We cannot find apace to deal in detail with the
debate on the Licensing Bill in the House of Lords, which began on Wedneaday and was continued on Thursday and Friday. We desire, however, to express our satisfaction that the Arch- bishop of Canterbury was sufficiently recovered from his accident to address the Peers. His speech was in every way worthy of the occasion, and of the speaker's repu- tation for moderation and wise counsel. The leader and representative of the national Church has played exactly the pa.t Which the country at large feels should belong to his high office. The Archbishop ended a speech Strongly in favour of the second reading by endorsing the suggestion *Hob had been made the previous day by Lord St. Aldiryn, that the general temperance clauses of the Bill- i.e., thesi3 WhiCh did not touch the question of lieensing=shotild be rescued from . the wreck. Lord Rosebery was equally emphatic in favour of the second . reading. After all, be deolared, we all want practically the table thing. do hot *lei to deprive anybody of necessary comfort, "solace, or
enjoyment. We do wish to do away with degrading drunken- ness, Which is the curse of our nation." In these circum- stances, was not some compromise possible P The final result of the debate, and of these appeals to save sodiething from the wreck, cannot be known before we go to press, but we fear there is very little likelihood of any settlement of the kind being arrived at. That the Government are not going to dis- solve and appeal to the country against the Lords is obvious. They realise too well the view which the nation takes of their policy of yielding to the demands of the Socialists, and of ruining the cause of Free-trade.
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