Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04
From Our Regular CorresPondent'I
Our European Letter.
LONDON. Eng. July 10, 1880.


1t is surprising to see how quickly the
excitement about the Bradlaugh tiasoo has
subsidized. The moment that Mr.. Glad
stones majority of fifty-four was known
people ceased even to talk about the affair
which had so exercised the ir minds for a
fortnight, and Mr.. Bradlaugh took his
place next day without any demonstration.
Bradlaugh was originally lawyers clerk
and afterwards II private soldier. A lead
ing lawyer tells me that he once objected
to Bradlaugh as a witness to legal docu-
ment. Bradlaugh is undoubtedly clever
fellow and is entitled to respect for his
pluck and perseverance.
One of the most remarkable features of
the present government OF England Is its
strong republican element. For the first
time in its history two members of the
government-Mr. Chamberlain and Sir
Charles Dlke-are avowed republicans;
while some others, such as Mr.. Bright and
Mr.. Mandella-are known to be not I'M
favorable to republican institutions. Hith-
erto Sir Charles Dixie has been looked
upon rs the leader of the republican party
in England but since he gave way in
order that his personal and private friend,
Mr.. Chamberlain, should have seat in
the cabinet, the right honorable gentleman
must be looked upon as occupying that
position. In saying this it must not be
forgotten that Mr.. Bradlaugh. who, in
some countries, is often. though erroneous
", believed to occupy that position. Mr..
Bradlaugh is the leader of the secularists
only, and as far down in the scale where
repubicanism is concerned, because in
England republicanism is by no means
synonymous With secularism, as is the
case in France. In the former country
many of the most rigid non .conformists
and dssenters are stanch republicans.
Among the troublesome problems that
the British parliament have to deal with
is the temperance question. Heretofore
the temperance party have not been able
to make much show in that body, but the
present House of Commons has decided
majority in. favor of repressive laws, and
the London Times, which has in the past
opposed legislation of this kind, now says
that the demand for legislative change
in reference to the liquor traffic has become
now so general that we must make up
our minds to whatever experiments may
be needed to satisfy it," At the same time
the Times reports its conviction that the
agitation is unnecessary, says that every
class is reforming itself as fast as it can,
and asserts that drunkenness is no longer
a prevailing vice in the upper and middle
classes, and that the habit fingers only in
the lowest grades" While the temperance
advocates are not in harmony on many
points, they generally agree on the adop-
lion of form of local option law, mainly
the same as that adopted in many of the
cities of the United States.
One of the devices 10 induce temperance
and to keep the poor of London sober and
at the same time merry is now in progress
of realizing itself in substantial brick
and mortar. A Coffee Music Palace is
being built adjoining the old Victoria the.
atre, on Waterloo bridge road, where
music and temperance drinks are to be
dispensed at very cheap rate, while the
theatre itself, the old uproarous Vic," is
to be connected with it and remodeled as
chaste variety hall. This is undoubtedly
move in tho right direction, for in nc
city do know of less amusements for the
poor than in London. We have Philhar.
monte and New Philharmonic concerts,
the concerts of the Crystal Palace, and
the concerts given periodically by Nine,
Viard-Louis; but the half crown admis
sion, the two shilling railway fare and the
extra sixponce for the privilege of entering
the concert room, take the admirable
Saturday concerts of the Crystal Palace
out of the category of cheap entertain
ments. ALPHA.