THE DRINK QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8085, 25 September 1894, Page 4

THE DRINK QUESTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Piu, — To reform mankind by forco or compulsion, in other words by law, is one of tho g^eabesb and most difficult tasks evor dovieod by man, especially in bhe matter of drinking. It is a very large subject to deal with from bo many points of viow. A trade that has boon so long in tho world is not easily overthrown, To spoak or write from a reasonable and intelligent standpoint, 1 do not think tho drink will bo entirely abolished from off the face of tho earth so long ne man re» mains in an unconverted state. Thoro are four things connected with it that are in its favor. First, tho custom and habita of the pooplej second, all governments allow it to bo made and [ sold ; third, the majority of the pooplo ; are non-abstainers ; and lastly, wealth is on its side. Money is the greatest power in. the world. Without it we could not live. It is tbe prevailing medium, and as a rule many of tho torriporanco people are poor. When a man's business is interfered with by force or compulsion, which prohibition is, thon liberty stands endangorod, and the British people resent that kind of thing. The fac is total abstinence is like salvation — not) popular nor palatable with thousands of the human race. You may take a horso to water bub you can'b make him drink. Every thoughtful and intelligoafc person deplores drunkenness, but, on tho othor h md, there aro such a largo number who take very little, and do nob go to excoHs, and all the talking from a teetotaler cannot convince them to the contrary; for as tho old adage has it, " Convince a man against his will, ho's of the same opinion still. 1 ' If on 6 is lo be dmwn'into the rank of abstainers, iv) in a righteous caueo, it mu«b bo dono wibh love and kindness. No hard words will advance the kingdom of Christ. It behovos all public speakers and writors nob td be dogmatio, but to show charity to tboso who differ. Much harm is dono to a righteous cause through intomperato speaking and unchristian language. Our ideas and dislikes are all different), arid as a consequence ib is an utter impossibility for all bo think or act aliko. Wo aro told in tho Word of God nob to judge ono another's moats and drinks, and also " Let every ono be fully persuaded ■n his own m : nd." Ib bakes all eortß of people to mako a world. lam not upholding tho drink, bub what I contend is that ib does nob soem righb bo kko a man's business from him by fo<ce. In tbo o»rly days of Southland the old total abstinence society held monthly meeting**, and those who were willing to join wore welcomed to do so. The publican was nob inter fered with at bho timo I eponk of. No Acb of Parliomenb can mako men and women morally and spiritually good. Ib is as plain as A. B.C. thab evil has boon from the beginning of tho world; and will be to tho end. Judging and condemning is not in accord with the Bible. If all wore of bho same mind bhe world would nob have been in the advanced stage of progress or oivilisabion us now, although thero ia much wickedness in it. Truo roforra must como from tho hand of God, and ia slow and gradual, in ono word oonversion. If at some future day, as the prohibitionists oxpoct, bho whole of the human raco to bo all abstainers, thero are throe things which will have to be dono now, namoly, all Governments must nob allow bho temptation or its manufacture ; and (2) conversion of bho people ; and (3) fathers and mothers now to train up bhoirchildren to touch nob, to bnßto nob, and to handle nob bho intoxicating cup. I have been led to write tho above because, although I am a stricb total abstainer, I do nob approve of compulsion or force. Ib is | against tho spirit) of freedom. I have endeavored to write from a rabional and reasonable and broad and liberal standpoint). The older wo get, and tho longer wo live, wo gain fresh experionce, and I believe man will be learning bill his departure oub of the world. In conclusion, I writo to show to the world, nob only thafc I am an ab« stainor, bub by my walk and conduot a consistent Christian. Talk is easy, but example orowna everything,—! am, ebo,, Edwin Rotund.