THIS INHUMAN MONSTER.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 246, 18 December 1915, Page 10

THIS INHUMAN MONSTER.

DEMOCRACY FLOUTED. The following is from the “Dioces .in Magazine” of \ ictoria. “Fifteen months of war have cast a searchlight upon conditions of social life and ievealed to the eyes of many, things to which they were hitherto deliberately or unconsciously blind. Among the evils of sen ial l.fe perhaps none has been made to stand forth in its naked ugliness more clearly than that which arises from alcoholism. The menace to body and soul from this evil is now understood b> many who before would not be convinced. Its anti national and anti-social character is made manifest. There is strong tide of fierce indignation rising against this traffic, and tens c thousands will never forget the sut fering and degradation it has brought upon us in our days of peril. If onl> the will of the people could have its way it would tear from its tyrant throne the loul leering despot that mocks our griefs and enfeebles our patriotism. Hut this inhuman n. ster, smeared with the blood and tears of women and children, with throne reared upon the ruins of once happy homes, has its purchased minions who bludgeon or beguile victims to prop up its tottering kingdom, that.it may still enjoy its banquets of human flesh and blood. Enemy of the Human Race. “Every principle oi science, reason, prudence and humanity condemns tfi enemy of the human race to execution and extinction; but how shall science, reason, prudence, and humanity avail against swollen profits, vested interests, political pull, and the swaggering pride of many motor-cars upon elec non da\ s ? Sometimes we may almost despair of it all, and feel inclined to admit that Governments that cringe and < rawl before the lash of the beer and whisky magnates, and peoples who acquiesce in the same deserve the judgment of God and that judgment cannot be long delayed. “We not only allow our own people to be devoured by this insatiable monster, but where the line of Empire marks its advance amongst the chi. races of the world we carry the cruel curse with us and bring upon them incredible misery and degradation. In vain do our noble, gallant big hearted frontier-makers warn us that we are murdering whole races, and that

upon the appearance of the whisky bottle consumpt.on, infantile p.truly sis, imbecility sweep away millions o. lives. The indignant voices of tn.se gre.it sons of Empire must not b. lowed weight in the Councils of Empire. Distillers muse be prov.dec! with new markets for their wares, ; , what matter that a million lives i lo: t if in exchange a new millionaire be added to the titled nobility of England and the House of Lords be graced by the presence of another . uccessful man of commerce. ‘Yet for all these things shall the judgment of (iod come upon you.’ A Slur on Democracy. “Or let us turn to the Honorable House of the Legislature of New Souih Wales. Have they not been elected for the good government of the people? Do not their hearts grieve over social evils? Surely they are the Lo. and valiant leaders of an enlightened and progressive democracy. Is not the Labour Party committed so far to the principle of democracy that it be lieves in the Initiative and Referendum? They would never dream o. thwarting the will of the people at the bidding of the enemy of the people! Oh, no! Oil, No! Yet though the evil has been manifested for twelve months and every free and open conscience has condemned it we see this Government and Party, so responsive (?) to the popular will, inventing every delay to avoid dealing with this question. There is ample time for all kinds of ‘silly season* twaddle, but no time for that which may arouse the ire of tin* ‘Trade.* “And now the public is to be further insulted. When in spite of all their intrigues a majority of the House did declare in favour of nine o’clock closing, a fresh intrigue is begun, strange things happen behind the scenes, the Caucus is engineered, and this marvellous mountain of our Parliament after twelve months of lit our is to bring forth the mouse of a Ten O’Clock Closing Bill! The Trade’ has cracked its whip. The Caucus has cracked its whip. Now mu>t the time come for the* public to take a hand in whip-cracking. Chicanery and intrigue may win the victory of a day; but as sure as day follows night the reckoning will come and the forces of light, truth and sanity will overcome the powers of evil — even if the Labour Cauc us d ‘bases itself to join into alliance with them.’’