New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-08
NOTES FROM LONDON.
POLITICAL. PERSONAL. DRAMATIC.

POLITICAL. PERSONAL. DRAMATIC.
lyxoh THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBuSE.I
LONDON. June 20.
Tho Deceased wife's Sister bill passed success
fully on Tuesday tho ordeal hich Its enemies were
said to be preparing for it. First they threatened
to divide again on the general principle of the bl
refusing, as the moro violent declared, to allow
msjcrit, of seven to overturn the social system of
England. But these zealots were put to silence by
their leaders, who were well aware that II would
be hopeless TO try to induce the House Of Lords TO
reverse settled principle of legislation. Then
came the question whether the bill should be
allowed to be retrospective. It's opponents declared
themselves perfectly confident of striking out the
clause which recognizes marriages already made,
and iegitimzes the offspring of such unions. But
hero again sober heads took other views Lord
Eelborne and the Archbishop Of Canterbury united
IN assuring the minority, to which they themselves
belonged that the principle of retrospect!on was in
volved ia the decision already taken aud could not
bs reversed. Questions Of detail were open; the
main question was not Finally came Lord Dali
housie's new proposal for the solemnizng of mar
riage with deceased wifes sister in church, and t0
this proposal because 1t was now and for other rea-
sons cogent to the clerical mind. stout opposition
was offered In the end. IL was postponed. What
its fate will be on the third reading shall not at
tempt TO predict.
Lamentations over the measure continue. Last
Weexs Guardian, the leading Church organ. rated
The bishops for not making better stand against it,
To the horror Of the lay mind the bishops were
told that they were believed 10 have forborne
speaking in order to please the Prince Of Wales who
wanted to 60 to dinner. If this sort of thing can be
said by the me uthpiece Of the Church over which
the bishops rule what may not the unragenerate be
b., Az chnr.aa hmn
they have demonstrated; they and their friends.
Tho Bishop Of Winchester repels the charge.
though not in very direct terms. He declares the
division was taken early because they hoped TO get
moro votes, and 80 on and in his turn rebukes
Tho Guardian for joining In the cry hpiscopos dd
1eones, whenever anything goes vrong with the
Church. The Guardian sticks to its colors, and IN
the most unworldly spirit teaches sthe bishops that
their duty not to think Of votes but to rise one
after the other the whole twenty-five OF them,
suppose), and make their protest against measure
which they, in common with the great majority OF
their clergy. hold to be one which Parliament 10
morally Incompetent to pass. Had they done this,
they would have ceased, we are assured, to be
merely Peers of Parliament and would have been
hailed as the real representatives of the Church.
As for the Prince of Wales and his dinner they be-
came insignificant in presence of this controversy,
In which, nsed not say he, not the least inten-
ton of taking part. but on which gaze as SYM
yathetic spectator with the keenest interest.
II may Dc too much to hope that the anti-vaccina-
fion people will accept the verdict of the House OF
Commons but II lie tolernbly certain that tho
country regards 1t ouietus upon that particular
form of agitation. Smallpox had an excellent
champion IN Mr.. Peter Taylor one of the most sim
oers and ION this subsct least wise of the extreme
Radicals; Able enthusiastic. and just regardless
of himself a. of his nsighbors. He is man to
whom tie House listons-psrtly because he does not
ask 1t to listen very often partly because he really
10 worth listening to. He is of the true type Of
apostles of zeal that can resist the fear of ridicue
and tho intellectual acceptance Of proved facts.
On the facts there Is really against vaccina-
tion. By what process Mr. Taylor convinced him
eelf that there is must be left for him to explain
BY what process he shuts his mind to such proof
Of the utility Of vaccination as is supplied by the
speeches of Sir Lyon Playfair and Sir Charles
Dixie is q greater mystery STILL DR.. Playfair
conceded that vaccination Is in some rare cases
(about 4 out of IL OOO, OOO) mischevous. He mono
the less demonstrated that the benefit it has con-
fsrred on the community is immense. Both speeches
we're admirable rs statements of the scientific and
administrative side Of the controversy. II contro-
vorsy il can be called. single sentence may be
quoted from Sir L. Playfair "The returns
showed that while the rate of mortality from small
pox was 5000 per million IN the last century. the
voluntary vaccination force during the first forty
years of this century reduced it to 600; the State
aided vaccination which followed brought it down
to 305; while under the present compulsory system.
il is only 1885," Hardly less striking is Sir Charles
DTkss remark to the effect that $50 men out of
1000 arc now. il is computed. vaccinated. and
that out Of tho forty unyaccinatcd nearly as many
L. <nf fba NJ cd in
more.
These two speeches. hear. had the very unusual
eject Of actually influencing votes. Mr.. Taylor, at
any rate, was able to carry into the characterization
lobby bat sixteen supporters, while 2s6 voted
against him. If question can be settled. 1t ought
70 be settled by majority Of 270. The little MI
uorty Included hardly any body but croschet-mong-
ers-men like Mr.. Arthur Arnold, Sir Wilfred Law
con. Mr.. Joseph Cowen, Mr.. Jacob Bright, TO whom
xnust be added Mr.. Laboucbere, whose delight in
making part Of any minority on any subject what
ever 10 always keen.
The death Of Bishop Colenso is discussed for the
most part in that tone Of respectful and regretful
admiration which is the due of man whose great
abilities have been devoted to the service OF others.
he has been well described as Bishop with pas
mon for Justice; and when gets Bishop of that
kind too much honor cannot be done him. But
suppose it would DO toe much to expect that the
man who wrote the Pentateuch" should ever be
forgiven by Biblical bigots; by which phrase mean
80 designate the dwindling minority OF Churchmen
who still cling to that supcrsttious faith in the
verbal inspiration and historical accuracy OF the
Bible now abandoned by the immense majority Of
intelligent Christians.
DR.. Colsnso certainly has not been forgiven. Ore
High Church writer recomnences the old attacks In
the old style. No man Of delicate honor. says this
woralist could have held the Office Of Bishop of the
Church Of England ono day after writing the too
famous Psntatouch.n The English world re-
garded ~ joke the curious spectacle of Bishop
who looked on the Bible as predestined to afford