An Appeal. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 12

An Appeal. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, — We are at the end of another year, j The present year of grace, with all its ■experiences of good and evil, will soon be but a rapidly dissolving memory. But a, new year is upon us, in which we may retrieve the errors of the past, or at least avoid them, -and build more securely for the coming years. In many respects the passing year has been a good one. To most it has brought gome share of human happiness, though to many it jja| added, care, and. to som-e, sorrdw and buffering. I wontter whether we ail realise how much "*of jSrev-entible suffering there is, even in our little community? I venture Jo suggest that there are but few who have any adequate perception of it." This is the time of chari- J table appeals. Will you allow me to add j one to the many others? j , I w,aut to ina.ke an appeal for geli-denial

'for' the weak' brother's sake — to - ask-'-yqur readers.. u> ntarlc the coming year as on© 'in- which they^- will do all they can todis--edurage drinking. It is sometimes said ' that trie liquor evil should be combattedonly~on the lines, of "moral suasion! Very well: "Will alf good, people "please bear; in. mind" that- the- best form of • moral ''suasion is personal I ' example? The influence- which- • j,» ":gopd • man or wonian~ may eyerfc- by-, .is enormous. "The little 'that TEdrink doesAme,,no harm," :rhafey "sSy 1 .- Yes? ; but.,- we* *'are abound; as. good citizens nofr.fb ! p,ut:. a V 6f /temptation- "in<~'the-_ way of^'the] weak}, and :itl is .--the-' dirty of- the? " .State" ojr comrrfunity-to^niake it -easy -to; 3.0- ', right. 'an d. v drfllculfr to 'do wrong! "' - "' ~"” ~ 'i. "The druhkar&Ms "~ a" criminal anc? otighfc-* wto besipunisße'd." . Yes", buf the drink makes : the. drunkard^ and' ffie" drunkard's' indulr.'genceT (and-,tn'at~ of "ihany 'who stop short of 'drunkenness} ' -afTects his family and -■ society. of the .many- innocent victims of drink £ how many" women there I aTe~ whose lives' are one long^ martyrdom th'roitgh a husband's 'drinking ;' how.- many-little"-children are cursed, from birth^ contTdemned to "rnisery^ without any chance in. ,-life, because of a parent's Hrmking. -I |"come into almost daily "contact with oase3 jwKich • would rouse the most indiiFerent' to ! indignaiit- action. , -"■-' - — I During the ,past few months -there . has ii v he,e|i <L p.' recrudescence of. the"- old-time ■ slanders of. prohibition leaders and " workers-; j- In the? past ,1 .have been accused, in cold l^type," of almost , everything " from lying to |. qhild-murder, and have' been,, threatened in ■ '■ letters" and ropenly. I- do not i-know what' slanders may be. in circulationi now, vior do I much care. That' sort of !. thing:, is beside "the question. The question t' about the liquor Jtr&nic_: is, I* ib _a .blessing ! to the community,, or a curse? ..Is at good ! fore usr-'to» luive-- in our midst- a licensed [_traffio 'in a thing which makes, .dajuikards, l^and, is a source of; untold, misery- andsharria?' | I 'believe thei-e is only on.c effective remedy, I and that is -found .in the no-license vote. .. i And •if this traffic 'is -^tp." continue^- we rdo'not know whose, children: wiltffill-under- | ity. The plain fact Js that every year",hun- | dreds of children leave" the thresholds of our j homes and the -shelter -of .parental. -lavo and ! control, and-, go -down before- this .terrible ! temptation. It 'is 'to save them" we, are j working? night- and' 'day.^ ,;• - - _ >- j ' For the sake of, the children I appeal to' ; all'- good people jto "help us in our" crusade I against. strong drink. . . \ 'Wishing a. happy NeAv Year> to .'all tout ! readers, — I am,- etc., ' '-./>- ['.--" - Aiexb. S. I " Wari-ington,- 27th December, - 1904. <