CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 262, 11 December 1909, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR. MAUNDER'S EXACTITUDE. To the Editor. Sir,—ln his letter ol this morning Mr. G. H. Maunder, when confrinted by the fact that he had made a gross' misstateinent on an important matter with a ■view to mislead your readers and tho public as to Commonwealth legislation, in trying to exonerate himself when thus convicted, says that he does his "best to keep up to date in these matters and to be exact in my statements/' This is so far satisfactory as showing an honesty of purpose in your correspondent, a tone of mind that one always wishes to respect; but what an example he presents of the demoralising tendency of the advocacy of prohibition and its effects in lowering the mentality as well as the manliness of its advocates'. He tries to make us believe that the cablegram in reference to the action of the Commonwealth Senate came through "on the same date" as his letter to you, ■which is also incorrect. But it is an invidious task, not to my liking, to endeavor to prove a fellow-townsman and reputable citizen a fabricator of falsehood, and we can well afford to believe that Mr. Maunder was unaware of the facts in this case, and merely did what all his' party continually do—made an assertion which suited his purpose, and found it afterwards to be untrue. Nevertheless, it is well to remark, but that it was contradicted at once, this would probably have passed into the general stock-in-trade of the prohibitionist party to be used, as countless other untruths are, "to point a moral or adorn a tale." But, like all his' congeners, your correspondent is incorrigible. He has no sooner shook himself free of this statement than he at once proceeds to perpetrate a worse one—also, let us hope, for lack of knowing, better. Apparently with the view of drawing off attention from his former mistake, he tells us what the Whisky Commission at Home says about the tonicity of whiskies of various ages, and then without a blush "he adds: "Tonicity means poisoning qualities." One fancies the look on the face of any medical man on reading this, or of any one of the many people to whom they prescribe tonics. This is on all fours with the favorite untruth current among prohibition writers and speakers that alcohol is a poison—an untruth the belief in which is almost absolutely necessary in their propaganda. So far from "tonicity" alluding to "poisonous qualities," as Mr. Maunder asserts, it refers to an exactly opposite property in whisky, which is so valuable when taken m reason and moderation. Dr. Ogilvie's "Students' Dictionary" gives the following definitions': "Tonic—A medicine that gives tone to the system; anything that increases the action of the stomach and gives vi; nr to the muscles." "Tonicity (tonic and ity) —The state of -being in tone, as bodily organs, the elasticity of living parts, as muscles." This seems to explode this last "up-to-date" prohibition dogma without further words from me. Now, Sir, one cannot but regret having to write thus—at least, that is my feeling. But when we are all to be dragooned into doing what a certain narrow-mind-ed set chose to dictate; when we see one class of tradesmen threatened with ruin; and when, over and beyond all, we see many denominations of Christian churches dragged, bound hand and foot, at the chariot wheels of the misnamed Temperance Alliance, it appears' to me that no one with a sense of duty, who sees clearly where all this is leading us, can do other than lift his voice in protest. To me it is mainly the injury being inflicted on true religion and the false character which is being given to that religion whose methods, treatment, and precepts are the exact opposites of most of those of the prohibitionists', that induces me to bestir myself when quiet would be so much more pleasant. Watching the growth of this doctrine for the better part of two generations, I am more and more struck with its lowering and debasing effects on its promoters. They seem to lose all the liner and manlier qualities wiiich are currently associated with "manliness." How large a portion of their arguments are as fictitious as those referred to above. How often, when we look for men, we discover the sneak and the spy. How have vituperation and slander been too frequently reduced to a line art, and those actions which amongst people of ordinarily well - balanced minds are deemed shameful, practised not only without blushing, but with pride anil satisfaction. It is not too mucli'to say that the various organisations which are so active in promoting prohibition, tho members of which are placed under oaths to accomplish their purpose, are to a very considerable extent changing the character of our people for the worse. Can any cause be good or worthy of public support that is thus largely based on the breach of the main principles of our faith? Seeing what we have this week, with the fact that our religious' bodies are to a very considerable extent become mere tools of the Alliance, I am strongly of opinion that the time has come when, if we desire to retain our liberties, moderate peopb of all sects and parties should organise for that purpose. With universal suffrage it is not so much a question of which side is right or wrong; the ballotbox will give its verdict to the party which has the best organisation and fills the largest place in the public eye. Let us meet organisation by organisation. This is not so much a question for "tlie trade" as "the public.''—l am, etc., B. ENROTH.

[Jn justice to Mr. Maunder, we must state that at the time the letter was written the Commonwealth canteen amendment had not .been curried. The letter was not published immediately it was sent in. We would like cohesiondents to study brevity, otherwise we cannot guarantee insertion of their communications.—ld.]