Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 286, 22 November 1902, Page 3

[advertisement.] CIRCULAR LETTER.^ TO THE ROMAN CATHOLICS of ASHBURTON COUNTY. Ladies and Gentlemen , WE are on the eve of a General Election. A Local Option Poll will be taken at the same time. I think it my duty to call your attention to the latter. A strong agitation is being promoted to secure the requisite majority in favour of the closing of all or of some of the licensed houses, on the score that such a course would conduce to a higher moral tone, and would generally improve the condition of the people. Now many grave men • ... „.__rui„# :*;—„ A/. nn tViet we have anghing to do with their universal remedy for evil —Prohibition. If Prohibition* be considered a good thing, adopt ft by all means, but pay the man whofte livelihood you destroy fair compensation. The present movement scorns the idea of compensation. For that reason, in my opinion, no just-minded man can vote for it, and I sincerely hope no Catholic of this electorate will, by voting for Prohibition, give our traditional enemies ground for repeating the traditional sneering lie that with us " the end justifies the means." In other words, I hope no Catholic will vote Prohibition without compensation ; that no Catholic will vote for the ruin of his neighbour, the publican, in order to bring about the doubtful advantages they tell us Prohibition will bring. We should ever bear in mind tint our friands the Prohibitionists, if successful in their designs, will prevent us from celebrating Holy Maes, by depriving us of the opportunity to procure the necessary wine. That the foregoing ia not my opinion merely, you can see from the accompanying letter of His Lordship Bishop Grimes.—l am, Yours faithfully, J. J. O'DONNELL.

My Dear Father O'Donneli.,—l cordially approve of your decision to give your devoted flock timely advice as to their duty in the forthcoming election. The bitter experience of the past, the recollection of the blind bigotry recently displayed by not a few fanatical members, whose entrance into the House was materially helped by many of our people, pro to a demonstration the worth of the expressions of goodwill so lavishly uttered by candidates for Parliamentary, honours on the eve of the election.

Following the dictates of-their consciences, I trust your flock, in union with all our Diocesans, will ever be mindful of their duty to God, to themselves, and to our dear children, in the all important work of religious education. As to the other question of which you spoke to me during my recent visitation of ycfur district, I need only repeat what I have always held and ever affirmed •

(1) That to brand with the stigma of drunkenness the youth of New Zaaland were a gross libel on the generality of youth, and a grievous wrong to our fair colony. (2) That no mere act of Parliament will ever succeed in making a nation sober.

(3) That Prohibition, despite its inquistorial and statutory penalties, can never effectually prohibit. (4( That it were sheer folly to xhink that the intemperate language and violent methods of faddi3ts or political agitators caa bring about any real or lasting reform unless the moral aspect thereof be based upon a thoroughly religious principle—a principle well kuown to, and relied upon by our clergy and people.

Finally—No matter how plausibla the plea, never ia it allowable to attempt the redressing of one wrong by the infliction of aaother no less grave. Wishing you and yours every bless'i remain, Yours faithfully in Christ' J. J. GRIMES, S.M, Bishop of Cbristohureh,