The Plan of Campaign.

Southland Times, Issue 13503, 21 July 1896, Page 4

The Plan of Campaign.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Io your leader of, last Salur lay, reviewing Sir Robert Stout’s position iq politics and his reputed change ,of attitude towards prohibition; you gay his prohibition policy has become less narrow,and exclusive and that he is said to have affirmed that the cause of prohibition .will no 16nahr ba paramount in his political programme. hie Robert has done good service for the cause of temperance in the past, but it will be a great fallacy to suppose *h»t prohibition will bo arrested or even languish if he relaxes his endeavours in the cause. Prohibition no longer depends for,its success upon leaders in Parliament. It has leaders in abundance among the people and ths force which is now pushing prohibition forward proceeds from the people themselvo - , cud it has its stronghold in the hearts of thousands of the most intelligent men and women in the colony, who, by their organisation and united action, will make it difficult for many candidates to obtain seats who refuse to,pledge themselves to vote for the people being empowered to effect by their direct votes,local and national prohibition. This is all that prohibitionists requireofcandidates and no man can refuse to give this pledge and call himself a democrat, because the right to settle this question belongs to a majority of the people and the man who tries to withhold this right from them and still calls himself a democrat is a humbug and deceiver. So there is no ne'd for Sir Robert Stout or anyone else to make prohibition paramount in his political programme. The qu'stion is lifted out of party politics and all that is now required is that the necessary machinery bo provided for the people to settle the matter by their direct votes. So instead of prohibition having become less narrow it is narrowed to a single issue, namely, the people v. thoir opponents; for even if a majority favourable to our cause is not returned to the new House that would not by any means bo conclusive evidence that a majority of the electors were against prohibition. There will bo too many issues put before tho electors at the election, and there is great danger qhat prohibition may in some cases be sacrificed to what may be thought to be the exigencies of the situation, and therefore nothing but the direct volts of the electors on the question itself can show tho true state of public feeli ig on this question. We prohibitionists are asking to have this question referred to the electors, and to have it cleared of all ambiguity, chicanery, and side issues, and j until we have had this chance this question cannot have a moment’s rest. The prohibi-: tion sleuth hounds will shortly be unleashed, in every electoral district in Southland, and will see that the bung party’s candidates do not obtain an easy victory anywhere, and if i our side is beaten in any district we shall ‘ concentrate forces in that district to prepare for future engagements.—l am, &c., T. Buxton. 16th July.