11 MARCH 1893, Page 3

It is assumed that the Irish Parliament, if established, could

not raise revenue except by taxation ; but is that quite so certain ? We find nothing in the Bill to prevent their establishing a lottery which, with all Europe subscribing, would bring them half-a-million a year. Such a mode of raising funds would be pronounced immoral in England, but it could not be denounced for that reason in any Catholic Parliament, the Popes having sanctioned and profited by the lottery in Rome for more than a hundred years. The com- pany of which M. Blanc was the founder would be delighted to pay the taxes of any Irish city for permission to set up their tables there ; and though the municipalities would reject such offers, they would be sorely tempted to imitate the Italians, Spaniards, and citizens of Hamburg.