DOES LOCAL OPTION BENEFIT A NATION?

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43067, 12 March 1907, Page 1

DOES LOCAL OPTION BENEFIT A NATION?

■ " r THE QUESTION ABSOLUTELY SETTLED / IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. .. : '’ , : , ; One immense difference be-, tween the American . and the British temperaments is. forcing *■ itself irresistibly on my attention during my present visit to the r United States. The American may allow gigantic abuses to develop is society, but he, after a time, begins to display restless impatience is view of their . growth, The average Briton, on the other hand, is astound- . f ingly phlegmatic in his feelings with regard to the most appaling curses. In Europe it is cheaply assumed that Cousin Jonathan in whose territories the various 7 Continental communities have duraped millions of its worst as well as other millions of their best elements, is apathetically contented with the corruption, that has resulted. No great error ; of opinion could be committed. This greater Republic is to-day seething with indignation over the sociological, municipal, .and political position,... The papers sound reverberating . alarms.; | The churches voice constant protests. And, above all, the set determination of the mass. of genuine Americans is to initiate every needed reform.' I ; will show by references, to certain features of the great alcohol controversy how chivalrous is the attitude of the real leaders of the nation, and how it com trasts with the supine demeanour; '/. of the general community in the ; Old Country. In America, when any evil reaches a certain pitch, it is furioufcly attacked and, soon there is an end" to it. i j WHAT A. COMPETENT AMERICAN' • ~ • ' . AUTHORITY SATS. " *; " ' \‘V. I have been profoundly lmpressed by my study of the J newest and best review of the whole situation from the pen of an American expert. In the ; June “Watson’s Nagazrae,’' : an , N influential New York monthly, Mr David Gates deliberately and dispasionately discusses the effect of the various laws oper- ; ations in the.whole of theU.S.A. /"£ for the regulation of .the drink manufacture and traffic. He /; is master of the whole subject, and be impartially displays both %y| eucouragements and discouragements. The net result of his >;£ essay is the most triumphant vindication of Local Option that | I have yet seefc.' And he more convincing because he does > not argue. He simply parades ||| facts, adducing proofs and verify- | ing his references,; There is no ' escape from the conclusion that " | American Local Option is-' V: of the most magnificent samples f; of success, that ever in all history* 4 crowned human endeavour* I will seek oompactly to give . | the kind, readers of this .page a j summary of the chief statements v l of this reliable expert. - - It may be rembered about three years ago I called - attention to the marvellous pro- i gressof the principle and practice of actual Prohibition in tin;. .. Southern States, this ■ ext a.ordinary progress being a pari; and parcel of .the great of that glorious section of the great Republic ruined as it had ; ;; .been for many years after the Civil War. But I have been J asked by intelligent and inquir~<k ing people in England whether J the white people down South, 1 really favoured this advanced 1 Temperance movement,. whether it was chiefly the ig- ' J noranL negroes -of >.the Black -1 Belt who liad fanatical advocates to'fall in o d line on |Prohibition,,k£et.\Mr.;; £ 3 Gates reply to me. & - -. -Vi -iiffllill