SLANDEROUS REMARKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10451, 29 August 1895, Page 3

SLANDEROUS REMARKS.

TO THE EDITOR. . Sib,—ln your report of the proceedings at the prohibition meeting held at the Garrison. Hall last week Mr A. S. Adams prefaced bis speech by a most gratuitous and impertinent insult on two classes of the people, either of whom are equal in position and, perhaps, superior in intelligence to the body whom he represents.; This gentleman made reference to those trading in horses as following an immoral/calling, only to hs equalled, says this courteous advocate of "nothing biR water,"by the' calling of the liquor-sellers—not; licemed victuallers or hotelkeepeis. Well, there am many of; the most respected and upright men, who have stood the test of many years, to be found in both classes, even in this small community—men whose bare word in business matters would be taken before the; bond of their slanderer, and who have occupied positions which Mr A. S. Adams was ambitious to obtain, but was rejected. Really, temperance advocates, if they wish to gain adherents, should know that self-glorification and impertinent abuse of persons who do not agree with dominant methods and withdrawal of personal liberty do not credit them with being in, the possession of any Christian instincts ;^ and it would b« well for this teetotal zealot to be temperate with his tongue as well'as his liquor. His utterances certainly savoured of an after, dinner speech when the wine is red. Then the tongue is sometimes an unruly member. Is ttiat gentleman aware of the large trans*©! tions that tike place in hor3es ? Traders for the Indian market send consignments worth thousands of pounds; and look at the large transactions that dealers have in hesvy draughts,'hunters, arid carriage horses all'over the world. The fnneral of a dealer who died in Melbourne about a year ago—the late Mr George Glasscock, for some years resident in Dunedin—the papers of the day reported fo be tfcelargest of a private citizen that bad wer taken place in that city. L A common coper is no more to be termed a horsedealer than a pettifogging lawyer is a barrister. Hone traders, las a rale, prove their shrewdness by generally keeping dear of law; perhaps that explain* the animns of the speaker. I would advise Mr A. S.csAdainsjjext time he addresses an audience,, if he can get one with patiecce enough to'hear such twaddle, to leave soeh uncalled for and insolent; remarks out, as the class he attacks are quick to resent persona} iasolte, and may demand unpleasant explanations.—l am, &c, -Dunedin, Axigast 28. - Ohr -of Thei.