PROHIBITION.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXIX, Issue 9499, 30 November 1899, Page 4

PROHIBITION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir: Since the Prohibitionist became a factor in the land, his ways have been "dark," like that of .the "Heathen Chinee." It is well known that their leaders as far'back as 1895 .plotted together in Christcliurch for the purpose of inciting hotel keepers to''break- the laws by selling on a Sunday. I consider that such people. —I can't call them men—were most certainly parties to any violation of the Act As a result some were charged with conspiracy and one with perjury. The prohibitionists seem to think that the police force, paid for by the people of the colony, should be utilised, not for the protection of the lives and the people, but] for the purpose of acting as spies and informers on hotel-keepers. This kind of work seems to, be most congenial to the prohibitionists. But it is a class. of work that cannot recommend itself to any self-respecting member of ilie police force. In'my native land the spy and informer is looked upon with loathing and contempt. I would ask : Are we a free people or not? Civil and, religious liberty is guaranteed wherever the Union Jack floats; but prohibitionists say otherwise. They would, if- possible, make slaves of . the r people. They would increase the local and general taxation. They may deny it; their arguments have only,a,foundation,of.sand. , I.don't 'deny'for one, moment that some abuse their liberty by drinking to excess, or that drunkenness is one cause of crime and immorality. But look for a moment at the reports from the courts in the, Old Country, and even in the colonies, and we find some of the greatest swindlers, that ruthlessly robbed the widow and the fatherless have been strict church-goers, head bosses in Sunday-schools and strict teetotallers, using ( their religion and their teetotal principles as a cloak for their villainy,. If prohibition were

carried at Thames; or, in fact, any where else, the first and certain jevil that would attend it is the formation of a public character made up of \ deceit, hypocrisy, dishonesty and perjury, and I consider that that wolild be even worse than drunkenness itself., —I am, etc., IRISHMAN. ,