One hundred years ago THE debate on Wednesday on a
Bill for closing public-houses in Ireland on Saturday nights, otherwise unimpor- tant, was noteworthy on account of Mr Parnell's attitude. Many of his followers supported the Bill, but he, though an avowed friend of temperance, opposed it, on the ground that such a Bill should only be passed by an Irish and repre- sentative authority. That is a sensible argument enough from his point of view; but then, why is he not consistent, but even proposes in Parliament Land Bills which are purely Irish? The Gov- ernment, moreover, never introduces a Bill containing a grant for Ireland but the Irish Members jump at it, and it passes often almost undiscussed. If Par- liament has moral authority to pass a Bill remitting arrears due by Irish tenants to Irish landlords — which no Parnellite dreams of questioning, — it has surely the same authority to reg- ulate the selling-hours of public-houses. We cannot ourselves agree in principle to any legislation which treats grown men as children; but if it is wise to stop liquor-selling at any time, it is wise to stop it just when the pockets of wage- receivers, and of them only, are fullest of cash.
The Spectator, 12 May 1888
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