A REAL CONTRAST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 29, 29 October 1918, Page 6

A REAL CONTRAST

PROHIBITION FACTS V. LIQUOR PERVERSIONS. The liquor advertising export (?) thinks he sees a "contrast," meaning, of sourse, a likeness, between the Kaiser saying "God is with us," and Mr. L. M, Isjtt, M.P., saying the eame thing on behalf of the Prohibitionists. But he forgets that. "contrast" . implies a difference rather than a likeness. And the real contrast between the Kaiser and Mr. Isitt is that the facts., since .December, , J9U, indicate that God is not with the jKaiser, but that he ie with the Prohi-: bitionists. For defeat has been the Kaiser's portion, while success has come to Prohibition. However/it would be more correct to drop the "contrast" idea and look at "a deadly parallel." In. December, 1914, both the Kaiser and the Liquo'r Trade of New Zealand, seemed to be having^"their day.". But since then both the. Hun and; "The Trade" have been repeatedly repulsed, till now both, are on the verge of (.ollapse. All are aware of the successes of our armies against the Kaiser's, hosts. Here are some of the victories scored against. the brewer's business since the war began:—

In Canada Prohibition, since the war , began, has carried Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

In the United States, Prohibition lias swept 19 States into line with the nine formerly dry, 'and next year National Prohibition for the war and demobilisation, periods will sweep the traffic out of tho country never to return,, because Constitutional Prohibition has been adopted by the Federal Government , and is now in process of .ratification by the various States. ' •

Russia has prohibited v.odka, France prohibited absinthe; Great Britain reduces hours to five and a half per day and limited tho' output to less thnn half.

So there is a deadly parallel between tho Kaiser's temporary Ascendency' in 19U and the Liquor triumph in New Zealand. Both have been followed by crushing dofeats, and the abdication of both is now due.

A Deadlier Parallel Still.-The Liquor T.rade has lately been solicitous, about tho effect of Prohibition on church nttendancfl s and religious matters in Rederal. This relates it more' closely than evor to the Kniser. The following cnblefiram appeared recently in- the Wellington Press•.--"Panic is ■ increasing in Germany. Tho Kaiser has devoloped a religious mania, and spends hours on his knees, .prayijig ■ for the dynasty and the Crown/' Thus tho Kaisor on tho eve of ruin tarns his hypocritical shrjvelledup soul to the Consolations of religion; and the trado in alcoholic liquors in New Zealand, seeing a funeral ijj the near future/ is also feeling some deathbed interest in religious things. More Misrepresentation.—The Liquor scribe seeks to discredit Mr. Isitt's quotation of $Ur. Lloyd George 'by referring to a speech by the Prime Minister's where he used, othor words. But Mr. Isitt was not quoting from that speech, but from a saying that was, placarded on the billboards of Great Britain. But the Prohibitionists are glad to refer some other statements of Britain's Premier for correction by tho writer who cannot concoct even half a column without repeatedly misrepresenting and mis-stating the. fliers. Here are one or two:—"We are lighting Germany, Austria, and drink, and as far as I can seo the greatest of these three deadly enemies is drink." "If wo \are to sottlj with Gorman militarism we must first of all settle with drink.* .

'The brewers' adwrtise.Tiont also finds fault with Mr. Gray's prophecy that Amerioa's action meant the final expulsion of drink from' that country. But that is the opinion of the vast majority of tho citizens of the United States. - The Prohibitionists are charged with wasting large sums of money that might go to war work. Bnt not n cont need bo spent if.' "Tho Trade" wore patriotic' enough to put Country before Continuance and accept tho Efficiency Board's findings. For ovpry penny the Prohibitionists aro ' spending "The Trade" is taking'a pound over its to the , damage of personal and national efficiency.

If "the Prohibition mov?mout is "devoid of patriotism," what 1 as Ujs Liquor literary light to say of the Ifing, of Jlr. Lloyd George, of thousands of gpncrnls, admirals, statesmen, and other citizens of Great Britain who answore<l Kitchener's call and turned down their glomes? "The Tirade" prates of patriotism when it .is an indisputable fact that drml- hindered' munition output? cluttered' w> fillips and Irains with its useless and harmful stuff, and rendered thousands of men unfit to perform their duties durinp tho crisis of war. And this scribbler of '"Die Trade" has the colossal gall to accuse Prohibitionists of being devoid of patriotism!—(Published By arrangement.)