A furious attack on the Licensing Clauses of the Customs
Bill has been going on almost all the week, Sir William Harcourt doing his best to represent these clauses as pure bribes to the publicans ; while the Parnellites, with a very different animus,—for they really wish to see publicans bought out,—have aided in the attack in order to press their point that the spirit-duties weigh very unfairly on Ireland, and that Ireland bears much more than her fair share of the public burdens. On Monday, the allies kept the Government at bay all night, Mr. Courtney disallowing the application of the Closure more than once, and Lord Hartington at last appealing to the Government to give way. On Tuesday, when the attack on the Licensing Clauses was resumed, it appeared that Mr. Gosehen was perfectly ready, and had been perfectly ready on the prAinous day, to grant the Select Committee for which the Parnellite Members asked, to inquire into the relative financial burdens of Great Britain and Ireland. Mr. Goschen does not admit that Ireland is unfairly treated, but he is very anxious that the truth should be known as to whether Ireland is unfairly treated or not. After the Parnellites were satisfied that they were to have their Committee, their eager support of the Opposition collapsed, and on Wednesday the Licensing Clauses passed through Committee, in spite of Sir Wilfrid Lawson's and Mr. Caine's fierce opposition.
