STATE CONTROL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13137, 27 May 1903, Page 4

STATE CONTROL.

j TO THE EDITOIt. Sir.—Wont of time has prevented me answering “Felix” soujwr. Compensation : When the publicans ha-ve compensated tii-o widows and orphans they have made, they will then bo entitled to tome consideration. They have nob yet paid their proper, share towards beeping their own “peculiar” busintss right. Look fib the enormous expense the country hi put to every year to keep the publican and Lis customers in their proper piece; and yob we, as prohibitionists, are absolutely hound to pay towards (hat with which we have nothing to do. Wo paid twenty millions, did wo, in 1833, for the liberation of slaves? When the publicans will liberate their, slaves from the deadly - influence of drink, again 1 say they will then be. entitled to some consideration. Did the publican take up his license on the understanding that he waw to bo compensated? It is not fair that the people should back him up in R bad bargain, any more than they should back up any other person. Business is business, you know. “Felix” speaks of his (the publican’s) co-partner, and regrets that he is to have no recognition from hin co-partner, the public. “Felix” jmiy Lk> a, co-partner, but I havo no desire to be placed on the same level. 'My desire is that the publican should haf» no license, not

I that he should hare one; therefore I, for j ono> cannot bo called a co-partner, hence ho can claim no recognition from me. IS "Felix” likes lq help a brother in digress he is efc liberty -to do so, hut he must nut his hand 1 ja his own pocket, not mine. Prohibition does prohibit, just as much as any other law prohibits. For. instance,_ if there hud been no “kyltellou limes” wo might have been spared reading the ciupwily-put arguments of “Felix”; no paper, no letter. Opportunity makes the thief evmy time. His assertions about what State control would do proves nothing but his; own ignorance, that is all. It is almost useless'to debate, on the question of State control. 1 could 1 debate every point of it if nccoreaiy. and am quite willing to do so, if “Felix” likes. If ho is a bnsr.ess man, let mo ask hint one question. Taking into consideration what the drink trade "costs the country every year, both those who induhr-s and (hose who don’t being compelled to pay their share, and takimr into cons!deration the enormous amount of* harm it docs and ia continually doing, docs “Felix” think, looking at tho question frour a hpsiness standpoint, that it would ' pay the people to buy, and very ileaviv r,t 'that, this most damnqblo of all businesses? Hops ho think it fair that {hose who will have nothing to do with it on lia score of principle should ho forced to buy that which they would rather, be without? is prohibition any more unjust than that? I think not.—l am. etc., TRUTH.

We arc all excited by the love of praise, and it ia the noblest spirits that feel it took t. —B raa dim va fc. Lord DundoijsM has abolished all ceremonial training tor tho Canadian Militia., and converted tiro camps into schools for practical fighting. Bending inquiry as to its alleged nngenuineneisfJ, the tiara of Saitapbarnw, for vrhich £2OOO was paid, has been removed fro*-* <ho Baris,