The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-01

dent, and among the Vice Presidents are sew
oral prelates OF the Church OF England and
leading ministers OF Nonconformist churches.
The object OF the League is Z" to offer strenuous
and uncompromising opposition to every form
OF betting and gambling, and to diffuse among
young men and others useful Information on
the subject" The average young man here
gets daily plenty OF Information on the subject
In the sporting articles and Stock Exchange
reports In tho newspapers. II the League can
convert tho journalists and stock brokers
within the next hundred years they will have
made fair start The statute books contain
many laws against pretty nearly every form OF
gambling except Stock Exchange speculation,
but the evil. by general consent. is at tho pres-
emit moment moro nourishing than 1t ever was.
This afternoon. for instance, the police at New
port, Wales. raided dozen betting places fire.
quented by humble SPECTATORS, and arrested
scores OF people. who in due course Will be
fined in small sums. The Same thing Is done
in London frequently. and could be done daily
with the certainty OF q big haul OF sinners.
but the police do not like the work because
they are invariably accused OF making the
humble offenders suffer at the expense OF
aristocratic offenders whom they are not al
lowed to touch. and magistrates are often actu-
ated by the same feeling. Next week. however.
the eve OF Derby Day. but the West End clubs
will not be touched. aud a roaring betting
business will, as usual. be transacted at aris-
tocratic Tattersalrs under the very noses Of
tho police.
The first nun ber OF Free Russia. the organ OF
The English Society Of Friends OF Russian
Freedom" is published to-day. The editorials
are written in moderate language. and it is ex-
planned that freedom is to be obtained by the
use OF permanent moral pressure on the
Car. Tho paper contains no reference to the
alleged Nihilist plot discovered this week In
Paris. The Germans, by the way. are disposed
TO be suspicious OF the bona-hde character OF
the plot and the belief is widely entertained
that nothing would have been heard OF 1t had
1t not been for the necessity Of giving Russia
proof OF the value OF being on good terms with
France. There is some reason to believe that
most Of the prisoners are dupes, more or less
innocent, OF we'll known agent provacateur.
At the General Assembly of tho Established
Presbyterian Church OF Scotland yesterday
there was an interesting discussion on the
question OF allowing an optional or partial
liturgy and the matter was finally referred to
a special committee. The ultra-Protestant
members OF tho Church bitterly oppose the
proposed reform. which they fear will lead to
what they term Romanism. but the younger
clergymen are strongly in favor Of it. and they
have secured such O powerful following among
the laity that 1t is practically beyond doubt
that permission liturgy will be conceded soon.
Postmaster General Raikes. taking leaf out
OF Balfours Irish book. has been endeavortng
to stop the agitation for better pay and shorter
hours among the Government telegraph clerks
by forbidding them to meet for the discussion
OF grievances unless the official stenographor
is present. The National Conference of Tele-
Eraphers took place at Leicester to-
day. at which the men choerfully denounced
Raikess tyrannioal and unconstitutional
edicts. resolved that their leisure time be-
longed 10 themselves and decided to refuse
admission to the Government notetaker. Tho
mon are we'll organized and full OF fight and
as Raikes is as obstinate as a mule. he may
force matters to a general strike much more
serious than that which took place nearly
twenty years ago.