The Lesson of History

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2500, 31 October 1922, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Lesson of History

By P. E. H. (Wellington)

Wily did the Commons of England compel King John to sign Magna Charta? Why did the Commons of England rise against the Stuarts? Why did the Chartists endeavour to bring about Parliamentary reform? Why did the American Colonists revolt against the Mother Country ? Why did this Dominion offer upon the Alter of Mars her finest sons during the Great War? * Why ? Because in each and every way Liberty was at stake. Curtailment of Liberty. The very word Prohibition suggests a curtailment of liberty, and the sane population of tbis Dominion will oppose, by every possible means, any attempt to rob the individual of his right of free action. Prohibit? It is the catchword of the Puritan who exists to-day, with his eyes still turned inward, his view still narrow, his disposition still pharisaic, as he existed centuries ago. He still walks this earth a marplot and a spoil-sport, and endeavours to enforce his views upon all and sundry. Why do X oppose Prohibition ? Because I am a believer in consistency. “Liquor is abused,” says the Puritan, “therefor© we shall prohibit .its use.” To follow this line of reasoning to its logical conclusion, means the prohibd--tion of card playing because some people gamble excessively, of football because eoliio few players come to harm by accident, of railways because of an ocoasional collision, of food because some people are gluttons, of jewellery because its possession of one often leads to crime on the part of another, of speech because some people are scan-dal-mongers, of ladies’ clothing because some ladies dresa immodestly. Ye Gods, let us draw the curtain! There is not a thing in life that is not abused by someone or other. The Wowser’s “Grouch.” Now, there is one point that must cause every person of thoughtful habits to pause and think, and it is this ■—The wowser, and it is the wowser who is at the -bottom of this “Prohibition” movement, is a man with a grievance, and if we allow him to do away with his present “grouch” by permitting him to rob us of our liberty in the matter of the use of alcohol, we shall leave him looking like Alexander, for fresh worlds to conquer. He must have a grievance or he is not happy, and just as surely as he is allowed to destroy his present toy, he’ll find another. Be sure ho will find it in wbat ho will be pleased to call “another National sin.” Smoking will probably bo the next item on his Black-list, and we shall find ourselves prohibited the use of the “fragrant weed.” Successful in abolishing Alcohol and Tobacco, w© shall find him digging up the Hatchet and launching a errmgaiign against dancing, wirichke already regards with very unfavourable eyes. Next we shall find him closing our theatres, and so, one by one our pleasures will vanish before the onslaught of the “Prohibitor.” Prohibition. No thank you. I prefer the liberty for which my ancestors fought and died. New Zealand electors will do well to pause and oonsider very seriously before they allow themselves to be bluffed by tho Puritan into allowing him to clasp upon them the shackles which he is now busy forging for use at the end of this year.