The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-13 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

The Times, in referring-to.tloidebate on the Permissive
Bill, says let us assume; bra slight stretch of imagination,
the Permissive. Liquor Bill carried, and two-thirds of a
population of, say, 100,000 men inclined to apply it
against the remaining one-third. Imagine 33,000 English-
men, in the -present state of public opinion on the ques-
tion, suddenly deprived of their usual means for getting
their spirits or beer. Serious riots would, we think, be a
far more probable result---than the • promised decrease of
intoxication, and, the riots over, their legacy would be an
organised system of illicit drinking at private'in lieu of
public-houses. Happily, however, this objection does
not apply to more gradual measures for the suppression
of intoxication—such, for instance, as that sketched
on Wednesday by the Home Secretary—for the simple,
yet all-important, reason that gradual measures will not
excite the same opposition. There is all the difference in
the world between telling a sober, hard-working man that
lie shall have no public-house whatever, to get his daily
beer at, and telling him that 116-'4'all no longer hare his
choice_ of half-a-dozen, or use even one, except under cSr-
tainstrietions. We doubt, for itvitanee, whether the
partial clositig of the pnblic-housek on Sunday creates any
41i,,content atnone: reipsetable pecde. but we are quite
sire theta t•lt-sgetlice ould create w idesp raid
and deep di-,satisfaction. If gradual roetvatres pave the
way for'a e!lange in public opinion,. Lawso:t,
or his grauds,it, may some day. have the pleasnre of carry-
ing through iu peaceful triumph a Permissive Prohibitory
Liquor Bill. •
The Staddaol thinks that the plan.of Sir Wilfrid LaW-
son is certainly simple enough ; so simple, that,: as he
rather naively confessed, he had a difficidty hi ex laining
it—perhaps because no •explanation "Was required. Ile -
proposes to put it into the power of tWo-thifds o therate-
• payers in any borough, parish, or tournship,to pass a pin-
bibitive bye-law, the effect of which will be to prevent the
rest of the inhabitants froni havin:g, a public-honse
within their boundaries. The bill does net go so far
as to make the mere drinking of beer by thirsty souls
a statutable 'offence, but only to shut up the places
where it is. usually bought and sold. It would draw
a cordon round every Permissive Bill adopting parish, and
would make the entire boundary between the adopting,
parish and its non-adopting neighbour a trysting-ground
for everyone who wanted "to liquor up," if only to slew
his attachment to constitutional freedom and his aversion
to statutory strait-jackets. We have no wish to see
English independence cut down to the Saltaire pattern,
and, therefore, while we acknowledge that our laws for
regulating the liquor traffic urgently require amendment,
we are pleased to observe that the second reading cf the
Permissive Bill was lost by a majority of more than

two to ore.
The Pc,lt declares that the home Secretary hit the nail
vu the head when he pointed out that if crime and
drunkenness and immorality arc to be checked, it can
be done solely by improving the condition of the lower
classes by educational means, and by affording to them
inducements to spend their leisure hours and their spare
cash elsewhere than in public-houses. Mr. Bruce, how-
ever, admitted that special legislation with reference to
the number of public-houses in particular districts, and to
the hours during which they remain open, might become
necessary, and he pledged the Government to bring iu

next session a measure framed in that spirit. •
The Daily News remarks that the friends of the Per-
missive Prohibitory Bill—in phraseology so paradoxical
does the policy of its authors involve them— did not carry
the second reading of that measure on Wednesday,
neither could they have expected to do so. The English
character must undergo a radical change before a bill
which interferes so extensively with individual freedom
can pass. But they obtained from the Home Secretary a
declaration that the Govern ment were ready to deal with
the general question of the licensing system and the regu-
lation of public-houses, by a bill in which the interests of
those who require the use of public-houses will be con-
sidered, together with those of order, peace, and quiet-
ness. This assurance satisfied the Muse, and for the
present, we believe, will satisfy the country.
The Telegraph says that to the Permissive Bill there
remains the fatal objection that it would mete out one
law to the rich and another to the poor. For many
reasons, the bill must be condemned as an unwarrantable
attempt to interfere with private liberty, and as pregnant
with the very spirit of legislative unfairness. -At the same
time, it is impossible to defend the present system of
licensing the liquor trade. Not a speaker in Wednes-
day's debate denied that the licensing system was a
scandal to the country. Both by 3.1 r. Forster and Mr.
Bruce that fact was stated with refreshing emphasis ; and
the Home Secretary made the important announcement
that next session the Government would introduce a
sweeping measure for the reform of the liquor traffic. A
Liquor Traffic Reform Bill is imperatively required. It
must be sweeping, and it must not embody the principles
which were on Wednesday condemned by the Ifonse of
Commons. By these two facts the legislation on the
subject must be guided.

