CORRESPONDENCE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8738, 9 March 1894, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

»i — -j TEMPERANCE v PROHIBITION. V TO TUB EDITOR OF THE -RBSS. I Sir, —In replying to the very courteous letter of Measis Isitt, Smith and Taylor, I desire that they and the publio should bear in mind that I did not thrust myself into this affray, but wrote by request to ft (WW ventioo called for the purposo of elicUinjjA various shades of opinion ou this imporUttlrv * Question. My humble opinion in few word*.' very frankly expressed, and I have set " yob seen cause to change ib in any one particular. But lot us see that we under* stand what I did write. I said that in my. judgment "prohibition is meauwnilo an impracticability." The " meanwhile " yojir correspondents have chosen to omit. , My contention is that at the present time public opinion in Now Zealand is not ripe for prohibition, even if the policy involved therein should turn out to bo desirable. To enact a prohibition law, contrary to the wishes and convictions of a. large minority, would be a step jr» the direction of revolution ratHer than of reformation. Aud revolutions are nob timj9 desirable. Even when unavoidable they *» often productive of consequences much to be regretted. If at some future time prohibition should come within tho range oj ,\ possible reform, and should yield one naif ( the precious fruits Mr Isitfcaud hiiiwnin expect from it, no one will rejoice than I shall. I have further said that thus enforced prohibition would probably lead tomuftb mischief. I bad in view the fears oherfob&a by many thoughtful men that tbe entire and immediate suppression of the liquor traffic would lead to very objectionable evasions of the law, in the secret sale of drink or in the opening of places for that purpose not subject to any kind of inspection. Evidence on this subject—espe-tony the* froncAmerica—is about M Many coloured as Joseph's coat. Perhaps that ou both sides may have been modiflfld jhst a Httl« 3 on the principle that "the wish is fewMif to the thought." Bub without profewing to have read.much on this subject, I-.know enough of human nature oi oolenial | society to believe that the enfortemefit « immediate prohibition would lead to W k amount of sly grog selling; and unlew WW* V men lie steadfastly, the prohibition BWW of America are not without some 'proof of this. Aud under this iroprwtoa. fm s that it were wiser for the temperanpepsopie to unite their votes to seouro a sabstanUw reduction of the number, of H®®*** houses, than to waste Ibem in aiming at a thing which Is not within ear reach, and which at pr«snt *» BW yield but very questionable rwaiw. In my letter to the Convention I *_} rtn «_ f hinted that the principle o* proJlbUlon w at variance with the «*}* Testament. Encrateia,,t rosy 6W« ftl ß* {_ the word which in our EngUfb ™ro oa ___ translated " temperance," and wW*»■«?•__ "self-control," not only in eating aw drinking, bub in everything. An* J™* ■ correspondents, I think, w»U readUvjej* «• ceivo that there v an essential ' I between self.control by the gracs of wa and State control by the of the igoft I use the term without dfirespeofc, bat Jw» , the distinction is of vital importantwi. ™ give up any gratification for the goon « ; others is a thing in the bighert mendabie—is indeed a beautiful c self-controL To be compelled by w>» B _Jr to do this contrary both to will and eonvwtion might possibly involve an infringe© ff" of both my- Christian liberty and fj? British freedom. Bub thsn I ani ■•*« whether this position does " t * 1 _1 ,,¥< __ t tbe n*ce|»ity of refusing to aoknowledj* *" right of the State to shppress any —gambling and prostitution for eocsUMP*** Prostitution, Sir, is a thing tbftt wsimw and abominable in every instance ■J** f ™ , l every degree. There is hew f ~ moderation, and any iMtHwWOf* | openly make* provision for this may »• •M., ; pressed consistently with the truest cr» j and religious liberty. But by : intelligent men and tbe best of «» »"__; \' t scholars the moderate use of not been placed under this therefore to treat these things m pw«« is to be guilty of a grave logical _ l *» J *f y * „ c I hope tliab without offence I I my meaning plain, and as I naw *°__f nS, I for newspaper correspondence, cap gj t between ministers of the church**.«JJJ >*& fy not willingly intrude upon your spaceas*- w ~ Y0UM » &? -» J. \ St. Paul's Manse, '■'.■* .