DON’T SLEEP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 275, 31 October 1895, Page 13

DON’T SLEEP.

We do not wish to be accused by the general public or by our own partisans of reiteration, but the subject is one of such magnitude and affects so closely the interests of the colony at large, that perhaps our friends will forgive us, and as for our enemies, we are simply taking a leaf from their book. The prohibitionist party may be described as a “ Utopian Opposition,” who whatever they may gain, will never be satisfied, even if prohibition became the law of the land. There are restless men in their party who would bring forward new laws, or rather proposals for the passing of laws, to prohibit every rational enjoyment that an ordinary man might (to use an American phrase) hanker after. The prohibitionist leaders, when you strip off their garments of cant and self-righteousness, simply say, in effect, there are certain dissipations, moral and physical, that we cannot enjoy ; therefore we will make a virtue of necessity and stigmatise any such indulgences as sinful and detrimental to the well-being of the community ; and furthermore, we will bring to our aid all the influence of religious fanaticism at our command to enforce our desires. It is, vulgarly speaking, simply a question of the dog in the manger over again—he couldn’t eat the oats and he wouldn’t let anyone else eat them. But it is siiriply a waste of time to attempt to logically answer or deal with the principles of the prohibition party, for the foundation of. their creed and the ideas they wish to promulgate are all founded on the platform of which the principal planks are intolerance, bigotry, arbitrariness, and coercion. A party with a basis composed of such materials may triumnh for a while, I but eventually it must be retired to the oblivion from which it originally sprung. Now, the point which we wish to place before our readers is this : Don’t make the mistake of underrating our opponents. However illogical and stupid a cause may be, if it is supported by an organised party, pledged to advance its interests, it must be recognised as a serious factor and met as such. "We have made too little of our opponents, and the result has been a pitched battle, and. notwithstanding the fact that we have gained a victory, we must recollect that it is only one point in a contest that will be renewed over and over again with varying results, and if we don’t prepare ourselves to meet it, the time may come when we shall suffer an ignominious defeat, and that at the hands of an enemy <we have hitherto despised. Many will say, “Well if you are defeated, common sense must tell you that prohibition can’t last.” Quite so, we admit all that, but what. about the loss of money, trade, and employment that will ensue while it does last ? It is useless to go into figures, because we have previously placed them before our readers, but, in short, it means that if prohibition were even for a year to become the, law of the colony, it would be virtual bankruptcy, when one considers the ramifications of the trade throughout the colony. We place this view of the question before our readers more particularly now because we have just gained; a victory. If there had been a proper organisation there would never have been a fight worthy of the name, and we must admit that at one time the battle wavered. Don’t let us, then, rest on (fur cari, or, fd use a more applicable simile; t hang

our up and let them rust; but, on the contrary, weigh well the crisis, we have passed, and, by careful preparation, be ready for the next shock of the combat. The proposed Liquor Bill is now virtually a dead letter, and the fight for the moment is over ; but there is neither logic nor common horse sense in laying the flattering unction to our souls that the campaign is won. We are sure to have obstacles in the future to surmount, for we must compliment the prohibition party on one feature : they never know when they are beaten, and are sure to bob up serenely and throw down the gage again. Is it sense, then, for us to rest in a fancied security while they are preparing for a new attack ? No ; .decidedly and emphatically no. Look just a little bit ahead, and arm ourselves with every precaution to meet an indefatigable, though at present weakened, foe. One victory, decisive though it may be, does not mean a settlement of the entii e contest; it is simply a test battle, in which we fortunately have come out winners. They know our strength, even when disorganised; we, unfortunately, don’t as yet know theirs. So instead of congratulating ourselves on a precedent, we should strain every nerve to be fit and ready for the inevitable contest that we must meet in the near future. AVe may be considered as alarmists, we may be spoken of as agitators, but, although possibly misunderstood at the present, the time will come when our words will be remembered, and we only hope, not with bitter personal recriminations. Ever on the alert, should be our motto, until we have finally stamped out the hydraheaded monster of bigotry and fanaticism. “ Don’t go to sleep.”