TEMPERANCE V. PROHIBITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1618, 4 December 1905, Page 2

TEMPERANCE V. PROHIBITION.

A BEEEZY DEBATE,

In the Federal Hall, Auckland, Dr Frederic Bell addressed a large meeting on the question of “ Temperance versus Prohibition.” Dr Bell said he had been in. every so-called prohibition State in America, and was an uncompromising foe to prohibition, which did not prohibit even in the State of Maine, the strong-hold of No-License. No one would rejoice more than ho would if they-could make drunkards sober by legislation, but in his opinion there was only one cure for drunkenness, and that was by the education of our children, and in no other way would the evil be remedied. Some interjections from Mr W. Bichardson .ended in Dr Bell inviting him onto the platform to reply, an invitation which Mr Bichardson accepted, and proceeded to criticise m detail the remarks of the previous speaker, in the face of more or less continuous interruption, which, however, subsided after the ejection of one of the most unruk. members of the audience. Dr Bell proceeded to quote passages from the words of various eminent men in support of his contention of the evils of prohibition. An extract from what were said to be the words of Abraham Lincoln was read by Dr Bell as follows:

Prohibition will work great injury to the cause ,of temperance. It is a species of intemperance within itself, for it goes beyond the hounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation, and in making crimes out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles on which our Government was founded. I have always been found laboring to protect tho weaker classes from the stronger, and I never can give, my consent to such a law as you propose to enact. Until my tongue shall be silenced in death I will continue to fight for the rights of men. Pastor Davis, of the Hew Zealand Alliance, at once challenged this quotation, rising to speak amidst a mixture of applause, hoots, and cries of

“Sit down, Davis.” He contended that there was no evidence to show that Lincoln oyer used such words, and he read what he stated was the correct version. Hr Bell at once offered to give £SO to any local charity if he j could not prove his extract to be historically true, on condition that Pastor DaVis ; would do the same, but the ' challenge was notjaccepted. Both Mr Richardson and Hr Bell continued the debate for some time, in support of their various contentions. At the con- > elusion of the meeting Hr Bell agreed to go to Pastor Havis’ office, where Mr Bavis would give proof of his assertion with regard to the quotation from the words of the American President.— Star.