The North Wales Express

We do not necessarily identify ourselves with the untiments of our correspondents. CARNARVON SCHOOL BOARD. SIR,—In your last issue of the Express, I notice a report of the School Board, which is rather vague and calculated to mislead. Several persons are under the impression that the child Griffiths was prosecutid by the National School authorities. This is not so, as no girl was ummoned f -)r non- attendance from this school. I shall feel obliged by your inserting tilis iiJ. yoi* next issue.— Yours, &c., A. A. WATKINS. [Tne report referrerl to did not mention any school in particular.—ED.] THE NATIONAL DRINK BILL FOR 1879. DEAR SIR,-The Excise Returns giving the consumption of intoxicating liquors for 1879 have been published, and now, that the excitement of the election is passing away, it may not be un- acceptable to your readers to have placed before them a statement showing the amount of money expended upon intoxicating liquors during the year 1879. The following table gives particulars of the various kiuds of intoxicating liquors consumed, together with the money expended thereon. It also gives the consumption for 1878 British Spirits (a) 27,936,651, at 20s per gallon; X27,936,651 in 1879. £ 29,358,715 in 1878; Foreign do (b) 9 540,851, at 24a per gallon, £ 11,449,021 in 1879, £ 12,636,361 in 1878; Wines (c) 14,945,093, at 18s p-r gallon, £1:3,450,583 in 1879, E14,645,065 in 1879; Beer: Sugar used (d) 1,066,687 per cwt, 4,551,192 per bushel malt Malt used, (e) 49,935,926 per bushel malt—total, 54,487,118; equal to 950,768,124 gallons, Beer at Is 6d per gallon, £73,567,609 in 1879 E82,798,756 in 1878 British Wines (estimate) gallons at 2s, 17,500,000 LI,750,000 in 1879, t 1,750,000 -total, E121,143,861 in 1879, X142,188,900 in 1878. Showing a falling- off in the consumption of X14,015,036, or 9-8 per cent. It will be a source of much gratification to all who are (oncerned for the national well-being to observe the great falling-off which there has been in the consumption of intoxicating liquors in 1879 as compared with 1878, reducing the drink bill to an amount below that of any year since 1871. That year it amounted to £ 118,906,06^ in 1872 it rose t.) £ 131,^01 490; 1873, £ 140,014,712; 1874, £ 141.342,997: 1875, £ 142,876,669; 1876, £ 147,28*,760 in 1S77 it fell to 1142,007,231 in 1878 it rose a little, being X142,188,900, and, in 1879 it had fallen to £128,143,864, being, as I have said, less than any year since 1871, and NINETEEN MILLIONS less than in 1876. 'I Perhaps it may be said that a consideraoie pro- portion of the falling-off has arisen from the diminution of the people's means owing to the depression in trade. Doubtless some of it may have arisen from this cause, but if the falling-off were wholly attributable to the badness of the times, we should find the same cause affecting the consumption of other things, such as tea, coffee, &c., but this has not been the case, as the follow- ing table will show. Table showing the consumption of tea, coffee, and cocoa durinq the years 1878 and 1879: — 1878. 1879. Tea 157 691 7621b 160,652,187lb-I 9 per cent increase Coffee.. 3i,393,2481b. 34,696,256lb-3-9 „ 11 Cocoa. 9,980,1621b. 10,111,5261b—1-3 „ Giving an average increase of 2 6 per cent. From the tables which I have given it will be seen that whilst the consumption of intoxicating liquors fell off to the extent of 9 "8 per cent, the consumption of tea, &c., increased 2 3 per cent, clearly proving that the reduction in the former case did not arise entirely from the crippled resources of the people, but partly from a change in their habits, due to the spread of temperance truth, to the establishment of coffee-houses, &c., and to improvement in the general legislation of the country. It will no doubt also be interesting to your readers to know in what proportion the drink expenditure is spread over the United Kingdom. The following table will show this, so far as con- cerns the consumption of beer and British spirits, which are the main items of expenditure. The particulars for wine and foreign spirits are not given in the returns. Table showing the consumption of beer and British spirits in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively, for the two years 1878 and 1879. Beer. 1878. 1879. England. £ 74,951,760. £ 66,179,066—10'4 per cent decrease Scotland.. 3,996,562. 3,337,792 16 7 11 11 Ireland. 4,850,424. 4,040,695—16'7 11 Spirits. England £ 16,697,663. £ 16,314,174— 2 3 per cent decrease Scotland.. 6,559,147. 6,287,477- 4 1 „ 11 Ireland 6,101,905. 5,336,000—12-5 From the above figures it will be seen that whilst the falling off in the consumption of in- toxicating liquors has been considerable all round, it has been much greater in Ireland, where Sunday closing had recently come into operation, than in England or Scotland, and there can be no doubt that the good resulting from Sunday closing in Ireland would have been still mor marked had it not been that five of the large towns, viz., Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Limerick, and Waterford, are exempted from the operation of the Sunday Closing Act. On taking a general survey of the position of matters relating to the nation's intemperance, there will everywhere be a feeling of great satis- faction, if not of relief, at the rapid progress which has taken place in favour of Temperance during the past few years. During the height of our prosperity, six or seven years ago, whilst the evils of intemperance were universally admitted and by many deplored, there yet appeared on the part of thepubHc to be an indifference and an apathy that filled with gloom the hearts of good men, and the fear arose in many minds that the nation had be- come so greatly debased and enslaved by drink as to have become callous to its vital interests. The continued spread of temperance truth, coupled with the severe distress which has existed, and which has largely been the result of this intemper- ance, has at length not only enlightened the understandings of the people, but has roused them to such a sense of personal obligation as has borne the wholesome fruits to which I have referred. This growth of opinion has been largely mani- fested during the recent elections. For the first time, perhaps, in the history of electioneering, politicians have taken little or no account of the Publican power; the conscience of the nation has been too much aroused to permit of its lending its influence in support of an interest which is so an- tagonistic to the commercial, moral, physical, and social well being of the people, and the result is, we have a Parliament more in sympathy with questions of social reform than any previous Par- liament during the present generation, and if the new House of Common succeeds in dealing with the licf-using system in such a manner as will re- deem the conntry from the fearful evils resulting therefrom, it will earn the gratitude not only of the nation, but of the whole civilised world.-I re- main, yours truly, WILLIAM HOYLE. Clarernont, Tottington, near Bury, Lancashire, April 17th, 1880. a) S-e Trade and Navigation Returns for Feb., 1880, t page 72. ;,i Dec., 1879, pa«e 12. \A » Dec., 187D, 14. » Feb., 1880, 71. » Feb., 1880, 71. ANGLESEY BOROUGHS ELECTION. gIK Just a few words anent the above subject in reply to the letter of "Truth" which appeared in your issue of last week. "Truth "is very much put wbout because Mr Fanning Evans did not accept his defeat (which was no defeat), and allow the lying statements made by his opponents concerning his retirement to pass uncontradicted. Mr Evans "did quite right in coming to Holyhead to make his explanation, and "Truth utterly distorts truth when he states that your report of his reception was exaggerated on the contrary, it might with strict truth have been still more highly coloured than it was, in fact, it was a complete ovation for transcending any given to Mr Lloyd on the late occasion; and by the way, let me ask where was there any enthusiasm exhibited when Mr Lloyd returned here on election day after his triumph? And echo answers where? The writer was present on the corresponding day in 1874, and along the whole line from the Railway Station to the Hotel was one continued scene of exultation, handkerchiefs waving from almost every window, and loud demonstrations of applause, no one dis- senting. On the last occasion, I observed a soli- tary woman wave a handkerchief from a public house window and as for the applause, there was none .except what proceeded from the-I was going to say crowd, as compared with 1874-pro- cession, and even that was met at several points on the way by loud countershouts of Fanning Evans forever." To endeavour to ignore and distort truth instead of promoting it inevitably recoils upon the head of the individual or party guilty of it. This is what I accuse "Truth" of doing last week, and only for Truth this letter would never have been written, and I rej oice to say that Truth'' has failed ignominiously. I know a good number of voters in this town who voted for Morgan Lloyd in 1874, but who would have voted this time for Fanning Evans, not because they love Mr Lloyd less, but they love Mr Evans more, and this brings me to the real subject for the consideration, I may say the very serious consideration of my brother electors. I ask where is the Anglesey man to be found who, all other things being equal, would give his vote for a stranger in preference to a native of his own county ? If such a man exists, I can only com- pare him to an antiquated fossil undeserving of elevation out of his native bed but I do not be- lieve there is one such to be found. But are all things equal, as between the sitting member and his late opponent? Well, all I can say is, the electors are the judges, that in my humble opin- ion, Mr Fanning Evans possesses much higher qualifications than Mr Morgan Lloyd. He has a more commanding presence; he has a better address; his speeches would have a better effect with a critical audience like the House of Com- mons, or indeed with any audience. I warn him, however, that before the next election he must dissipate to the winds even the slightest suspicion of collusion with Toryism, and I promise him that whether it be in one year or six," he will be triumphantly returned as M.P. for Anglesey Boroughs. As to Mr Joseph Williams, he is quite capable of defending himself but when I read that he is well-known for his ribaldry," my gorge rises and common justice obliges me to say that he has never been known to make use of "ribald lan- guage either in public or private, that his character stands high in the estimation of his neighbours and will bear comparison with any in the county, in fine to characterise the statement of Truth with regard to him as it merits, it cannot be called other than a wilful and deliberate lie.