Sir Wilfrid Lawson does not make much progress with his
Permissive Bill. It was again rejected on Wednesday by 278 to 84 votes, or by a majority of 194. Sir Wilfrid, who was well enough to appear and speak for his Bill again, after his severe illness, did not say very much that was new, though he did say, what we quite believe, that he could have made a much better speech against his own Bill than Mr. Wheelhouse, who moved its rejection. He taunted the Government for their "spirited foreign policy and spirituous domestic policy," and generally treated all the arguments why people should be sober, as arguments for the Permissive Bill. Naturally the House did not see the appositeness of such arguments. It is very wrong to get in a passion ; but a Bill to abolish all the occasions for getting into a passion would be a most revolutionary and unhuman measure.
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