Yesterday week there was a curious and instructive discussion in
the House of Commons on the Bill for extending to the five exempted cities of Ireland the principle of Sunday closing. The Bill was talked out, and was talked out in great measure by the efforts of Irish Members themselves, and- of Members who represented themselves as favour- able to the principle of the Bill, There seems to be no
doubt at all of the great wish for the Bill in Ireland. There seems to be no doubt at all that the Irish people in general think the Sunday-Closing Act,—so far as it applies at present, —a great boon to Ireland. There seems to be no doubt that the Home-rule Party would include the five great boroughs in the Sunday-Closing Act, if they had the Irish Parliament they desire. But there is also no doubt that they do not choose to accept it at the hands of the Imperial Parlia- ment. They allege that the Irish Police use the authority given them, under the Sunday-Closing Act, unfairly and inquisi- torially; and this may be, in part, their objection to extending its scope. But they still more object to receiving any legislation that the Irish people think beneficial from the hands of a British Parliament.
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