The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-23 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Tao DAY.—Morning, 2h. 10m.--Afternoon, 2h. 30w.
T3-Moßßow.-Al.3rning, 2h. 55m.—Afternoon, 3h. 20w.

The National Temperance League continues its
praiseworthy efforts to improve the moral tone of
the lower classes, and has just begun its fourth
series of meetings at the Lambeth Baths. Mr.
HUGHES, M.P., presided, and spoke with his usual
good sense. He expressed his anxiety to see the
people, as a rule, more temperate, though he dis-
approved of the Permissive Bill, saying very justly
that, in the first place, he did not believe it had the
slightest chance of being passed; and, in the second,
if it were passed, it would create a very unsa-
tisfactory feeling throughout the country. This is
undoubtedly tree, and all experience proves that
forced converts are worth very little. The abuse
of some should not in common justice prevent the
use of others, and if the Legislature is to forbid all
indulgences which may be carried to excess both
Parliament and people will have a hard time of it.
Mr. HUGHES, however, holds that something more
is necessary than moral persuasion, and thinks the
law is not sufficiently stringent. Instead of
drunkenness being admitted as an extenua-
tion of an offence before a legal tribunal
he would have it held as au aggravation.
Then, as to the licensing system, he thought it de-
fective, and would like to see a measure passed by
which, after two or three offences had been proved
against any particular publichouse, the owner should
be fined, and that, on a repetition of the offence, he
should forfeit his licence. This, he thought, was the
first practical measure at which they should aim ;
but the whole movement in favour of temperance he
held to be very important, and one upon whose suc-
cess depended the future of the country. There is no
I doubt of tie vast importance of discouraging intem-
perance
daleondgonoeuornwborokith sidesno working men,
of but there
q question..
e s t
i omustn . be
a great
among
It
is the want of recreation,the
inability to appreciate
intellectual amusements, the •
, discomfort of their
homes, and the amusement, excitement, and society
Ito be found in the public-house. Going to the
lower strata, men who are 'worn out with
exhausting
toil, and come home to dirty, evil smelling,
over
crowded cellars and garrets, to coarse, unattrac-
tive food, are very easily tempted to search
for temporary forgetfulness of their misery.
Men in the upper ranks, after a hard day's political
or professional or commercial employment, may turn,
if they like, to the
club or the theatre, or, if they
prefer the quiet of their own firesides, can take
pleasure in art or literature. What resource has
the working man if principles or prudence keep him
from the public-house ? Ile has -not education
enough, perhaps, to make reading a pleasure; his
one room is too frequently a scene of confusion
and discomfort, and his wife too busy,
or too ignorant, to be any companion. It
is in scenes like these that the real danger
lies, and no Act of Parliament will remove it until
working men cease to be men, and become the
philesphical machines some social and political
reformers take them for. The two great evils of
bad dwellings and want of education have much to
do with the prevailing intemperance. While our
practical philanthropists would do well to consider
whether they cannot provide some less dangerous
amusement for the illiterate man whom mechanics'
institutes arc too learned to benefit.

Dublin appears anxious not to be behind the pre-
vailing fashion for entertainments, and the enter-
tainment just given to the Lord-Lieutenant seems
to have been a very successful one altogether, both
in the company that assembled and in the enthu-
siasm which prevailed. his Excellency was well
received, and made an interesting 8, eech, relating