The Portland daily press., 1896-07-16
ATEMPERANoE UTOPIA.
Not Licensed Groggery on Prince Ed
ward Island.

(hev. W. J. Kirby In the independently
Situated like gem in the little prov
ince Of Prince Edward Island, Eastern
Canada. Perhaps on account Of our hui
1niIity she people OF this part of her MAJ
esty's dominions are not universally
known. Allow Inc to make the remark
In passing that we are mostly white folk
speaking the English language, and,
professedly at least Christians. The
small plot of land bearing the above
lengthy name has an area OF 1000 square
miles, population of 100, O73, and has d
capital city with about $4,000 inhabi-
tants, bearing the distinguished name
OF OharIottetown.
OF the 100, coo Inhabitants, about one
half are denominationally Roman Gath
olios, and they have some fine properties
ON the island; they are now commencing
to build new cathedral in this city
which will cost about 800, 600. The
Protestant half Of the population also
have some magnificent churches, and in
all are found preachers equal to any 9TH
or country.
There is not licensed groggery on the
Island and the people, as q whole. are
given to temperance and sobriety. After
the prohibition plebisoite vote, taken in
Manitoba in 1892, giving vote OF 1857
IN favor OF prohibition, and only 7115
against 1t. the moral sentiment Of this
province was stirred up; and after hav-
Ing had the Scott act Canada temper
ance act) in foroe in some parts Of this
| island since December 20, 1878, it was
EhnTz1afsf thct ina bod 10 boat 1,
whole province on the square question OF
prohibition.
Hence, at the general election on De-
oember ID, 1893, O vote was taken on this
question resulting in total vote cast of
| TO- GIG for the prohibit of the liquor
| traffic and 1890 against, or a splendid
| majority III favor of no rum of 1925.
Since that day the prohibition sentiment
has continued to grow land under the fos-
| tering care of the Sons of Temperance,
| independent order of Good TempIars,
and county alliances the island people
are looking forward to % day, not far dis
| tant, when the local House of Prince
Edward Island will crafty this large
number OF voters by giving them the
| total prohibition of the liquor traffic,
| aid law which will be more vigorously
enforced than is thu Scott act, or Canada
temperance act, now in force.
Strangers visiting our CITY. ns many
do, particularly during the holiday
months OF summer time, are always i'm
| pressed With the quiet and orderly snir-
| It seen on our public streets; and this
sight OF a man or woman under the in
uunoe OF an intoxicant is most uncon-
mon one. Our principal hotels are free
from. the sale of liquors, ana no lady or
gentleman coming 10 our seaside wauer-
Ing place will be shocked with the too
| common sight elsewhere. After living
for seven years on Prince Edward Island.
we can speak confidently as to the safety
with which one can travel through the
streets OF its towns and city and the
R4plio roads and byways of Che country.
with the decision of the supreme coars
recently delivered on what was question
OF doubt touching the right of PROVINCIAL
legislatures to pass prohibitory laws, de-
Gliding Tor them this right under certain
res6Fictlons, we are looking forward TO
more strenuous measures; and, filled
with joyous hope, we awnis, when we
can even more eiDphatically than we do
now, Gall Prince Edward Island. in east
ern Canada, prohibition province.