REPOLY TO REV, J. TREADWELL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11951, 28 March 1894, Page 3

REPOLY TO REV, J. TREADWELL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,— l think Mr Treadwell would have shown bettor taste i£ he had left the stabbing affair alone until after the official inquiry. But in any case his argument is an unsound one. He might just as well condemn pen and iuk for causing forgery, money for causing embezzlement, or religion for causing persecution^ as drink for causing tho present affair. The truth being that the evil lies in each case not in the use but in the abuse. It is only necessary to refer to the inquisition and the massacre of St. Bartholomew on the paVt of the Catholics and the persecution of Catholics and Puritans in England by Elizabeth and others to show that quite as great crimes have been committed in the name of religion. Even at the present day persecution goes on in Bussia, yet no one thinks of blaming religion. I may go a little further and point out that as persecution has died out in England and most civilized countries, so also drunkenness is fast dying out. A century ago, as far as one can learn, there was nothing disgraceful in a man getting drunk, and men habitually drunk for that purpose. The case is very different now ; let me cite one case only. At the present time an officer in the Navy, if drunk on board ship, would be dismissed from the service for conduct unworthy of an officer and a gentleman. By all means let us discountenance the abuse of drink, but at the same time let us use fair arguments. Now, let me take one exception to Sir Eobert Stout's letter, which appeared in your columns; that is where he tells us that progress is impossible so long as we go on chinking. I will nsk your readers to think for a moment, whether there has been no progress during the last 500 years, the last 50 or the last 20 years ; think for a moment of the factories producing clothes for the millions, the steamers, the railways, the electric telegraph, the telephones, the houses of the people, the drainage of the towns, and, in still more recent times, our shipments of frozen meat and dairy produce to Erjgland. Can anyone say there has been no prowess. — I am, &c, Moderation. To the musical public of Wanganui. — Chas. Begg and Co, (established 13 5 Duaedin, May 18t,1884 Thiß is to certify that Mr R. H. Martin has been in our employment for about six years, and we can recommend him as a steady, honest work man, with a good all-round knowledge of his business, embracing tuning, repairing, polishing, &a. We shall be glad to give any further information respecting bis abilities which may be requiredby. any firm giving him employment. — Wanganui, October 3 1st, 1892. This is to certify that B. H. Martin has been in our employment for the past six years as [ piano tuner and repairer. We have always found him industrious, trustworthy, and steady in his habits. He leaves us of his own accord.— H. Collier and ■ C«.s All orders left at lha shop will have strict attention. R. H. Martin. Manager Dresden Piano Company, Wanganui.— Advt.