1918.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 271, 18 January 1918, Page 1

1918.

The old year’s loiir campaign is o er. Behold, a new begun ! i«)i7 has come and gone, and its successor is with us. Often in life it is a fatal thing to look back. Occasionally, however, it is foolish not to do so. As a business man stops to take stock in order that he may go forward more securely, so is it wel* for moral reformers at times to review the ground passed over. Whaf more seasonable time for doing this than when close to the border line of the Old and New Years? If we have made mistakes in strategy or practice, in plan or fulfilment, now is the time to learn wisdom by the things that we have suffered. If our efforts have met with success, it will hearten us for the coming fray to study the path that led to conquest. In connection with our great Cause there have been few pitched butt'es during the yeai. For the most part, the time has been spent in sharpening the sword and in making ready foi future decisive conflict. In one instance, however, there has been more than “an affair of outposts,” viz., the battle for 6 o’clock closing of hotel bars. “We fought and we won,” and for this victory we thank first of all the Lord of Hosts, and then our loyal comrades throughout the Dominion. As we have only seen the fruits of victory during one whole month, it is too early to say much as to results. But our own observation of the working of this Reform during the most festive season of the year has told us that for the sale of liquor to be restricted to nine hours out of th. twenty-four . certainly tends to

sobriety. Nor is our observation unsupported by other evidence. Police Court returns and police reports all tell the same story —that the shortening of hours means diminished drinking. The “confessions,” also, of those in the Trade .is to decreases in takings say that we have not been wrong in our expectations beforehand, nor in our after estimate. Who can say what the final outcome of this measure of reform will be? This we are bold to affirm that friends of Prohibition will have both their convictions and arguments strengthened, and it is not outside the bounds of possibility that many “moderates” will learn that if a little prohibition prohibits a little, then total prohibition will prohibit more than a little. The Dunedin ‘ evening Star” of to-day (January <>th) tells how an avowed New Zealand “mode rate,” living at the present time in Canada, is loud in h’.s praises of the* working of the prohibitory law in a large* portion of that great Dominion. May like conversion come to all our “neutral” friends! Having learned that even a New Zealand (»overnment will listen when the peop'e of New Zealand in sufficient numbers and with sufficient earnestness say what they want and must have, let us take* fresh courage and say that whilst the drink foe remains ir. our country, \ye never will lay down our arms, Never! NEVER! NEVER! In saying this, let us remind ourselves again that 3ur Union is a “Christian” as well as a “Temperance” Union. Because of this fact, “our weapons are not carnal, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.” Therefore let us sing

Strong to meet the foe*, marching on we go, While our cause we know must prevail ; Shield and banner bright gleaming in the light. Battling for the right, we ne’er can fail! Rouse then, soldiers, rally round the banner! Ready, steady, pass the word along. Onward! Forward! Shout aloud Hosanna! Christ is Captain of the mighty throng!