EMINENT MEN ON PROHIBI-TION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9497, 28 November 1899, Page 4

EMINENT MEN ON PROHIBITION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir: Seeing in your issue of Friday last a few eminent men quoted as opponents of prohibition, would you be good enough to publish the following statements of men occupying responsible positions: Joseph' Chamberlain: "If I had.an enchanter's wind ,and could destroy to-morrow the desire for strong drink in the people of England, what changes would we see? AVo should see our. taxation reduced by millions sterling a year; we should see our gaols and workhouses empty; we should see more lives saved in twelve months than are ; consumed in a century of bitter, savage'war."

Richard Cobden: "Anything that will divert the earnings of the people from the publican's till will tend to the settlement of the vexed questions between the working classes and other sorts and conditions of men. It may be an optimistic view, but we are encouraged to greater exertions than ever by the conviction that the temperance cause lies at the root of all social and political reform." j

John A. Martin, Governor of Kansas, 1887.: "The most 7 wonderful era of'prosperity 1 ever wi'feessed on the 'American' ■' 'continent ; has''been illustrated .'in Kansas during r the 1 , six years the temperance,, amendment jto our constitution" was adopted, and especially during, the last two years—the period of its most energetic and complete enforcement." ~.,„-,-, '-Att6rriey : Gerierai r; 6f'Kansas: • "It(prohibition) :is ! depopulating'oll7 penitentiary! and) reducing pauperism; and crime to ( the minimum," ■ ; tVi ( • . , i 'Marble, of Maine: |, hiMtioff has andj distillery'in^MaineV*'The I'aV'h'as' increased .'sobriety l -arid'' among, the;people.!,]lt'.is cej-taihly!]the.' best; law ;; of. which I ; and"wherever, public sentiment favors its'enforcement itSvgrks''p|ffec'tly." , 1 ! Bistibp Selwyh:■■'•'"];have l just cbme, from the ; State of Maine,'' arid' T must say-that appearances there were veryj much in favor of the Maine liquor; law. -

'' William L'arrdb'eV,"' ex-G6verribr' of Iowa: "The good effects of the en-j forcement of the (prohibition) ' lawj were observable on every hand. Ii would advise any State or country toj adopt the prohibitory' law that cani reasonably Well enforce it. It is the' true remedy." " ■ '".'. "". .' " : i

John-P. St. John, x ex-Governor of, Kansas: "I have resided in Kansas; thirty years,'thirteen years under local option and high license and seventeen under prohibition, and T know, whereof I Bpeak- when I say that even poorly enforced prohibition is far bet-; ter than any license law."

Quotations coud be multiplied; but your space is.limited. An ounce of practice is worth a pound/of theory. Thanking you in anticipation.—l am, etc., ALPHArKAPPA.