—I am, sir, your obedient servant, L-Y-D. REPORT OF MR F. EVANS' MEETING AT HOLY HEAD. SIR,- With reference to the effusion signed Truth" which appeared in ysur issue of the 23rd inst., will you kindly allow me space to reply to that portion which has reference to me person- ally. I leave the portions which do not so concern me to be dealt with by those whom they most concern (as no doubt they will be), feeling assured that he who would have us believe in him as Truth will be shown in every particular therein to be so blinded either by prejudice or something else, possibly personal gain, that he is unable to discuss the difference between truth and error on this subject. It appears that it has given him and the clique he represents great offence that I should dare to criticise their conduct during the recent contest especially in the terms I did, and this only shows that to many the plain truth is very unpalatable. Their great displeasure, however, is a matter of perfect indifference to me, and were it not that, either owing to their ignorance in failing to understand, what appeared to our plain language I used, or their wilful misapplication of it to suit their own purposes, I should not consider it incumbent on me to trespass upon your space. In proposing a vote of thanks at the meeting alluded to to Mr Williams for the honourable, manly, gentlemanly, I think I said, manner in which he had discharged his duties as chairman of Mr Evans' meetings, I venture to believe that if I considered that the same honourable and manly conduct had not been displayed by the chairman and committee, on the other side I was justified in contrasting the conduct of both sides. At the out- set Mr Williams intimated on his own behalf as well as those associated with him their desire to avoid personalities, and that the contest should be fought out manfully, the same sentiments were uttered by Mr Evans, and I think it is generally admitted that this spirit characterised their pro- ceedings throughout. So far as I can learn the opposition to Mr Lloyd's return arose not from the waiit of sympathy existing between the majority of the electors and the political views of the candi- date, but from the facts that these gentlemen who sought to further the candidature of Mr Evans, considered that they had in Mr Evaus a man as politically sound as Mr Lloyd, with the further advantage that if elected his position was such that he could give his whole attention to the interests of the constituency, and further, to the fact that he had the other qualification lacked by Mr Lloyd of being a local man. Believing these things they worked and with that success so far as the canvass was concerned that there lay no temptation to diverge from the course they had laid out to themselves. It is to such as are on the losing side that the advice is given Bully the other side." On the other hand, what was the conduct of the other side ? Did Mr Lloyd's counsel the avoidance of personalities ? Did Mr Lloyd say, Let us have a fair fight ? Did he or his committee attempt to show that he was the better man by argument ? Their first course was to pronounce in no measured terms the political unsoundness of Mr Evans' views that he was no Liberal but a Conservative in disguise. This had to be dropped, and the next course was the old story of 1868 and '74, malign- ing a resident gentleman, who for many years re- presented the boroughs in the Liberal interest, and to whom nine-tenths of the electors were under some obligation, then ridiculing the constituency for daring to think that they had in their midst a man capable of representing them in Parliament. What can be thought of the taste of au eminent, I presume, and learned M.P., descending so low as to occupy a great portion of the time of his audience in nicknaming those who supported his opponent ? This course was not dropped until it was found that there were among his supporters some more thoughtful than others, and thosl were being alienated. When Mr Evans retired, and the nom nation had passed unopposed, what is to be thought of the fact that at their subsequent meeting it should be necessary for one of their supporters, a "ragman," to get up in the aud- ience and rebuke the speakers for their ungentle- manly utterances. So much for the meetings and speeches. We find the same spirit working in those persons forming the committee. From some of these, such for instance as the paid official who taught the singing, we expected nothing par- taking of gentlemanly conduct, but we had hoped that the position of some, fcuch as religious teachers, would have been a guarantee that truth and honourable action would have characterised the proceedings with which they were so pro- minently connected-we did hope that they would have restrained the unscrupulous enthusiasm of their followers—not participate in the promulgation of that which was incorrect-or of half truths-and set a worthy example in all respects of moderation of speech and action. It would have been more in keeping, we think, with their position had they, finding that they could not approve of the actions of their co-workers, or the speeches delivered, re- tired, instead of by further action sanctioning the proceedings of their followers. Such having, however, been the course they thought fit to follow, however respected and enlightened they may be in the opinion of your correspondent "Truth," I venture to think that truth and honour are characteristic of true manhood, and where these are wanting to such an extent, the persons cannot be otherwise described but as frag- ments of humanity. My youth is assigned as one reason why I should not presume to criticise- whether this is a ruled reason or not I will not here discuss, but would advice Truth that it would possibly be just as well for him not to des- pise it, and prior to again questioning my forget fulness of my mother tongue and my acquire ment of anothei, I should certainly suggest that he ascertain the meaning of self-opinioned." Evi- dently the less he dabbles in English the better for his reputation.