INTOXICANTS FOR THE IMPERIAL TROOPS, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11619, 5 April 1901, Page 3

INTOXICANTS FOR THE IMPERIAL TROOPS, ETC.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I thought this discussion was closed, but you have re-opened it in your issue of March 30, by referring to those who opposed the giving of intoxicants to the Imperial troops, and saying of them, "The arguments used were knqwn to be a mere pretence by those who put them forward." Your assumption that you know the minds of these people, and that you are entitled to so judge them will not, I think, be generally valued. As you have mentioned my name, I am entitled to say that as far as I am concerned your statement is simply not true. I ; repeat' again the words which influenced me. Let your readers have the opportunity of judging what meanings may fairly be taken. out of them. Lord Roberts wrote: "From the very kindness of their hearts, their innate politeness, and their gratitude for the welcome accorded them, it will be difficult for the men to refuse what is offered them by their too generous friends. I therefore beg earnestly that, the British public will refrain from tempting my gallant comrades, but will rather. aid them to .uphold the splendid reputation which they have won for the Imperial army." ' ..- ' It still appears quite clear to me that " Father Bobs" was anxious to .guard; his boys from being tempted with drink." Was it less hurtful, indeed, was it not more •hurtful, for this temptation to come from the "reckless treating" by representatives" of a city instead of from irresponsible people in the street? The influence of intoxicants is generally about the same, no matter who supplies them. . Even surroundings do not seem to make much difference. r Listen' to this report by John . S. Shearson, of the Royal Navy House, ,Sydney, of. the doings at the Sydney banquet: "The Right Worshipful the Mayor presided, the Right Honourables the Federal Premier and the Premier of New South. Wales lent dignity to the proceedings and spokf; ennobling words, and a magnificent programme of ; musio was pro-

yided; yet amid such elevating surroundings many- of : the Queen's faithful -men: were reduced to a condition of absolute drunkenness. : ■■. Before the entertainment ■;; was ,>) half through it was "evident that ? a grave ■ mistake had been perpetrated, and at half-past nine His.Worship the Mayor suggested:the closing of the affair to prevent more serious consequences." ;Notwithstanding the unwarranted interference of Mr. Seddon in our local affairs, the action of the local committee here prevented a repetition of the disgraceful and dangerous orgies of i Sydney and Brisbane, Do : you 'think : that'.' Lord Roberts is better pleased to know that his *.'. comrades" were made drunk by being " treated" 'at a splendid function in the company of the Right Worshipfuls and Bight Honourables, than he would be if = the same result ; had followed "reckless ■ treating" ;in the - : streets? ■ I : am. unwilling ; to believe that your, discrimination can see a disgrace and ; a danger in the; one case which :is not equally. a. disgrace arid a danger in the other. The report; which you repeat, that the soldiers at the Queen's funeral were supplied with beer may be true, or it may not. Even if it is true, and if it ,was done with . Lord Roberts' 1 consent; it proves nothing. "Bobs" himself may have to do things he would rather not do. Will you let me here refer to, your leading article, in the same ; issue, 1 on the attempt . which is being made in Kansas to make prohibition effective. It is discouraging to'find you so openly in sympathy with law-breakers, but even your position is not without; precedent. Kansas, which killed.- Lovejoy, helped to fit John Brown, of Harper's Ferry, for martyrdom, and the blood of John Brown was part of the price which had , ; to be paid for the liberation of the negro slaves. - The madness which afflicted,, or inspired, John Brown, may bo impelling Mrs. Nation to make her strange protest against the lawless liquor traffic of Kansas, and that protest may be sealed with her blood to become the rallying point of a prohibition movement such as only the American nation can be capable of. If it does, our little island will: feel the impulse, and it is no wonder that you and we are watching for what will happen. You appear to think that a reverse might'discourage prohibitionists; that a present victory for the lawless crew in Kansas might show temperance reformers that it is impossible to fight the liquor traffic, and cause them to accept the result as a final defeat. Ido not think history points that way. Men and women who work in what they believe to be tho cause of humanity, are not deterred by "impossibilities." They have a -way of hanging on and of finally wearying out and overthrowing even wealth-buttressed ; 'end age-sanctioned ; wickedness. I have no right to speak for prohibitionists, but froni what I know of some of these people, 7 think ''fin attempt to prove that the accomplishment of their object is an impossibility will not rtfTect them much. Your shorter course will be? to, try to prove that God has given up caring for what happens in this world, or, better still, trying to prove, to . them that God is dead. If you can manage this latter, ibey. will be finally discouraged, but not otherwise. —I am, etc., Weslev Spbaug. .: