On Saturday last Mr. Burns presided at a dinner given
to Mr. W. H. Dickinson, M.P., in recognition of his municipal services to London. The Progressives of " the civic renaissance of 1889" had, be declared, inspiration and ideals. "Without a vision the people perish." Mr. Dickinson bad been caught young for municipal service, and gave his best years to what had been a wonderful revolution in the life of London. A bad sign to-day was that the enlistment of young men under the banner of municipal progress was far less rapid than formerly. Mr. Burns went on to say that the present Council practised a parsimony which was worse than extravagance, and London deserved better government. With portions of Mr. Burns's speech, though by no means with the last sentence, we heartily agree, and it is well worth reading as the thought of a Londoner who is intensely proud of his city and extraordinarily well informed in its conditions and history. But the great reform pro- gramme of 1889 led on to a period in which it had become so much the fashion to spend money that money was spent almost for the sake of spending it. The London electorate did well to call a halt at that moment, however much need there may be for further reforms in the future.
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