Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-21
OUR LONDON LETTER.
TIE TEMPERANCE MavsHEdT N EN-
CLAHD.
ne Puhncans OF Our paY-Fhey Score
americans for Their Bespectabil-
ity-A Charity School
IoxDor. June .. 1883.

shose who draw their living from the evils
aEtagouized likewise bestir themselves, and
very frequently the activity of the enemy
Is the best index of the strength of such
movements. Thus, there is no aurer proof
Of the scope and force Of the temperance
movement in this country than the desper-
ate efforts to beat back the on Incoming tide
which the grand army of the publicans are
making. These publicana answer to the
American salooR.ksepers, but they are su-
perior to the latter in being universally
Iaw-abiding class. They are free enough
&c express their dissent before measure is
enacted, but afterwards they submit.
Whether their submission arises from any
inborn respect for the majesty of the
statute book, or is merely the result of fear,
Is an open question. But the facts in the
ease are, that when an ordinance is passed
requiring them to close their doors at
sertain hour, they obey it TO the letter,
and that as they we'll know, il they failed
Be to do, a sure and swift penalty would be
Incurred. From these facts let the reader
draw mis- own conclusion. But
THE HNeLIsH PUBLICANs
Are just now in sore distress. From hay-
ing long enjoyed many privileges and i'm
nunities, they have fallen in these latter
years into popular disrepute. If they
wished to describe their condition in script.
Rral language they could truthfully say
with Paul that they "are troubled on
every side" They could not, however,
add with that Apostle thai they care not
cast down" for they evidently are; nor
have they shown any disposition to emulate
him in turning the other cheek TO their
smiters. On the contrary they are of
wRrhke turn OF mind, and only for the
fact that loud talk breaks no bones the con-
fict they are wsging would be both
bloody and destructive one. What has
specially aroused them Just now is the hos
tility to their interests Of the present
House of Commons. Az your readers are
aware, this body not long ago passed
local option resolution-not law bus
simple motion affirming their belief in the
principle and expressing their willingness
TO enact a mild law of this kind when
Providence and the Government gave them
the opportunity. The credit, or, as the
plblicaus think, the discredit of this mild
Parliamentary action, is due to the party
In power, for the Conservatives went almost
to d man against it. Now what the publ
cans particularly do not want is to have the
temperance question get into politics. They
have
NO OBJECTION TO LECTURES
Or to any other form of moral suasion, but
when the Legislature takes the matter up
the case is altered. Forbearance ceases then
TO be virtue they think, and their oppo-
nente having forced the issue on political
lines, they have no alternative but to take
up the gauntlet and fight it out at the
bGllot-box. The consequences they threaten
to Mr.. Gladstone and his Government at
the next election are dreadful to contem-
Mate. Nor are these threats to be re-
rarded lightly, for as in our own country,
she LIQUOR interest here is wealthy and in
fuential 1t ousted Gladstone Govern
rneut once, and what it has done it may do
again. Bat if the Liberal party holds to-
eether such an appeal to the country as
these publicans are signing for will not &C.
cur for four years, and the probabilities are
that in the mean time not only local option
but other measures of a similar character
will be enacted, 1t is hardly possible the
Prime Minister will recede from the posi-
tion he has already taken, and if he does
not it is inevitable that he must go for
ward. This temperance reform iR OF all
the moral reforms of the age continual
advancing one, and a statesman OF MIR.
Giadstone's temperament could no more be
h the current without yielding to the flow
than little boat could resist the mighty
sweep of Niagara. Among the other re-
strictive measures with which the present
Parliament will deal the most important is
that by which it is proposed to put England
OF level with Scotland and Ireland in
THE MATTER OF SUNDAY CLOSING.
A bill to secure this was introduced some
months ago, and will come up shortly for
It's second reading. Whether it will pass
so soon is another question, but that it
will pass eventually would be sorrowfully
admitted, think, by even the dismayed
publicans nor is there the shadow of
doubt that when it s passed it will be
strictly enforced. Meanwhile the agita-
ton goes on, and your readers may posi-
bly, be interested in what is being said. l
cannot, however, give both sides, and as l
always had feeling of pity for the fellow
that was getting the worst of it in fight,
will allow the poor pubhcans to be heard
There is an organization here called the
Licensed victualers' National Defense
League. Its name sufficiently indicates
its nature, and what such body may have
to say on the pending struggle ia sure TO
h. aud aufbnrIfaffxyo
Imagine a representative gathering of the
wholesale and retail liquor men of the
whole United States, and you will have a
fair idea OF the scope and character of
meeting held recently under the above
auspices st the Freemasons' Tavern in Lon
con. Four resolutions were passed. One
condemned taxation as at present applied
10 the trade SIS Excessive and iuequitable
and its continuance as inconsiderste and
unjust"
THB AMOUNT PAID FOR LIcBEsE
Depends upon the rental value of the
premises, and ranges from $3.50 upward
On a thousand-doIlar rent the license
would cost about $3.50 annually. Another
resolution condemned "the tendency to
over.legislate and to Sunday closing as IN.
wise and unwarrantable" Another called
for adequate compensation, either as re-
spects owner or occupier, in cases where
the value of property has been affected by
legislative changes, and demand that the
complainer in such case "should have
the right to appeal to e jury" The other
resolution dealt with local option, declar-
ing that 1.-THE Ministerial approval re-
Gently given to that principle in its sppli-
cation TO the licensing system calls for i'm
mediate and serious attention from all in
any way interested pecuniarily, and from
the public generally, whose liberties are
thereby placed in considerable peril. "
Here it should be noted that the granting
of licenses is at present in the hands of the
magistrates, who are not, as with Us,
elected by the people, but appointed by the
Lord Chancellor. generally holding Office
for life. Usually, if a man wanting
license can make it appear to these fupc-
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