THE LIBERTY LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9562, 31 October 1896, Page 10

THE LIBERTY LEAGUE.

TO TWtt EDITOR OF THE PRESS.

Sir,—lt is,generally admitted that the publicans are hastening to their doom, and the above League are putting the finishing touch on them. Although I am strongly opposed to the prohibitionists, yet I would a thousand times rather give my vote and support to the prohibitionists than to any candidates put forward by this so-called Liberty League, and for this reason, that the prohibitionists are the most consistent and honest of the two. The prohibitionists are politically socialistic, and fight on their own ground. They don't go to Conservatives, Liberals, Radicals, Socialists, anarchists and others and say —Let us sink all political principles, and let us join hands in mi endeavour to exterminate the drink curse from our midst. The leaders of the prohibition party say that they are " Radicals from the crown of the head to the sole of tho foot," and they are consistent. Whilo their chief aim is prohibition they will not sacrifice their political opinions. Contrast this with the actions of the socalled Liberty League. What an imposture! Their only aim is—Give tho publicans full liberty and you can curtail the liberty of all other people as much as you like. Does the Liberty League not think that other business men and tradesmen have rights to be preserved, and are they to sacrifice them for the good of "the trade?" If the League studied the rights and liberties of all they wonld not again try and foist W. W. Collins on this constituency. I would ask this socalled Liberty League how they can expect the electors to support Mr Collins, who is in favour of, and has done all he can to infringe the rights and liberties of the Eeoplc, the publicans being the exception ? i is no use Mr Collins saying that he has -hanged his political opinions considerably •during the last session of Parliament. We all know he is quite capable of doing that to suit his own purpose. An acquaintance of mine told mc this morning that he had received a letter this week from a brewer of this city, asking him "to sink all political differences for thegood of the trade." He told mc ho was so disgusted and insulted that he and his family would vote for the prohibition candidates. Such, air, are the tactics of this so-called Liberty League, and so sure as night follows day so sure will prohibition be victorious if this League persists in its mad career. I earnestly hope that the good sense.of the electors will prevail, and that they will vote for men who will favour liberty—not for one particular class—but for all, and that *' place-hunters" and " carpet-baggers" will be things of the past after tlie general elections. •We want representatives of the Rolleston, Lewis, Beswick, Donnelly stamp to represent us, gentlemen who will not pander to faddists, Mho will not be parties to harassing legislation of any .kind, who will inspire confidence once more in this poor fad-ridden country, and will be the means of again causing money to circulate, and consequently employment for all willing to work.—Yours, &c, Liberty for All.