Year: 1872

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OF LoRDs-THE


GOVERNMENT MEASURE UNsATIsFACToRY-
ORGANIZED RESISTANCE OF LICENSED VIC
TUALERS.
lFROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRTBUNB.l
LONDON, May 3.-Though greatly discouraged
by Mr. Bruces failure last year. the Government are still


trying do something to CONTROL II not to repress, the
Hquortrahic The subject was thought a good one to
bring on this year the House OF Lords; the House or
Commons being overworked and the necessity Of den
tying the with Mr. Bruce being thus avoided
The bill which introduced weeks ago Is more OF
pocemeasure than anything else, aiming as 1t does to
improve the character Of pubchouses by keeping them
under strcter rules 1t may be assumed that Lcens
ing Bill would suit the beerseng interest, 1t is not
surprising that the pubcans advocates find great deal
10 complain Of in Lord Kimbereys measure, Shich was
discussed Thursday night in the Lords on the motion for
its second reading The Duke OF Richmond complained
that the bill bears all the marks Of hasyprepared
and iconsdered measure. 1t certainly should nofor
the Government have been perfectly aware, since Mr.
Bruce's fasco OF last year, that they must bring in


fresh bill during this session, and they have had about
nine months time for preparation Yet 1t does look as


il they had at the last moment hudded together mass
OF idigesed provisions which only took shape bill
when private bill threatening TO take the matter
out of their hands Sir sewn Ibbeson was to move the
second reading Of his proposal in the Commons the
18th of March, and il was the 10th that Lord Kimber
ley introduced the Government IN the Lords
The circumstances give some color to the Duke OF Rich
monds suggestion that the Government afraid as
he expressed IL, Of being oyerrumped 1t is certain
that when Sir selwin's bill on in the Commons,
Ministers did not choose to risk discussion on it, but
talked it out In comparison with the present the bill
OF last year might called ambitious. Yet neither in
that nor in this is there approach to recognition OF
the principle OF Prohibition. suppose therefore, that
the leaders Of the Temperance Movement In America
can feel but slight interest in the fortunes OF this
measure Whether IL is passed or defeated and whether
II passed. succeeds fails as an administrative meas
ure it proves little nothing for against their main
propostion Except Sir Wifrid Lawson and his follow
ers in the United Kingdom Alliance, there is party In
England which takes its stand Prohibition Nor does
the Alliance itself 20 for than Permissiye Pro-
hbition.


The debate such measure as that OF Lord Kimber-
ley s interesting only in details. Total abstaners who
argue the existence OF crime caused by drunken
ness 10 the necessity Of legislative prohibition OF the
means OF getting drunk, will find plenty OF testimony In
the speeches OF men who have no sympathy with their
views There is the eloquent Bishop OF Peterborough,
Dr. Magee whose speeches would be worth reading on
no what subject He goes further than most men
in favor Of stringent regulation OF the liquor traffic. He
found fault that score with last years BILL He Is
for giving the rate-payers voice In controlling the
traffic Yet he is as much opposed to the Permissye
bill as Mr. Bass hmsef-On different grounds OF course.
He will not submit the tyranny OF mere majority,


in such matters the majority being not represented but


made nm by counting from door TO door in particular dis
trcs TO settle whether each district the right to sell
louor should be conceded denied. "If am given
the choice excans the Bishop" aud this does seem
70 he the choice involved in the Permissiye b-I should
saw would be much better that England should be free
than that England should be sober" Yet the peroraoh
of the Bishops speech appeal to the House OF LoruS
% consider deeply and earnestly how far they can re-


ntemperance, and the evils arising out OF II ana
how 20 do that In such way that the interests OF the
,orkng classes shall be duly considered Lord sals
hurv in n similar spirit rdiculed the notion thst the
ra,e.naver in whom Sir Wifrid Lawson has 80 nuch
hone wanted the control OF this subject put into his
bands The rate-payer thinks the famous Marquis Is ny
No means being who occupies himself largely with the


moral and social advancement OF his kind He yentured
IN sav that II he succeeded in keeping sober himself
that was the most he hoped to attain And he did not
believe IL possible 10 make people sober by Act OF Par
lament


From speeches like these, and even more clearly from
the reply of Lord Kimberley 1t is easy TO see at what
point the temperance movement practically stops
Neither the Government the Opposition are any
where adopting the idea Of legislative repression OF
the hquor traffic. IL is not q party question. The
Church s not for IT, Public opinion seriously concerned
s II Ia with the question OF ntemperance. Ia not for It,
Not even permissye prohibition has 40 far as know,
any among the Prese Yet the course OF