INSOBRIETY.

Hastings Standard, Issue 102, 24 August 1896, Page 2

INSOBRIETY.

1 (To the Editor.) Sie, —There is no manner of doubt that the drink question is taking a very prominent position, and it certainly is a sign of the intelligence of the age. We have seen lately two not uncommon cases here, one where the father of a family of poor children is a skilled workman, who could maintain them and himself in comfort and respectability if he chose to work steadily, and when he does not choose to work steadily he will find money somehow or other to keep himself generally drunk, leaving his wife and children to starve, or at the mercy of some charitable institution. Dr Farrar says the man who does not know how to use freedom has no right to it, and that when a man has become a confirmed drunkard, a cruel father, and a vicious husband, after a certain length of time of such accursed heartlessness and cruelty and selfishness, that man's liberty in that direction should be forfeited. It certainly would be a direct benefit to himself and to his wife and family, and also to the community where he is located. Charitable people are placed in a cruel dilemma by such cases, for if you do anything for the hungry children you are just encouraging their drunken sot of a father to go on his evil ways. On the other hand, you cannot see them perish; and, indeed, there are some poor creatures for whom we cannot but sympathise, who have acquired an invincible habit of drunkenness. They cannot retrieve themselves and reform. In their sober moments they speak as reasonably as mortals can of the insanity which possesses them. They tell you truly they cannot help themselves, the very sight of an hotel, or " even the smell of one, is such an overwhelming temptation. Now, Sir, I think such wretched drunkards as I have mentioned would, when in their right mind, be thankful to put themselves under some irresistible power, for some iron hand that would come and save them from themselves. Surely the day is not far distant when the law will step in and save them.—l am. &e., T.S.H.L. Hastings, August 24, 1896.