The Star reminds us that a great evil may require a
radical remedy, but it is necessary that it should be 'a real
one, and that it should not be made intolerable by imposing
intolerable restrictions on the liberty of the subject. This
line of argument is entitled to a respectful consideration
on the part of those who support the proposed prohibitory
legislation, and it likewise appears to us to justify the
compromises which have been suggested. Mr. W. E.
Forster struck the key-note of practical legislation when
he raised his voice for " restriction, not prohibition." The
whole subject is beset with difficulties to the statesman,
because it is one which he must consider in all its aspects,
and not merely from one point of view. It is, however,
a matter with which Mr. Bruce is perfectly competent to
deal, and we cannot doubt that his measure will consti-
tute such a settlement of the controversy as will satisfy
the friends of temperance that they have not laboured in
vain.

The Times thinks it is gratifying to receive so emphatic
a disclaimer of Mr. Sumner's extravagant propositions as
wa.s contained in the recently-published letters of "An
American Citizen" and Mr. de Tracey Gould. Both
assure us that Mr. Sumner only spoke for himself ; that
the printing of his speech by order of the Senate by no
means commits that body to his reasoning; that the
almost unanimous vote which followed it implies no
more than a disapproval of one particular settlement ; and
that we have no ground for doubting the pacific inten-
tions of the President or the nation. We entirely agree
with Mr. Gould that war between this country and the
United States is a contingency not, indeed, physically
impossible, but as morally impossible as the strongest
motives of national policy and sentiment can make it.
Let Mr. Sumner disguise it as he may, the Americans
know that our Government acted with good faith through-
out, and erred, if at all, from a misconception of neutral
duties. Above ail, they know that, in submitting to arbi-
tration on the Alabama claims, we concede everything
that Mr. Seward originally demanded, everything that
was expected of us by any reasonable man in the United
States befoie Mr. Sumner's mischievous speech, and every-
thing that it is possible to concede without lowering our-
selves equally in their eyes and our own.

The Herald observes that the profession of the Liberal
leaders was, that they, and only they, could heal the dis-
orders of Ireland. They alleged that a crisis in her condi-
tion had occurred ; a crisis demanding prompt remedies ;
a crisis to.which .Mr. Disraeli was unequal ; remedies the
apposite of those suggested by Lord layo. They insisted
on the instant demolition of the Church as a pledge of
satisfaction to Ireland. They demanded access to office in
order that they might conciliate the Roman Catholic
population, or, as Mr. Bright calls them, the people of
Ireland. They were taken at their word. -They were
put in possession of power to fulfil their engagements.
The constituencies returned a vast majority pledged. to
Mr. Gladstone's service ; hound to do his bidding un-
falteringly and unhesitatingly in all that concerned Ire-
land. Never had a Minister so clear a field. Never was
a proffer of conciliation so complete and unconditional.
If, then, the Minister has failed he stands condemned as
a quack, and his policy as a blunder. If Ireland is not
conciliated it is because there was no chance of conciliating
her by the proposed method. No one will, we think,
deny that Mr. Gladstone has failed in this respect. It is
perfectly plain that Ireland is nut one whit more loyal
because she believes that the Church is about to be sacri-
ficed ; and no reasonable man can suppose that the con-
summation of the sacrifice will make any difference hi her
feelings. Those that are traitors will be traitors still ;
those that . are restrained from treason by fear will be a
little less fearful ; we wish it were as certain that those
who have been loyal will remain so.

The Daily News considers that so far as parliamentary
eminence is concerned, the choice of the electors of Lis-
li,ard is not open to censure. Mr. Iforsman is 7 notable
a,:.iition to the del ating power and the intellectual (quill,
vnt•za Par;i:oni,rit. plat career Pnggvats, however,

twrne

tic-t tr.) 142 futtirP

Thrre wprol

I:lormers befOre the I,Lforrnation, and Mr. Iforsman was
an Ada:lamite years before the Cave of riari was formed.
Ire was in revolt dnringth of I.nrsl Palmerston's
second Admin:strat;on..rin ‘ahich he is a. 3 , not . asked to
r*l•surne the oTee !thief Secretary for Ireland. Mr.
liorsnian has more than once propounded a theory bi
p.ditical Caves, and a defence of their inhabitants,
which he is %veil qualified to undertake, for he has
Eyed more in them than out of them. Iris %indica-
tion need:not be scanned too closely, if it is intended.
as an apology for the past ; but the same in:.
dulgence cannot be extended to it if it be designed
as a declaration of intentions as to the future.
It will be for Mr. Horsman to show that he has learned wisdom from his own mistakes. Otherwise the electors of I
Liskeard are not likely to be blinder to his errors than
they pro7eiti,ernmelvett a fw jear3_l,l2 t 4 > 11 hilatil

