GOOD TEMPLAR COLUMNS. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23,1875.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXI, Issue 5651, 23 October 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

GOOD TEMPLAR COLUMNS. SATURDAY, O CTOBER 23 ,1875.

I -I'll. 1 illt.ll <pf till" \bMIM >c»H M III II" M.l\ Hldltl Illll Ullll ltl«-<l|l|ll|ll||S< \|IH MS(«I HI (III C.IMIllTl lll|ll.ll " M \i!N V \ I 111 I \\ II l'i:l VI H.ll."

TO ALL CANDID KNOUIIiKKN Wi, nmiM «. .it in st I\ leioiiinu ncl a carefu| |lCHI k ..ll III (III- ,lll(llOW4 of lilt' llori. Will \<\i\, given in another column. Mr. I\> N is lo<> will Known, .mil bis mtegiity ,,f (liiiiattci loo iiiiuers.illy ri'i oguiHcd this tolony, foi it to lie possible to add . 1 1 1 \ tiling to I In- weight wlii<-li Iiih tt'Htnnony will <.my. II may dispel Iroiu the iuuuIh of m.uij , .i cloud <»f doubt that liiiH rested «iii tlio question of prohibitive legislation. Wlmt he saw and did not nee in the State «>f Maine, mid tho much talked <»f and iniHiiijnvHuntuil Portland nty ; tho conUiist he diawH botween the cition of jn-oliibition in America and Durlmm in Kngland ; with his exporionco in travelling, must have an inrswtiblo inlhience over all who will not declaro Mr. Fox oai)al)l« of a wilful falKilication of facts. Noi docs this throw the smallest charge of untruth upon thoso whoso uvidoucu seems to c-outuidict tliatof Mr. l'ox. It Mimply shown what anyone can koo, who will take the troul.lo to put together and coiMparc tho conflicting evidence — that the conflict i" in appeanvneo only, not in i .Mlit y That isolated individuals, liko Mr. IMiiiiBoU or Mr. DawHon, going with it dttennination to iind out whether it ih pi.utical.le to hiiMik a law, Hhould huccuuiI in bi.-aking itthoniHelvuB,und in mducmg otliors to break it, given no tittle of ovidenee lh.it flm law ib genorally tliwogardod. As well might a man who had doliborntoly and successfully planned tho o«cai>o of n Mimoner from Mount Ktlon (iaol, turn round and tell us that the prisoners generally expei ieiiced no restraint, and that they were all free to roam tho streets of Auckland at pluiwuro. Wo know better. Wo Hhould bo likely to Hay that tho toatimony of a man who could m> contemn tho law was not oxactly tho most reliable. And if wo think the miiiio of Mr. Djiwhoh'h and Mr. PliniHoH'H, it i» not from any diHroapoct for thoHo gontlomon, bnt from the obvious prineiplethaf thomrin n-hrjfeniptcd another to do wiong is ii"l the liest |ud>^e of the lo\e ot light doing tint may esisl, jxist as we should decline to t.ike the de\ il s

( iini.iii i.r i in .Dii'.iini < t \ nt'M in ihc \\<>i id. Theie is ,ii\w>!<»M en or thai misleids in. 1113 sum u' friends of 'l\ nipt l.uiii , 111 their judgment on Hit' I'oriuisMne Legislation HmI we advocate. II i-* "fit 11 SlIppOHOll tllilt \\l« \W»h to Slipl-CHS (III' Liquor Tradic by more force. We wish nothing of tho kind — not believing that by any sueh mc.uis can any human evil Ikj edectually and permanently remedii d I'ut then why do those wlio mgu this inapplicable argument against m, fttill go on trying by hiilIi moans to f^ot rid of theft and nnuilur' Wo do MJ.sh the Liijuor Trallic .sii]>i>re.H.sod. Jt is tho 0110 great tliinLj wo mean ; it is tho one thing for which deuds like that horrible 0110 at (Jiahainstown cry out, with a bitter 1'iihoaty of mingled misery, madness and murder! 13ut not by physical force— by tho nioro irrofiistiblo and sublime force of moral conviction. In another form thi« H.ime en or lurka in tho nsnertion tlint liernnssive prohibition will notboert'ectivo. H<all\ ellcctivono legislation will bo when it runs fount it to the conscience of tho people. Hut when tho majority of a people, from the clearest perceptions of ludginont, tho firmest convictions of t'ouscience, and tho keonoflt moral sympathies, ask for legislation, to say that that will not bo effective is to slander Immunity in its noblest aspect. Truly a law will not put itself into force however unstained by public opinion. If its admiustiators aro determined that il shall bo. thwarted — thwartoditwillbe Here it is prohibition has failed ; yet n<'l c sh.uuufully than restrictive leyislati<m. Look at that wrotched, nmddcnod woman at Cirahamstown, in Bnito of tho law w inJi forbids tho nolling of drink to any one under its influence — who has cn<nurcd whore sho got tho liquor f Look at that John Leonard, and his Bcores of companions, in spite of tho law that, carrio4 out, would effectually prevent such getting any liquor I And for very shamo lot not thoso who uphold restrictive legis* lalion.t.ilk to us of tho probable failure of prohibition. Of one thing wo can most confidently assure them that if it fails it will in >i be as with restriction- -in tho hands i>F its fin nils ; 1101 would its f.ulilie be ti.iteil ill deep .Hid sliockillg lilies of Mood like tliat.