JUDGE KENNY ON GOOD TEMPLARISM.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1218, 9 October 1874, Page 4

JUDGE KENNY ON GOOD TEMPLARISM.

At a Good Templars' soiree held at New Plymouth the other day, Judge Kenny presided, and spoko as follows:

Many sound arguments could be adduced in favor of the Order, the introduction of which into that Province, twelve months since, they had that evening met together to celebrate. Indeed, the topics were so numerous that it was not easy to be brief, and some of them so true that it was not easy to be interesting-. Many a man in that room felt better in pocket, in health, and reputation—spiritually and physically in every sense more of a man than he did that time last year. And many a wife, and mother, and sisrer, must be theTe too who knew that, as regards one fertile source of human suffering', the days of her mourning were accomplished. Along with the many great and sterling virtues which adorn the English-speaking race, ihere stood one hideous vice—the vice of drunkenness. It did not matter what rate of wages was obtained by workmen, or what was done in order to benefit the people, if they still persisted in taking- alcoholic liquors. The great weakness of the English people—and in the term English he would iiiivu it,understood that lie included the Irish and Scotch—was the proneness to indulge in intoxicating liquors, but he did not think that the evil could be eradicated by legislative interference. He agreed in going as far us the Permissivo Bill, passed last session went, but no further. Public-houses existed for the convenience of the public, and not of the proprietors, and

if they were not wanted in a particular locality they ought to be shut up. But he did not think that legislation, having for its object the absolute prohibition of the sale ol intoxicating liquors was either wise or fair. Not wise, because it was an unwarrantable interference with the liberty of individuals, as Mr Stuart Mill demonstrated. He mentioned this because it was the sentiment ot a large number of Good Templars'. They did not wish to force people by legislation to become abstainers, but to convince them individually, by fair, straightforward arguments, of their folly. It was custom that had made these drinking habits so prevalent, and to custom, or he would rather say fashion, he would prefer to look for their gradual abolition.