The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAI, MAY 20, 1870.

It were well and wise if the like were done, now, even,
yet more widely, in similar haunts of labour with
those two tragical and life-like series by GEORGE
CRUIKSHANK, The Bottle and The Drunkard's
Children.

As it is, the movement for the Diminution, and
eventually, it may even yet be, for the Suppression of
Drunkenness, is year by year steadily advancing
and developing. in the spread of its beneficent in-
fluence. A great and eminent philanthropic
association has grown into power in the midst'of us
under the name of the United Kingdom Alliance, the
ono aim and object of its existence being the Abolition
of the Drunkard. The Legislative suppression of the
liquor traffic is the aspiration it avowedly proposes to
realize. Whether it will realize it in our own time is a
question open, of course, to argument. But, that the
projectors and promoters of the design are in
earnest iu their effort to realize it, there is not a
man amongst us who would care to dispute for an
instant, even though he were a licensed victualler do-
ing a roaring trade in the New .Cut or down• by
W hi techapel.
The Great Meeting held last night for
the furtherance of the cause held sacred
by the United Kingdom Alliance, is only
another and the latest known evidence of the
sincerity of those holding that cause the most
nearly and the most dearly at heart. That sincerity
is attested by- every word of the four manly, and
straight-forward, and eminently practical resolutions
which were proposed. It was attested, also, by the
densely crowded and enthusiastic character of the
heterogeneous multitude there assembled together, in
one of the vastest and noblest public halls in the
metropolis, the Great St. James's Hall, lying mid-
way between the Regent-street Quadrant and Pic-
cadilly. It was attested, also, this sincerity on the
part of the upholders of the United Kingdom Alli-
ance, by the fact that men of all parties, men of all
religions, men of all classes and of all countries—sink-
ing their differences of opinion upon everything else
combined, heart and soul, and with a will, to support
that which at least they can and do support most
earnestly, conscientiously, and unanimously.

Intemperance was denounced in the first resolu-
tion as the source of a very large proportion of the
crime and pauperism of the United Kingdom, that
first resolution, yet further adding, the glaring recog-
nition by all of the fact necessitating on the part
of the Legislature, the enacting of a law to
protect the people from the evils originating in the
existing system of temptation promoted by the
liquor traffic. In the second resolution, the deriving
of a revenue to the State from the sale of intoxicating
liquor, was denounced quite as unhesitatingly as
drunkenness itself. In the tbird, Sir WILFRED LAWSON'S
Permissive Bill was eulogised and earnestly commended
to the country, and (through themeeting) to the accept-
ance of the whole population. The fourth and
last of these Resolutions had reference, almost
as a matter of matter of course, to the customary
Petition to the House of Commons and to the.
forwarding of copies of the previous resolutions through
the hands of the Chairman, Lord CLAUDE HAMILTON,
to the Prime Minister, to the Home Secretary,
to the knights of the metropolitan shires, and
to the members for the metropolitan city and
borough constituencies. A meeting as large and
influential, and authoratative—a meeting as
cosmopolitan in its character, and as practical and
earnest in the nature of its proCeedings, as that of
last evening, regard it, ho wever else we may, is
indubitably another and a very appreciable step in
advance iu (what non-teatotaller amongst us will
gainsay- this ?) a generous and an eminently humaniz-
ing movement.

ITI its difficult to credit the strange story that has
come to us from Oxford, and seems at first sight to
be the machination of some ingenious foe of that
classic haunt, rather than an actual occurrence
within its walls. The frolics of Undergraduates are
well known to the public, but, although virtually
disapproved of, are not regarded with too harsh a
judgment. Due and sometimes undue allowance is
made for the exuberance of youthful spirits, and the
excitement of convivial hours and joyous meetings;
but the outrages which have just taken place at
Christ Church pass all comprehension. Whether
we are puzzled to discern the motive, or
aghast at the ill-deserved success of the venture,
amazement, and horror are all predominant feelings.
It is the best satire on the conduct of these out-
rageous offenders to say that their conduct would
have disgraced the most degraded burglar, because it
was done in the most wanton manner, and with no
object but that of sheer destruction for destruction's
sake. What is past cannot be undone, nor can the
mischief be remedied that has followed from these
base acts, but it is som) negative sort of satisfaction
to think that a protest has been made, and steps
taken to avenge the wrong if it cannot be
redressed. The choice works of art which have
been 3 sacrificed to please the vandal instincts of
the unworthy representatives of a classical commu-
nity, cannot be restored, but a warning must be held
out to those who might, after the fashion of Enos-
TRATUS, emulate their dishonourable renown in the
future. The governing body of Christ Church have
acted! with decision, and no fault can be-imputed to
them for the course they have taken. Only the strong
arm of the law can deal with these unwarrantable
offences, and the sooner the penalty -of ':their acts is
enforced against them the better for the outraged
dignity of their college, and the indignant senti-
ment of all lovers of good taste and right
feeling. It was reproached to these young
men that they refused to give themselves
up to justice, or to their friends or companions,
that they aided and abetted them in their misguided
resolve. It is now reported, however, that the
names of the offenders will be given up, and that so
far the cause of j ustice will not be impeded. Whatever
be the Act of Parliament under which the college
authorities may proceed whether the offenders are
tried for burglary and malicious damage or for in-
juries to objects of art their punishment will be a
severe one. Viewed in the right spirit, however, the
disgrace of the affair rests with the commission of
the offence and not with the righteous dealing that
is meted out to it. The friends and relations of the
guilty individuals must see and recognise
the fact for themselves not that there
can be much hope of improvement in the
case of the offenders themselves at any rate for som e
years to come. Their punishment will, however,
act as a deterrent to others, and this consideration
brings us to another view of the matter. Prevention
it is well known is better than cure, and without in-
tending any reproach to those who are already in
trouble enough, it may be said that stricter rules of
discipline and sterner vigilance on the part of the e
anthor ties would have been productive of much

