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

UNITED KINGDOM ALLIANCE.

A very crowded and enthusiastic meeting of the mem-
bers and friends of this large body was held last night at
the St. James's Hall, under the presidency of Lord
Claud Hamilton, M.P. Amongst those on the platform
were Mr. Hugh Birley, M.P., Mr. M. Dalway, M.P.,
Sir W. Lawson, M.P., Sir D. Wedderburn, M.P., B.
Whitworth, Esq., J.P:, J. H. Raper, Esq., the Baboo
Reshub Chunder Sen.
The CHAIRMAN, who was received with much applause,
said that he was not a volunteer for the post he occupied
that night, for he had accepted the office of chairman at
the solicitation of the committee. In the county which
he had the honour to represent (Tyrone) there was
a district covering 61 square miles, which worked very
successfully under the permissive system. (Hear, hear.)
It was not necessary from him to enter into a detailed
account of the evils arising from the present system for the
sale of intoxicating liquors. He would draw the attention
of the meeting to ono point which he thought influenced
the question to a great degree, and that was the condition
of the homes of the humbler classes. It was necessary to
provide comfortable homes for the poor, because the want
of comfort at home oftentimes drove them to the public-
house. The noble chairman concluded by stating his
perfect confidence in the ultimate success of the movement.
(Loud cheers.)
Dr. LUSE proposed the first resolution, and spoke of the
question from a medical point of view. It ran as follows :
—" That this meeting deeply laments the prevalence of
intemperance throughout the nation, and recognising that
it produces a large proportion of the pauperism and crime
of the country, with their consequent taxation, calls upon
the Legislature to enact a law to protect the.people from
the evils which originate in the present system of tempta-
tion presented by the liquor traffic."
Mr. BIRLEY, M.P., seconded the resolution, and spoke
of the feeling in the north on the question, a feeling which
he said was very much in favour of the object of the
Alliance.

Sir WILFRED LAWSON, who was greeted with a perfect
hurricane of applause, supported the motion, and in the
course of doing so remarked upon the two remedial mea-
sures which have been put forward for poverty, viz..
education and emigration. With regard to the forme...,
he was of opinion that there would be very,little room for
compulsory education if drunkenness was stopped, as it
was invariably the drunken parent who neglected the
education of his child. (Hear, hear.) As to emigration,
he thought it would be a good thing if the Government
would make a grant for the removal of the 130,000
publicans in the kingdom. (Laughter and cheers.) The
hon. baronet then proceeded to notice the measure which
he had presented to the House of Commons, which he
said he was ready to withdraw in favour of a better one,
should it appear. He concluded an able and lengthy
speech by expressing his confidence in the satisfactory
settlement of the question.
The n4xt resolution, proposed by Dr. MacKenzie,
the provost of Inverness, was to the following effect :
—" That this meeting expresses its strong disapproba-
tion of any system of legislation, whether administered
in the United Kingdom or British India, by which the
sale of intoxicating liquors is maintained for purposes of
revenue, in opposition to the social and moral
interests of the community ; and this meet-
ing earnestly hopes that statesmen of all parties
will give proofs of an. enlightened and Christian
spirit, by opposing themselves in word and deed to a sys-
tem so inherently corrupt and productive of the most
deplorable results."

BABOO RESHUB CHANDER SEN, who met with a most
enthusiastic reception in rising to support the motion,
said that he had always admitted that India had much to
thank England for, but the British Government were
responsible for the aarm they hael done by introducing to
India the sale of intoxicating liquors, which, he argued,
was done for the purpose of drawing a large revenue.
The effect of intoxicating liquors in India was dreadful,
and raised cries and lamentations from thousands of
widows and orphans. Ile strongly advocated the pro-
posed measure. (Loud and long-continued cheering.)
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Mr. DALWAY. M.P., proposed the third resolution,
viz,: -" That this meeting rejoices that Sir Wilfrid
Lawson has introduced his Permissive Prohibitory Liquor
Bill, and as this measure proposes to prevent the
licensing authority from granting licenses for the sale of
liquors in parishes or districts where a large majority
of the ratepayers desire to be free from the liquor
traffic, with its disastrous results, this meet-
ing recognises that measure as a just extension
of local protection, and pledges itself to use every legiti-
mate effort to secure its adoption by Parliament, and
hereby respeetfullyrequests the members for the Metro-
politan constituencies and counties to give their earnest
support to the bill." In doing so the honourable gentle-
man said he should continue to support Sir Wilfrid
Lawson's bill in the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.)
The resolution was seconded by Mr. CARTER, M.P.,
who said that if earnestness and goodwill were required
to obtain the desired reform, Yorkshire might be relied
on. (Cheers.)
J. H. RAPER, Esq., proposed the fourth resolution,
which was—" That the following petition to the House
•of Commons be adopted, and that copies of the
foregoing resolutions be forwarded by the Chair-
nian to the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, and
to the members for the Metropolitan constituencies and
counties." Mr. Raper having read the petition,
which embodied the views of the Alliance,
oontended that the Legislature could and should deal with
the question this year, by introducing a bill at the end of
the session and carrying it through promptly. (Cheers.)
The resolution was unanimously carried.
The proceedings, :which were marked throughout with
the greatest enthusiasm, terminated with a vote of thanks
to the noble chairman.

NORWICH ELECTION.—At a meeting of the
Liberal party held yesterday, it was resolved that Mr Tillett
be requested to contest the vacant seat.

The select committee upon the Public Prosecutors
Bill commenced its labours to day, and was occupied all
the afternoon in examining and discussing the clauses
seriatim, No evidence is required to be given before the
committee, which will, therefore, sit with closed doors

CRYSTAL PALACE.—The great flower show of the
season tahes place to-worrow (Saturday). The entries are
very numerous, particularly in the most attractive classes,
the orchids and azaleas. The new feature introduced in
the show last year of an international bouquet competition
will be repeated in to-morrow's exhibition on an increased
scale. Several entries have already been received from
Parisian bouquetists, and altogether the show promises to
be more than,usually beautiful and interesting. The band
of the Coldstream Guards and the company's orchestral
band will perform, separately and united, during the day.
The gardens of Rockhills will be open for promenade
during the afternoon.