THE DRINK QUESTION

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2589, 14 February 1889, Page 2

THE DRINK QUESTION

TO THE HDITOR. Silt, —The above question seems to have engaged the attention of the members of the local lodge of I.O.G.'L'.'s in a somewhat peculiar manner. When the first letter »f "Geneial Gordon's " appeared it created such consternation in the camp of the dipsomaniacs, as the defunct general faceLiously styles them, that we very naturally concluded it to be a bomb sent expressly by that indefatigable ami warlike hero for the lovers of good liquor to surrender at discretion and without co ndition, on pain of being branded as lunatics. His letter commenced by making a most pathetic appeal to put a stop to supplying drink to some well-known citizens whom he somewhat forcibly styles Bacchanalians. He next resorts to the ludicrous, and from the ludicrous to the sentimental, and wovld have prohibition orders taken out against, every tippler and tine anyone, either publican or other sinner, for each time they supplied them with intoxicating drinks. Yet lam told in the most barefaced manner, both by "General Gordon'' and his amanuensis the cobbler, that no attack was made either against publicans or moderate drinkers. I conceive such assertions to be a most wretched evasion, On looking into this morning's issue I was completely astonished and surprised, as well as disgusted, to find that he whom we have mistook as the celebrated hero of China and Egypt was nothing more or less than a cobbler, a brother craftsman of mine. What a rude awakening to find your hero tall down from his high pedestal to that of a cobbler's stall ! Oh ! you degenerate son of S. Crispin, why didn't you stick to your last in place of trying to oust your shopmate from the cacoethes seribendi, for that at least is my legitimate right. As our brave General is once more defunct, and no possibility of lining resuscitated, I can only say [peace to his memory. Ho was a good man but a • lighty strong water doctor. N.S.U.C. bids mo trot out an excessive drinker, but not being spy, informer, nor policeman, I decline to perform the work of your correspondent. My esteemed and worthy shop mate accuses me of begging the question, thereby committing a fallacy in logic. So far from begging the question I liTive left it open for your correspondent, as " General Gordon's " amanuensis to take it up on whatever basis he chooses. I am very much afraid, however, in placing the matter thus before your literary cobbler, I am simply putting it coram non judiee. The appearance ofNe Sutor Ulltra Crepidam's letter in this mornings paper heralded the arrival of of Salvation Army officers in order to findout for themselves the state of society in Cambridge, or else to test the quality of the liquor. It's to be hoped their report was favourable as the sale of their War Crys did not give one the impression that Cambridge was such a Bacchanalian township as your two correspondents would have us believe. I trust for the future that when attacks such as those which have been levelled at our heads by your two correspondents are made that they will discriminate between lovers of good liquor and those who knows nothing about it like G. G. and the cobbler that 111 this instance has forgot " to stick to his last.'

'—I Siquamkn Optimum. Cambridge, February 12tli, ISSB,