THROTTLING THE NATION.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.'']
SIR,—Many years ago Lord Rcsebery (if I mistake not) said that if the nation did not throttle the Drink Trade, the Drink Trade would throttle the nation. As we did not attempt to do the former, the latter alternative is now coming to pass. The Prime Minister has stated in Parliament that our great enemy is the Drink Trade within our gates, and yet now that he has the power to throttle this enemy he has not done so, and carefully avoids all mention of the subject in his recent speeches.. It is absolutely undeniable that at the present moment the Liquor Trade and its supporters are dangerous traitors in our midst, for the consump- tion of alcohol in any form during the war (1) Lessens the food supply of the country to an alarming extent, both directly and indirectly. (2) Lessens the economic strength of the country; for the millions now worse than wasted in liquor would, if invested in the War Loan, shorten the war and provide a future income for the investors. (3) Lessens the nervous and physical stamina of our workers, soldiers, and sailors, and therefore their power of resistance to sold and fatigue. (4) Lessens the moral and spiritual strength of the nation; therefore weakens the moral resistance to sexual passion, and is largely responsible for the frightful havoc now being wrought by venereal diseases. The above statements are, I believe, indisputable. Ought we not therefore to knew who are the cowards and pro-Germans amongst our legislators that are afraid to enact Prohibition during the War and for a time afterwards? Every true patriot must warmly thank you for your courageous and powerful advocacy of " The Strength of Britain Movement," towards the support of which I
gratefully enclose a cheque.—I am, Sir, &c., W. F. Batmen.
Previous page
