Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] MONDAY, MAY 22, 1893.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4425, 22 May 1893, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1878.] MONDAY, MAY 22, 1893.

The Rev. L, M. Isitt comes to M«sterton at the end ot this week. Apart from his mission he will be cordially welcomed by many who are not quite in touch with his advanced views, He is a manly straightforward social reformer, and is entitled to (he respect of even those who differ in opinion from him. Of course, by prohibitionists he will be enthusiastically welcomed, but there are men in the community, who though they desire to Bee tho community temperate, regard 1 "prohibition" as a somewhat ugly tyrannical word. Of course, it may be contended that only the liquor' traffic is prohibited, but virtually it means one neighbour prohibiting another, and this to many is a difficulty. Is prohibition tho only cure for intemperance? We think not, but as a rough and ready remedy it is probably the most effective. We ourselveß, without any personal sacrifice, could give up all intoxicating beverages, but are we to • y " Compound for tins we are lnollned to," " By damning those we haveno mind to," Should we undertake to prohibit our friends and neighbours who believe

that a moderate use of stimulants is iROod for them? The people, if they like, can sweep the liquor trnffio sway, for what cannot the people do nowadays, and if they should determine to do so we will trust that the expectations of prohibitionists will be realised. But whether this is a' right thing, to do is quite another thing, and whether it will eyen remedy the evil we would lite to see swept away, ia an open question, There are men in the community who drink the food, clothing, and even the bedding of their wives and children, and ibey may continue to do thia with a drastio local option law in full swing, Buoh men require to be dealt with, they are criminals ngainst society and should be amenable to legal punishment and restraint. If we thought prohibition would restrain such men we should regard it in a much more favourable light, but we fail to see how it will do so. It might just as well be argued that theft could be put down by putting everything likely to be stolen beyond the reaoh of ptrsoiiß disposed to be dishonest, instead of making the offenco penal. There are social questions which require fating and in tbe iuterests of women and children whose homes are wrecked and whose livea aro blighted we a«e glad to seeanyone trying to bring about a better state of things. Tbe working men are masters of political power now and it is for them to say whether they will bring about the revolution in the liquor traffic that the Hev Mr Isitt advocates, Even if prohibition does not carry the day the efforts of sooial reformers will bear some good fruit, In this town there are signs of progress, the temperance advocates having educated puplio opinion to tomand a more stringent regulation of the liquor traffic and to put down abuses in connection with it.