr East prefers to liavo freedom to use bold assertion, make rash statements, and ask silly questions, to threshing out tlie vital points on reasonable and logical grounds. lie reminds me of a ping-pong hall enjoying its freedom anywhero and everywhere at once. Now a frantic hop, then a slide, next a dribble, but you pin him at last. ‘ I do not keep a stock of authorities, says Mr East. This is entirely evident from his style of debate. 110 fights shy of authorities, they worry him. In the end of his letter of the 80th Octoborho plaintively says, 11 Please Mr Crawford now that you are a prohibitionist (a frantic ® nt * t groundless assumption on his part) don t quote these people (Ilowntroo and bherwoll) any more.” But on tho other hand such is his inconsistence that ho quotes Nuttall as an “ authority " to provo that because John Ruskin's father was a wine merchant the fact of tho Temperunco Hall being named after him destroys tho prestige of tho Great Temperance Societies using that hall, and their adopting Messrs Kowntreo and Shenvoll’s standard work justifies Mr East's condemnation of it. Again, in his letter of tho sth, he brings “ ambushes,” “ longtoms, "shot and shell” to bear on mo under tho false assumption that I had not answered 8 points of his raising, which I have since proved to liavo been answered effectively. After this warliko demonstration of Mr East one enn hardly credit his blandly and sweetly sitting down to write, I am afraid that Mr Crawford is getting excited and lightuble, and savours of tho highway man when ho commands mo to throw up my hands. That sort, continues Mr East, may suit the trado ho represents, but I decidedly prohibit it.” As a further illustration of Mr East’s peculiar stylo of debate, he winds up his letter of sth inst. thus : “ I will promise you that I entertain a further hope of making Mr Crawford take to his heels and lice from tho State of Maine in my next.” When l read ins next, which was this morning s, I was greatly relieved indeed, because for two whole days I have been obliged to wear tho frock coat, silk hat, aud correct tie I brought from London, so as to prosent a decent appearanco on my sudden flight. Can I resume my working clothes, Mr East, or do you still hold out tho threat ? Another illustration of Mr East’s style is when ho draws comparison between drunkenness and typhoid. Mr East advocates that tho treatment of drunkenness should bo no less severe limn typhoid. 1 granted him Unit both should bo regulated and controlled in overy possible and rational manner. As tho drastic, measures of closing affected houses, destroying tanks, wells, and cows that breed typhoid liavo never advocated, I claim that tho advocacy of the drastic mcasuro of closing hotels is not justified by bis illustration. To malto tho inconsistency more glaring still, Mr East admits control and regulation in typhoid,and calls control and regulation “ wild wandering " when applied to hotels. After pointing this out to Mr East twice, this is his rejoindor (picture note carefully that Mr East is waiting for a “ miracle "): "Mr Crawford must bo smothered with microbes on tho typhoid question ; ho cannot see when ho has ■.fallen in.’ I must lcavo him there, however, as nothing short of a miracle can open the eyes of tho blind.” I am not quite decided about miracles, Mr East j but shall have to believe in them if ! can get a straight, logical, or reasonable argument out of you before wo finish. To bring this discussion down to practical bounds, I make the following and ask Mr East to reply to each )U sequence : —■

1. Prohibition does not effectually prohibit.

2. Closing liotels under local veto produces worse evils than exist under present conditions.

3. Prohibition is a partial failure at Balclutlia. 4. Prohibition has failed in America. 0. Prohibition demoralises tho people. 0. No licenso vote eurriod increases rates and decreases property valuoa aud wanes. fain, etc., ?. O KAWF °n». Gisborne, November tftli,