PROHIBITION FRUITS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2159, 15 August 1907, Page 1

PROHIBITION FRUITS.

[To tiie Editor.]

Sir: In- your leader this morm ig you refer to the member For Ashburton, and, from certain given premises, you draw oertain inevitable conclusions. It is well,, however, f o mark and inwardly digest this important fact: That the honorable member for Ashburton is. a .staunch prohibitionist. To this bo lias owed his election and retention as the elect of his district, and against him no candidate, however able and gifted, would have bad a ghost oi a chance if he were* loss thorough on this one plank.

Prohibition leaders, who arc mostly clerical gentlemen, tell us that they aro actuated by only one motive tho up-lifting of the masses —but a moment's reflection will show that it' is themselves that they seek to uplift, and I fail to see that they arc very particular as to tho machinery they employ. A few evenings ago a respected townsman in Gisborne was subjected to a, most unwarrantable and unchristian attack. The head and front of his offending was that he had exercised the undoubted right, of eve v Britisher to respectfully criticise the public utterances of a lecturer on a matter of public importance. For this offence Dr. Col tins was liken ad to a dog. For the course adopis l the lecturer was not altogether to blamo; she was employed by the prohibitionists, and, perforce had to use their weapons.

He that runs may read. Cleric il ascendancy is at the very root of r he movement, and it will bo well f:r every colonist to consider carefui’y before lie resigns the l ights and priviiges lie to-day enjoys, even thou ;h ho hands them into the hands of :be ordained minister. . 1 The history of the world has no exception to this rule:—That clerical ascendancy has led to the degradation of religion and the oppression of the people.—l am, et'o., A CHRISTIAN.