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The Extinction of Drunkenness.

The subject of drunkenness is an old one, and it still occupies the attention of the public. In the following lines I give my opinion of it, and on its extinction.

1. It is necessary and proper that drunkenness be extinguished, because it is wholly and palpably an evil, and because it is easy to remove it, by simply removing strong drink.

2. It is the duty of the civil magistrate thus to extinguish drunkeness, because his duties are chiefly moral. An aid to morals is manifestly of more importance than an aid to money-making. Railways are made and owned by the state, but of what use are they if the people be immoral?

3. If drunkeness is to be extinguished in New page 161 Zealand, or in any other country, the sooner the work is begun the better. The population now is very sparse. The coasts could the more easily be guarded. A comparatively few points could be landed upon, and would require to be watched. This condition is daily passing away.

4. Drunkenness can only be removed by total prohibition.

Anyone who reflectson the terrible hold which drink has on our race, must, I think admit this at once. Even were the case not so black and formidable, the fact that drink is only an evil, and that continually, shows that total prohibition cannot at least do any harm. What is the use of enduring temptation and fronting risks when we can remove them? He who has a sheep farm on which there are many holes and sluggish creeks, will find sheep dead in these holes, especially the younger ones. He does not depend upon the good example of the older sheep who pass by or over these dangers. He fills up, more usually, these holes or drains, or covers up these creeks.

How much easier, in very many if not in every instance, would it not be for the parents of a family to guide it aright were the tavern removed?

5. The exertions of tetotallers have not been everything considered, very successful. Moral page 162 suasion alone, in this work, is of little use. When the soul is deeply tainted, other means and more of the sword, must be tried. If we plant a tree and wish it to grow, we should clear away the weeds around, and it will grow and thrive all the better. If we want morality to prosper and endure, we should also in this case clear the ground for it.

6. But will this prohibition not lead to the use of other instruments for the same destructive ends? Will opium or other narcotics not establish themselves on the ground lost to drink? I think not. The more the passions are restrained, the less likely they are to break out. The longer they are imprisoned, the less agile they become to scale the walls. Man in this respect goes forth conquering and to conquer. Opium and chloral have now more chance of establishing themselves with their friend the drink than without it. But should opium attempt to do so—should opium be against us—then we are against opium. It was never promised to man that in this world he would cease to combat evil.

7. Will wine, on which millions seem to depend for a living, be also extinguished and prohibited, and will beer and ales be also put down? There seems no help for it. Grapes, however, need not be made into wine and drunk, but may be made into raisins page 163 and eaten, and they will be greatly more useful and supporting as such. The grape-grower need not suffer therefore. With regard to beer, its wholesomeness as a drink is more than doubtful, and if it be an offence it should be removed—though admitted to be less actively destructive than other stronger drinks.

8. Should the producers and sellers of drink be compensated for loss in case of its extinction? I think not, because I do not see that they will lose anything.

The people reserve to themselves the right to make laws for the common good, and if drink be purely an evil, both the producer, and dealer, and consumer of drink should give compensation to the state for the harm they have so long done to it. Money made by the stupidity of one's neighbours carries with it no claim when such stupidity ceases, or is made to cease. The drink dealer should rejoice in the destruction as well as the rest of the community. He and the family who may come after him will equally benefit. The human progress which constructs railways, may hurt the carriers and toll-keepers, but no compensation is paid to them. So in the vast moral and material advance which would be contained in the supression of drunkenness, no claim can be maintained. It is not necessary to page 164 to talk of general principles, general laws, the liberty of the subject, and such like, when drunkenness is to be extinguished. Man, in his combat with evil, has to do with positions often special and requiring a special attack—with both regular and irregular warfare. It is too late to read Vauban when the enemy is already in possession of the camp. No hesitation need be had in specially legislating for drunkenness.

9. But some may ask, is drunkenness after all such an evil? Have the sober nations, as the Latin, risen to greater power and eminence than the more drunken Teutonic? Are they more moral?

Looking back to ancient Rome, and the astounding fact of a single city doing what it did, we may reply in the affirmative. In modern times, (though France once showed the world what she could do) the Protestant Teutonic nations are perhaps in advance of some of the Latin Catholic ones. But the cause of this fact is not the want of drunkenness. The causes are private laziness, and idleness, and public misgovernment.

Labour and abstinence, are the chief sources of wealth. The Latin abstains, but does not labour. The Teuton labours, but does not abstain.

10. But a large revenue is raised by taxing drink; page 165 how is this to be got when drink is no more? Simply by taxing other commodities, by direct taxation if need be on the person and on property.

The first result of the sudden death of drunkenness would be the sudden advent into life of a large amount of wealth. A great rise would ensue in the value of all kinds of property. People would still labour as before. It would be strange then, if with added wealth, means could not be devised for abstracting a part of it in taxation.

11. There is also another very strong and special circumstance—special at least to New Zealand and some other new countries—and that is the destruction of the Native race now going on, and mainly through the white man's drink. This seems to me a reason sufficient of itself, for the summary expulsion of drink from the country. It is manifest that we are blameable in this respect, and that our chambers, if founded on such wrongs, will not endure. Nations have no souls. Their punishment as such must be in this world. A moment's reflection indeed, teaches that evil must be smitten, if our race is to endure-Our conduct may not reach the atrocities of the Spaniards and others, in former times, and a higher future may await the Colony than the chronic wars and revolutions of a South American republic but page 166 the plane on which we are moving seems dangerous enough.

12. My last reflection is, that there are communities now existent with and without drink. A sober community must leave another burdened with drink far behind. No amount of thought, word, or deed can make this doubtful for a moment. I would ask then, are we prepared to be left hopelessly behind in the road of progress? Shall we admit our inferiority and bow low the head, or shall we add by our faith and works, to a noble and strong development in social greatness. The men in America who have already conquered are of the same race and in much the same circumstances as we are. Nor need it take long to gain this victory. Social as well as scientific wonders are common in our day. Let Japan bear witness. Even Sweden, old and slow, sunk, a bye-word among the nations for its offending, now walks erect with unblemished name; and all done in a few years.

Total abstinence and total prohibition, are no new things. Samson and the Nazarites were total abstainers, and he was the strongest man the world has ever seen. The Suevi are described by Cæsar in his Commentaries on the Gallic War, as the most numerous and warlike of all the German nations. page 167 They lived on milk chiefly, and their bodies were of vast size, and he adds," they prohibit wine from being brought into their country, because they think that it weakens men in enduring labour, and renders them effeminate."

1882.