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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 74

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Sober Christian drinkers ! whose bright homes are made more bright by what is darkening, stripping and blighting so many others [unclear: th] were dark enough before, "the spoil of the poor is in your houses !"

Drink-selling Christian morphants ! whose industry hr.st destroys the food of the poor and then piles up your princely fortunes by turning [unclear: s] into the means of a still fouler robbery—the robbery of character, happiness and life—those offerings which appear opposite your names in church and charity subscription lists are little more than the bandit's contribution to the funeral expensed of the victim he had robbed and murdered; heaven cannot be bought by such bribes, though heaven's earthly ambassadors may; the outrage of the poor is upon you, "the spoil of the poor is in your houses!"

Sleek Christian ministers ! whose Gospel, if it were indeed the Gospel of Christ, would look to the spirit which giveth life and not to the letter which killeth, to Calvary and not to Cana, to self-denial and not to self indulgence, to the poor and not to tho occupants of the chief seats in your synagogues, yet who dare not take a stand to save from the clutches of a devilish traffic your perishing brethren for whose Christ died, "the spoil of the poor is in your houses !"

Yes, and even you, smug teetotaller ! whom the same prudence or meanness which prescribes an abstinence from a habit likely to [unclear: inju] your person or your pocket, also deters from helping by voice or vote to bring others to the same path of safety, those licensed houses where the poor are robbed are yours though you do not use them; they are yours in so far as you do not endeavour to preach or vote them out: "the spoil of the poor is in your houses !"

In a word, for all, whether nations or individuals, who do not strive to stay the ravages of the great scourge and robber oE our race for all who by action or inaction give it any encouragement or countenance; page 25 for all who do not exert the full measure of their private and public powers to limit or destroy it—for all alike the warning voice of our text rings loud and clear:—

"The spoil of the poor is in your houses. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces and grind the faces of the poor ? saith the Lord God of Hosts."

Edwards, Russell & Co., Ld., Printers, 37 Featherson Street, Wellington.