good. No doubt with the best intention and acting
with the most laudable motives, the heads of colleges
may have passed over trifling derelictions, but they
have found out to their cost that trifles make
the sum of . human things, and must not be
neglected for the future. Practical joking in the
army was productive of much mischief, and brought
great discredit on the service. It was not found a
work of supererogation, however, to put it down
effectually when it passed beyond the limits of en-
durance, and men of sense and spirit cried out upon
its perpetrators. The lesson must be repeated in our
Colleges and Universities, an,/ those freaks and follies
which have hitherto been tolerated and so far sanc-
tioned by the establishment of fatal precedents, must
now be checked and sternly rebuked until they are
crushed out and undermined from their strongholds.
By the exercise of timely severity during past
years the outrage which has just occurred at
Christ Church might have been prevented.
When any particular act is offensive to society or
militates against the rights of other, not a word can
be said in its defence. It must be rigorously dealt
with, but if anything could add to the unseemliness
of these jokes, as they are unmeaningly called, it is
the fact that the universities are now, as it were, on
their trial. People are asking the use of these
august seminaries, where, at the cost of time that can
never return, and money that could be better em-
ployed, the youth of the higher ranks become pro-
ficients, real or imaginary as the case may be, in
dead languages. No doubt an answer might
be found to these and similar queries
but if the uses are questioned who will
tolerate the abuses of the system. It is not for
a moment to be supposed that indignation at the
affair at Christ Church is not rife at Oxford, but too
much toleration to minor evils has paved the way
for the commission of this extraordinary outrage.
Let us hope that good may come out of evil, and that
from henceforth a stop may be put to practices which
before appeared ♦enial to the ordinary observer. The
country may feel disappointed at the shortcomings, of
its halls of learning if they fail to turn out the
average amount of scholars, but it hai a right to be
indignant at an occurrence which reflects disgrace on
the first university of the land, and casts discredit on
its rules and regulations. The time for trifling is past,
and the undergraduates of the present and future
generation) must understand that jokes may
be practised until they became serious and earnest,
and that the wisest course will be to let them
alone altogether. There is a time to be merry and
a time to be wise, but much cannot be said for the
wisdom that allowed such follies to be perpetrated
as have culminated in this crowning catastrophe or
for the discernment of those who saw wit in wanton
destruction, and drew merriment from that which
was well calculated to awaken grave doubts and give
rise to serious apprehension.

A protracted debate ensued in the House of Lords
last evening on the second reading of the bill which
proposed to render it lawful for a man to marry his
deceased wife's sister. The measure encountered
strong opposition, and was ultimately rejected by a
majority of four. In the House of Commous about
even hours was devoted to the consideration of a
series of clauses which the hon. member for Kil-
kenny moved to introduce in the Irish Land Bill.
The proposal, however, did not recommend itself to
the committee, which, soon after a condemnatory
speech by the Ptemier, pronounced a very emphatic
judgment against it. It was agreed that every effort
should be made to bring the bill to a final stage.
The other business transacted was merely formal.

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CRICKET.

(CENTRAL MESS TELEGRAM.

A match between M.C.C. and Ground v. Cambridge
University was commenced at Cambridge yesterday.
The following was the score :
Cambridge University first innings.
Dale b Wooton... ... • • • • • • ... 2
Preston b 5haw............ ... 12
Money b Shaw... ... •. • •• • ... 29
Yardley b Brune ... ••• ... 51
Fryer run out ... ... ... ... 10
Thornton b Shaw ... •• • ... 29
Mackinnon c Wooton b Herne ... 27
Myers c Tobin b Brune ... 7
Nixon b Wooton 9
Cobden b Shaw 6
Wilson b Wooton 29
Ward run out ... 0
Leg byes ... 4

Total ...
M.C.C. and Ground first innings.

Wilkinson, not out
Winter b Cobden ...
Tobin b Money
Filgate not out
Byes

• Total ...
Play will be resumed to-day.

Rumours prevail that the United States will per-
mit supplies for the Winnipeg expedition to pass through
the Sault St. Marie Canal, Mr. Thornton having
given an assurance that the difficulties there are amicably
arranged.

Lord A. Hervey, the Bishop of Bath and Wells,
charged the clergyof his diocese at Castle Carey, on Wednes-
day. He said the scheme to exclude the Gospel from the
national education of the English people was a most
faithful evidence of the spread of infidelity.
A large fire is reported from Rochdale at a cotton
mill, by which about 00,000 worth of property is said to
have been destroyed. The fire spread with great rapidity
and the mill was soon reduced to a mere shell. Nearly
three hundred operatives are thus thrown out of employ-
ment.

" STUDYING FOR THE MINISTRY."—The Ameri-
can papers record a novel reformatory enterprise, which
is in progress in the Idaho Territorial Prison. The pri-
soners have formed a Bible class, and spend a part of
each day in reading and commenting on the Scriptures and
in the performance of religious services. We are gen-
ously told that two prisoners who were pardoned last
month " left the institution with great reluctance, as they
regard its moral atmosphere of a far higher tone than that
of the rest of• the territory." One of the inmates, who
attempted to rob an express waggon train, is " studying
for the ministry."

DUNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest holders
of whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is recommended
by the medical profession in preference to French brand-. Sup-
plied in casks and cases for home use or exportation. Quotations
on application to Messrs DUNVILLE & Co., Royal Irish Dis-
tilleries, Belfast ; or at their London Offices, 4, Beaufort Buildings,
Strand, W.C.