an the part of Mr; Bernal Osborne. The new
member cannot feel himself perfectly secure in
his seat. He has some ground for anxiety.
Post equitem, sedet atra cura. Black care sits
behind the horseman. As formerly, -so now on the
great questions which occupy, or are likely to engage,
the nation, Liberal principles are less revolutionary than
Conservative expedients. Mr. Gladstone is a more con-
stitutional statesman than Lord Derby; and Mr. Bright
is less dangerous than. Mr. DOraeli. If Mr. Horsmaii
has taken this lesson home to himself, his abilities may
!liable him to render good service in Parliament. If he
has not, he cannot be acquitted of a more than Bourbon
perversity and unteachableness, and will not escape
the inevitable fate which these qualities entail on their
possessor.

REPORT ON TRE SALMON FISHERIES.

The reports of Mr. Frank Backland and Mr. Walpole
an the improvenient and -extension of salmon cultivation
in this country contain some interesting information. The
salmon Acts of 1841 and 1815 have given an impetus to
this branch of pisciculture. The number of boxes of
English and Welsh. salmon sold at Billingsgate • has
:nerea.l from F 11.3 in 1F45 to 2,•l L in 1.507 Last, year, it
s tine, the number deetinnd to 1,725, but that was attri-
:.isitable to the unfavourfilte weather in the fishing season.
London is not the only inarket for English and Welsh
slirten, but the variations in the general supply
may' be inferred from th.e.se figures. The supply
from seutlanit has also largely increased. Mr.
Bucklaild, is -sanguine.. as to
.the-.ultimate development
of the- fisheries, and anticipates that salmon will become
a- nutrition's article of food at a cheap rate" for the
Returns have been sent in from thirty-two dii-
triets, in which there are 3,728 fishermen employed in
olnion net fishing, besides the licensed anglers-, of whom
there are 1,805. Mr. Walpole, however, tells us that,
judging by the standard of the 'Tyne, the Ifumber ought
to occupy,lo,ooo fishermen, and its tributaries 1,000 rods,
while 50,000 net fishermen ought to find profitable employ.
ment in the English rivers. The Tync is the most pro-
luctive river in all England, but illegal fishing is carried on
there to a great extent. The Eden,. in Cumberland,:
'a a fine river, '7O miles in length, and yields 15,000 salines
year. In some of the rivers there are obstructions ti.;
the passage of the fish, in others the waters are polluted
by mills or poisoned by mines, and in all these cases the
fish suffer. The river Exe, in Devon, was once celebrated
for its salmon, and is naturally a salmon and sea trout
river. The fishing has been injured by the obstructions,
but it is now being preserved and improved. The Camel,
• running through Cornwall, is pronounced by Mr.,Buck-
land to be a most promising river, but the Exe suffers
`Tom the numerous weirs. The Exeter Town Council
ire exerting themselves to render it passable. The York-
'hire rivers, Kidd and Ouse, are expected to haven good
supply of fish next year. The mischief done by mining
ind mill poisoning is shewn by the Tavy, in Devon,
which used to be a famous salmon river. Its fish have
sow been poisoned by the " 4-owning out" of a mine, and
't will need great care to restore its former value. Mr.
Walpole, in his report, insists upon the necessity of prohibit-
ng the opening of amine until precaution hasbeen taken to
prevent the flow of all poison from it into the river. Mr.
Buckland insists with equal energy upon the opening of
the weirs, and trusts that Parliament will soon provide
`that every weir in every salmon river shall be made pas.
table to fish at all times." The other points on which the
!ommissioners recommend legislation are the formation
)f local byelaws, the regulation of hatches and gratings to
Hills, the increase of power to water bailiffs, and the regu-
',talon of sea fisheries in the estuaries, of licenses for nets,
!el traps, itc. The reports are, on the whole, encouraging
is to the prospect of our salmon fisheries, while those who
ive near the salmon rivers will certainly profit if the
7ecommendations of the commissioners are put in practice,
since the water which poisons salmon cannot be very well
adapted for the use of human beings.