The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-15 00:00:00

THE UNITED KINGDOM ALLIANCE

The annual meetings of the United Kingdom Alliance
were held on Tuesday in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester.
The morning gathering was held under the presidency of
Sir Walter Trevelyan. Among many letters of apology
was one from the Archbishop of York, in which, express-
ing his regret at not being able to attend, the most rev.
primate expressed his opinion that bishops should take
more part in the movement than they had done.

A letter from Mr. Gladstone was read. Said the right
hcn. gentleman : "It would be very difficult for me to
explain in writing my views of the liquor question in its
many branches, especially as in a matter of that kind I
hold it to he my duty to watch the currents of opinion in
Parliament and the country, with a view of using them
for the best. . . . I could not go beyond a reference
to my votes and speeches in the House of Commons, in-
cluding declarations made in the session lately expired,
from which you would see that my disposition is to let in
the principle of local option wherever it is likely to be
found satisfactory."

Resolutions expressing the satisfaction felt at the
success of the agitation were carried. Among the speakers
to them were Sir John Bowring, Sir W. Lawson, and
Archdeacon Sandford.

At the evening meeting Archbishop MANNING was one of
the speakers. Ireland, he claimed, had taken the lead in the
movement. He was historically correct in saying that
the name of Father Mathew was inscribed at the head
of those philanthropists and servants of social benefi-
cence who inaugurated that movement. Last year
he (Dr. Manning) felt that he could not go the length
which he was prepared to go now. He said last year,
and now repeated, that if no other means could
he found of extirpating the gigantic evil of
drunkenness, let a Maine law be immediately
passed. But a Permissive Bill was not a Maine law.
There was a distinction so wide and so vital, that a
Permissive Bill came before them in a form and with
recommendations which he believed to be most convincing
and most persuasive to the English people. He meant
this : the Maine Law was an Act of supreme legislative
authority imposing upon the whole people an absolute
statute of prohibition ; a Permissive Bill was an Act to
enable electors or municipal bodies, freely, by their own
vote, to adopt the power which the Legislature gave
them. In this he saw the recommendation of a popular
principle of local self-government, which would be
all im-
portant in dealing with that question. The great curse
which withered the people, and the pestilence which was
devouring them, was drunkenness. To labour to put
that down was their duty ; and in putting it down he was
convinced legislation was necessary. True, they might
not make men sober by Act of Parliament, but
they might do all but make them drunkards.
The reasons which had induced him to declare himself a
supporter of the Permissive Bill were three in number.
First, because he had a sense of indignant impatience
over the fifteen years that had been lost since
the committee of 1854, before which, evidence
abundant and superabundant, and surpassing all need,
was given to prove the necessity of what they sought.
Secondly, the contrast between the action of the respective
parliamentary committees of 1868 and 1854. With the
result of the former he had been completely disappointed,
It declared five things : First, that drunkenness
was on the decrease ; secondly, that the present
restrictions were sufficient ; thirdly, that further restric-
tions would be dangerous ; fourthly, that the evidence
given before it in favour of further restrictions, on the
ground that the people desired it, was got up by a
canvass which was partial, and though in no way dishonest,
still not to be trusted; and fifthly, that such a canvass
was the work of those who went for extreme
measures. Nothing had ever so powerfully impelled him,
(Archbishop Manning) to the Permissive Bill as this. It
might be said, " The extreme length to which you go now
will paralyse your efforts in the other direction." He did
not believe it. The Permissive Bill hadthis recommenda-
tion, namely, that it placed within the reach of those
who were chiefly interested the power of protecting them-
selves. It was forced upon nobody. The mere strugglo
to obtain it would have a powerful effect in preaching
temperance ; and the measure, if passed, would be
more potent, morally, than all the police, under
magisterial direction, in putting down drunkenness. There
was one other reason why be supported the Permissiveßill.
It was embodied in the resolution he had to propose. (The
resolution urged upon constituencies the importance of
requiring candidates to support the Permissive Bill.) The
time and opportunity for action were at hand. They had
a new Parliament and a new constituency. The latter
had never been tampered with ; let them appeal to it.
He regarded the Permissive Bill as no more than a legal
right and power to the people to protect themselves.
He hoped the new Parliament, elected by a new
constituency, would have a more thorough know-
ledge of the state of the people than that which was
expiring ; and that some steps would be taken whereby
the people of England (who were not drunkards, but
amongst a pestilent minority of whom drunkenness
existed) might free the country from the stain which now
rested upon its fair name and fame.
Sir It.l3niscoE seconded the motion, which was passed.
The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
chairman, _ •

Tllll DifißOP EXUTEII,—The Guardian of
night myo, on tla@ tothorlty of printo letters,
Cat " tll vclieutbl DI dim of Ents iIIOWIY eiltl2o
retV,

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