Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-26 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES SATURDAI, MARCH 26, 1859

in the system of slavery most pertinaciously 'shut
out from their hearts and minds, in all their calcu-
lations and reflections upon the subject.
In many things, we freely admit, besides slavery,
do the civilised and Christianised nations manifest
the greatest inconsistency, and perpetrate the most
grievous wrongs, towards, those who' have not their
advantages, whether as regards civilisation or Chris-
tianity. Nor are we of this English nation, to our
shame be it still spoken, by any means exempt from
so serious an imputation. Yet is there something so
systematic, so preconcerted, and so determined
about the " peculiar institution," as they call it, of
slavery,—its inhumanity is so glaring, its iniquity
is so palpable, and the excuses for it are such hollow
and hypocritical subterfuges, especially where the
Christian religion is professed by its upholders, that
to it more than to anything else, will this appeal of
the Society of Friends apply with irresistible force,
when it says of that, their religion, in conclusion,—
" Let it commend itself to the consciences of men of
every colour and of every clime, by fair dealing, by
truth-speaking without any shade of deception, by
pity and compassion, tenderness and love, patience
and forbearance, to the brotherhood of mankind
throughout the world,"—a principle of action which,
above all things, does most utterly condemn slavery,
and its necessary 'concomitant the slave-trade : if
only because it is completely at variance with that
golden rule which such a principle so clearly in-
volves,—Do unto ail men as ye would They should do

unto you

BEER-SHOPS AND PUBLIC-HOUSES

IT is not often that our "-Temperance Leagues"
do any thing very rational, in the pursuance of their
design of suppressing the vice 4of drunkenness ; nor
can they be expected to do, so long as they proceed
upon so false and unnatural a -principle as tkat of
total abstinence from what is intended for the use—
net the abuse—of man. But one of these Leagues
has just been doing a sensible-thing, because further-
ing a practicable object. A deputation of the body
has had an interview with the Home Secretary (Mr.
SOTIIERON ESTCOURT), on the subject of Beer-shops.
" The usual course of its (the League's) operations,"
they told him, " was not to apply to the Legislature
with a view to the suppression of intemperance;
they were anxious at all times to avail themselves of
whatever opportunities might occur for restricting
and regulating the traffic in intoxicating drinks ; and
as it was understood that a Bill was proposed to be
introduced to Parliament bearing upon the beer trade
it was thought by the Association that it might be
useful to have a conference with the Home Secretary,
for the egression of the views entertained by those
whose avowed object it was to restrain intemperance
by moral means." Now the views entertained are

very extravagant views, as all views must of neces-
sity be which proceed upon the erroneous principle
that it is wrong to use, however moderately, wine,
or spirit, or malt liquor. For this was admitted to
be the case. " The principle of the League," it was
explained, " was total, abstinence from intoxicating
drinks." And herein lies one of their most mislead-
ing fallacies. Intoxicating drinks is a term which
perverts the simple truth of file case, in the very out-
set, because it implies that the drinks in question
are, even in their temperate and rational use, intoxi-
cating ; whereas they are only so in their intem-
perate and irrational abuse. As SHAKSPEARE'S lago
says, " wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well
used." This is the point. It is riot then an " intoxi-

VIIi/11 UM. lila I' sAL
cal predilections, could advise " one sip," which, he
declares—

" Will bathe the drooping spirits in delight."

And therefore, he adds—" Be wise and taste." Yes,
wise,—because it were to appropriate that which
Heaven has given to man, to make him a cheerful
countenance, and to gladden his heart.
But on this occasion, we say, they were more
rational. They sought a practical, if not also a
desirable object. They could mitigate the evils of
drinking "by "closing the beer-shops, which had
proved to be nurseries of crime." It is true they went
so far as to say, " that they looked forward to the
time when public opinion would be strong enough to
do away with all the public-houses as they at present
existed,"—which, for our part, we do not believe.
But their present purpose was of a more reasonable
character. " They had understood that the subject
of the beer-house license was to form a prominent
part of the measure which it was in contemplation
to propose to Parliament. It was agreed on all
hands that the ground upon which the Beer Bill was
passed had been proved to be fallacious; and that its

object had not been realised. The views of the
deputation would be to repeal the Beer Bill alto-
gether ; but, if that should be found to be impracti-
cable they would suggest, as the next best step that
could be taken, the withholding of all new beer
licenses, and the non-renewal of those now held to
any other parties, upon the death or bankruptcy of
the holders. In that way it was apprehended, with-
out
recourse to any violent measures, the great bulk
of the existing beer-shops would be swept away in
the course of a few years. They would also propose
that the hours at which the public-houses are allowed
to be open should be curtailed, especially on the
Saturday night. A very great advantage would
result from such a regulation to the working-classes.',
Now, in Mr. ESTCOURT they found one who had
all along sympathised earnestly with these antipa-
thies to the Beer Bill. He had voted against it, he
told them, in all its stages, believing it to be utterly
at variance with the true principles of enlightened
legislation, and he trusted, he said, that some remedy
would be devised to the advantage of the country.
Although he pointed out to them the mistake they
made in supposing, that if the forty-two thousand
Beer-shops, n9Nyliopen, were shut up, there would be
no increase in tEe number of Public-houses.
But, with respect to the question of further
legislation on the subject : a measure, the Home
Secretary informed them, had been left him by his
predeousor ; but it was not in a perfect state, and he
doubted if he should be able to attempt to deal with
so important a question during the present session of
Parliament. He promised, however, that he would
give the subject his best consideration. And so far
all is right. We believe that a great temptation to
indulge in drinking habits, and to keep bad com-
pany, may be taken out of the way of the working
classes, by such a measure. And in giving their
attention to such an object, this " Temperance
League " is likely to do more practical permanent
good, than it will probably ever do by inculcating
" total abstinence," if it exist to carry on its
operatims to the age of METHUSELAH.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE REFORM BILL.—The Mobs thinks
that Lord John Russell will carry his amendment by a more
considerable majority than it is generally supposed. It
adds—" After this defeat, the Government will, we are told,
at once withdraw their bill, and proceed to the orders of the
day. Nothing serious will happen to the Government for
the moment, and they will sit on the treasury bench until

they are removed by the strong hand of a vote of want of
confidence. The ministerial existence will thus be prolonged',
for a few weeks."

TILE Dlvislox. The Globe says that there will be no
division, and the best authority in the
_House appears to
doubt if the debate will closed even on Monday evening.

.At the special meeting of the Iron Screw Company,
yesterday, the resolution for authorising the directors "to"
return £12,500 amongst the shareholders, at the rate of
£2 10s per share, was duly confirmed.

AFPOINTMENTS.—The Gazette announces the appoint-
ment of Sir William George Armstrong, Knight, Engineer
to the War Department for Rifled Ordnance, to be Com-
panion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, civil
division. Colonel Joshua Jebb, Surveyor-General of
Prisons, is appointed a K.C. B.