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Northern Advocate, 18 August 1888, Page 5

(We are not responsible for the opinions <tf correspondents. Writers mint give their naipen, ■ not for publication but as a guarantee of goo'clr. faith.) ■ " '7 (To the Editor.) $ Sic,—The upholders of sly-grog selling very naturally feel annoyed at the overwhelming re-action throughout Canada for the repeal of the Scott Act; and are accordingly lavish of their usual weapon—personal abuse, towards any person who dares to mention that unpalatf act in this blessed colony. " Reason with fools, they answer with abuse — The vulgar weapon every dance can use." Yet that repeal has been carried by the temperance majorities on finding, after a fair trial of several years, with a constant flood of informations, » prosecutions, severe fines, forfeitures and imprisonments, that sly-grog-selling and drunkeness were fearfully increasing all.oyer the Dominion. The Scott Act is not a prohibition act, as some ignorantly suppose, but a cumbersome, absurd, local option hotch-potch ■ like the Licensing Act of New Zealaand; and those most prominent in advocating both Acts, appear to be exactly the same class of people. This can be seen at a glance from the following sensible and sober remarks made in the North Congregational Church by the Rev. John Burton, a staunch abstainer " and prohibitionist:—" The thorough change in sentiment which has led to the triumphant repeal of the Scott Act in counties where, with large majorities, it had been betore carried, marks an6the>r era in the Temperance movement and has its lessons. ' The wise reformer will stay to considerihem. To attribute the defeat to imperfect voters' lists, partisan Returning-officers, bad roads, etc., is only to continue what hasal-. ready cursed the progress of a great moral rer form, viz., surround it with^he atmosphere of partisan politics and excuses. We have had too much stump oratory in this direction already. Tho causes lie deeper, and, regretting the triumph of what is termed " the liquor interest," I shall seek to read the signs of the times with a view to f utuite work. For the Scott Act itself, as an Act, I never had nor have a word of commendation. It is cumbersome, unworkable and, AS A MOBAL MEASUBB, ABSURD. I stand with one foot on one side of the stone marking the line betweeen two townships, the other foot on the other side. I with one hand sell a quart of liquor, it is a felony; Ido the same thing with tbjj other, it is under protection of law. A local majority makes the same act either criminal or lawful. And this is a confessedly moral reform! To command the moral support of the community you cannot thus play fast and loose. Let this be pondered. We need a general measure be that what it may. Again. The wave of Temperance sentiment has carried to its crest a number of men utterly unfit to lead in any great reform that like this r so intimately affects every interest of home, society and the entire Dominion. Some, no doubt, of this class are earnest, but their, zeal has been without knowledge. We have had place-seekers and needy ad venturers. Men whose moral influence is as near the zero point as any individual influence well can be. Hence | we have had extravagant appeals, false arguments and unjust ■ . }_ DENUNCIATIONS OF OALMBB MEN . ' or of opposite opinions. The spirit of the narrow partisan has been too prevalent, rather

than that |^^^bB^hB9^hBB^HBB^^B^H -' stand the " com 4^^^^^B]H^99B^nHßS^^Bß of aii this 9H^HBHHhHB^B9^^S9 excited to J|^mS|^^hShh^B^^Bs^Hh^9 possible i u 9H^B^B|^HHOH(BEHK^H| trary tf> rec fßH^Hl^^Bß^9^HßH^9 ■ Christian ■6|^HBBB^BBB^^hHH|HH divine sanc <^HSHßHßß^Hi^^^H^flß Mr Burton 19^BH|H^H|HH^HM^^^hBShJ '• carried to imagine that h^|^BBH|EHHB^HBH^H from New Z ea lanW|^^^9^^^BHsß^BlH life. — Yours &c. Whangarei Heads, Augw^H^^flHH^BHH