DRINK AND ECONOMY.
ere TM§ EDITOR OP THE " SPHOTATOE.1 Sat,—The, indulgent and courteous treatment extended to my letter of last week makes me reluctant to ask permission to trespass again on your space. But if I may do so briefly and in reply to one criticism only, I shall be grateful. Answering my question as to whether a drastic interference with the personal habits of individuals might not disturb national unity, you express your belief that the British people would, when told by the Government that this sacrifice is necessary to win the war, put down their glasses without a murmur. That the British people are ready to make serious sacrifices in order to win the war I readily agree. But I doubt whether the doctrine of Ministerial infallibility has made sufficient progress to persuade many persons to abandon the habits of a lifetime, even when the bidding is made at the instance of a Coalition Cabinet. When one recognizes how vigorous and how successful has been the agitation against compulsory vaccination and inoculation, conducted by a small minority in opposition to the teachings of overwhelming medical authority and of personal experience, there would seem to be little prospect of prohibiting the daily custom of a large majority of the people without creating a storm of angry protest and furious dissent.—I am, Sir, &o.,
[We think better of our countrymen than does Mr. Agg. Gardner. That is the real point between us. The difficulty is to inspire the Government with the courage to give the order. Once given, it will be obeyed almost without a murmur by the working classes. We admit, however, the possibility of passive resistance at the Bar of the House of Commons.—En. ,Spectator:I
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