21 MARCH 1891, Page 3

We observe with surprise that Mr. Courtney, the Chairman of

Committees, voted for this crude Bill, and that Sir Henry James and Mr. Chamberlain did not vote against it, though Lord Hartington did. But this is just the sort of Bill for which Members vote, or from voting against which they care- fully abstain, in deference to the strength of the clique which supports the policy of the Bill. It is almost impossible to conceive such a man as Mr. Courtney approving the principle of such injustice as this Bill sanctions, and would certainly cause. If we are to punish men by ruin for having engaged in the sale of alcohol,—which is often a most valuable element in. human food,.—why not punish them by ruin for selling packs of cards, which only promote innocent amusement at best, and at worst lead to gambling, cheating, and suicide