TEMPERANCE NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3783, 11 April 1891, Page 3

TEMPERANCE NOTES.

The Libert* of the Subject.

The Supreme Court of the United States, delivering on this point, says : «it is urged that as the liquorsare used as a beverage, and the injury following them, if taken in excess, iB voluntarily inflicted and is confined to the party offending, their sale should be without restrictions, the contention being that what a man shall drink, equally with what he '• shall eat, is not properly a matter , for legislation. There is in this , position an. assumption of fact which , does not exist, that when the liquors j are taken in excess the injuries are i confined to the party offending. The J injury, it is true, falls first upon him ifl his health, which the habit under- ( TOnes; in bis morals, which it weakens; and in self-abasement, which it creates. But as it leads to neglect of business and waste _ of property and general demoralisation, : it affects those who are immediately : connected with and dependent upon him. By the general occurrence of , opinion of every civilised and Christian community, there are few soiircesof crime and misery to , society equal to the dram shop, where intoxicating liquors, in small . quantities, to be drunk at the time, t are sold indiscriminately to all ( applying,"—(From the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, 10th November 1890.) A EOYAL PROHIBITIONIST. The Kingdom of the Bamangawato in South Africa is ruled by a chief who is remarkably enlightened and wise. His name isKhama. When quite young he embraced Christianity, and religion with him was no haltway work. He worked earnestly and perseveringly. for the good of his countrymen. He used to say to Bev. John McKenzie of the London Mis' IWnary Society : "If I ever become king of the Bamangawato one thing J will do, and that is prohibit the sale of ardent spirits." On his accession to the throne he fulfilled to the letter his promise. Some European traders ventured to smuggle in a few casks of rum and cases of brandy. Immediately they were summoned to appear at the King's headquarters. Khama reminded them in a dignified and impressive manner of the ruin which would come upon his nation if he permitted the sale of ardent spirits, and then observed: "You have insulted and despised me because lam a black man. You do gojbecause you despise black men in your hearts. "Well, lam black, but lam chief at present. When you white men rale the country you will do as you like, but I govern now and shall maintain my laws." "But,"said one of the traders, "may we not keep a few cases of brandy for our own private use. "No " said the chief, " take it all away at once." The above took place about 20 years ago, and let it be recorded to the honor of this African potentate that the sale of intoxicating drinks has been kept out of that country ever since. Here we have a case in which "prohibition prohibits." He forbade the manufacture of native beer from Indian corn, saying to his people, «You take the corn that God has given us in answer ip prayer, and destroy it that you make stuff that causes mischief among you." When asked if ha was willing that his countiydHH come under the and thus be secured from the attacks of the savage Matabele, bis reply is ths worthy of note, "On one condition, that the sale of ruin be prohibited. I dread the white man's drink more than all the assegais of the Matabele. Those kill the body, and is quickly over, but drink puts devils into men and flestroys their bodies and souls for ever. ".Its wounds never heal. I pray your Honor, never ask me to open even a little door to drink." "Noble, Christian Khama! May ten live long to bless your people, and through them other African tribes." ........