Year: 1872

the Government satisfies nobody. Mr. Bruces BILL last
year, irritated the pubicans beyond endurance and
they showed their teeth in way that forced Ministers
to recede from the moderately advanced position
they then took. That position cost them half dozen
in Parliament 1t would put in peril 100 II


general election were TO occur, for the Licensed
victuaers have adopted the policy which some Of the
Abstinence leaders In America have long urged upon
the Maine Law partythat Of putting this question above
party politics. Here the trade is undoubtedly stronger
and far better organized than in America and can make
its power directly and Immediately felt; and 1t has
only announced Its policy but given abundant PROOF
of its resolution and ability TO carry out that policy re-
gardless Of political consequences No government, no
party is strong enough to defy IT. and the result that
this Government has yielded to it, and has In effect
abandoned tho purpose which last year 1t proclaimed
Mr. Bruce then said should expect the House to con-
cur I'm the propoton that under the existing system far
more licenses are issued than the public good requires
there being pubchOuse or beershop for every ls2 per-
sons His bill was honestly framed on that basis, ana
endeavored though cumsiy enough to provide for the
restriction OF future licenses and for the extinction IN
certain cases. OF part OF those already existing That
attempt may be said to be abandoned in the present BILL


for though provisions are retained which throw some inn
pedmens in the way OF granting licenses, 1t is well
understood that the interference with the monopoly now
possessed by the pubcans is not to bo tried on very
great SCALE The surrender may be lamentabe exhi-
bton Of political weakness but about the fact there can
be no dispute The Ministry have TOO many other fOes 10
confront TO insist fighting the Licensed Vctualers


1t can be avoided Whether they regain the support
they have alienaed, and concate the confidence
forfeited last year. is question which must be left to
future elections to answer. But have said enough 10
show that any legislative action 10 be taken at present
be Of the most moderate nature Lord Kimberleys
bill passed to second reading. Whether it has any
chance OF becoming law know not. II it does IL will
do something to make publichOuses little more orderly
little respectable, If you will pardon the word
but it will contribute nothing whatever to the eucdation
OF the problems that perpex theirnvestigaon still less
anything to the progress OF the cause Of total abstinence


Trivial the measure is, 1t may in contingencies
prove dangerous and fatal to the Ministry The re-
port to-day is that the Licensed Vctualers feel strong
enough resist the passage OF any measure and that
the Conservatives inclined to look upon the Licensing
bill a suitable upon which TO give battle. The
publicans especially strong in many Of the Liberal
boroughs and is believed that not few Of the Liberal
members would think it for their interest to vote against
this b at the cost OF Ministerial defeat and
dissolution next Autumn. The truth is that the Liberal
majority Parliament dsorganzed that 1t may
to pieces any question: the most unmpOrtant or the
most vital. G. W. s.
For o!hsr Foreign Correspondence, gee hird page