—Yours, &c., W. LEWIS. THE REPORT" OF MR FANNING EVANS' MEETING AT HOLYHEAD. Siit,-In looking over last week's issue of the Express I find a letter upon the above subject by a correspondent who has the presumption to sub- scribe himself as "Truth," wherein he essays to dispute the impartiality of my report of the meet- ing referred to. Another letter in a contemporary signed "Veritas" has also appeared, and it is obvious that the writer of both is one and the same. I must ask you to allow me to occupy some of your space to make a reply to this anonymous scribbler so far as his remarks concern me, leaving all other subjects contained in the letter to be dealt with by persons interested, or to be made the subject of their contempt as they think fit. In doing so I will endeavour to speak plainly, as I do not wish to be misunderstood nor mis-construed by the whole- sale perverters which this writer represents. Sis letter throughout may be taken as a fair specimen of the tactics which characterized his clique during the recent contest, and your readers can judge for themselves whether he has used any arguments to disprove any one thing which he denounces as un- true, or that he only made assertions which may prove when inquired into as untruthful as I will endeavour to show that he himself :s. Now, sir, he opens his prologue by saying that my report was a lengthy and one-sided one, and that the" so called. reception" took place the same day as that upon which the honourable member for the county met the electors, &c. He need not have troubled your readers to say that it was lengthy, because they could read and judge for themselves, and they could also see by the same paper that both meetings were held on the same day. But your readers would not have known that the report was one-sided unless this oracle appeared on the scene to point it out for them, and to say that it was a heap of words "preposter- ous and exaggerating." These expressions emanat- ing from where they do can easily be understood, but it would be well for these overbearing gentle- men (?) to know that if they had at previous elections the secretary of their own committee to champion them in reporting their meetings to the press they cannot be allowed to muzzle reporters who have all along endeavoured to act fairly towards both parties, and to drag them by the nose as it were to give publicity to imaginary virtues, and to suppress all that relates to their unbecoming behaviour. Mr Truth," takes the occasion to refer to "the pointed rebuke made by the honourable member for the boroughs, upon the disgraceful reports that had appeared in other publications." But what was the "rebuke," forsooth ? The honourable gentleman said, that the reports of his own and Mr Evaus' meetings were a disgrace to any reporter who prided in being fair and honest. I might as well say that the honour- able member was not a gentleman, but could not expect to be believed unless I brought proof of what I said. The other day, I heard a solicitor remark, that according to the laws of England every man was innocent until proved to be guilty. Now, the honourable member has brought for- ward a charge as vague, and as mean (I beg pardon, meaningless I should have said), as could possible be made. To this charge I plead "not guilty," and as there is no further evidence against me I demand to be acquitted. But should my accusers bring forth evidence to substantiate their charge I am ready to meet them, and will prove with undeniable facts, that the charge has not the slightest foundation, and in a manner that it must recoil upon their own head. Is it not a fact that complaints were brought to me from the honourable member's committee, the first day he arrived here from London, of the reports of the meetings, which had been held by the opposite side when he was still in London ? The gentleman sent to me will be able to give them my reply to him. Did I not at one of Mr Lloyd's meetings call the attention of his chairman to the conduct of his committee in the way they had spoken of my reports ? He can give them the answer he made at the time. Did not one of the honourable gentleman's secretaries ask me a few days previous to his making the charge, who it was that had written two reports, which had appeared together in the same paper, and did he raise any objection to them when he explained the matter to him ? Let these persons if they have any grounds for their dirty work bring it to:light, and let your readers know their names so that they can judge between'us,and not like a snake in the grass blowing their foul venom at every creature who chances to disturb their quiet rest. I am willing to be exposed if this band of "respected and enlightened inhabitants" can do so, but failing in this under their proper colours, they can but expect to be stigmatised as cowards who, afraid of meeting a man in the open would ^tab him in the dark. Anent his regret that such had not had a mortal blow,this is just what "Truth" (?) and ids clique would like, but I may teli him that so long as any man acts conscientiously between both parties, he can dyfy such vain talk and scorn such ridiculous ideas as those he talks about. Has he forgotten, or does he want to overlook the fact (for he is aware of it), that his party had the exclusive use and influence of one paper published not fifty miles from Holyhead, during the contest? A special reporter was sent to their meeting, with special instructions to publish everything that was personal in the honourable member's speeches, reports published in full, long. leading articles appeared denouncing the opposite party, and all these of course were reprinted by his party at the office of that paper and widely circulated th, ough- out Holyhead, but of the other side any further than that, the despotic publication leferred to would not stoop to notice their existence. And still these enlightened gentlemen have the presumption to allege that is the oaly paper which gave them their deserts. Such people as these to talk of one-sided reports Why, sir, it would be soon enough for them to speak if you had sup- pressed every word of Mr Lloyd's candidature, whereas you have, I maintain, done equal justice tc b"th parties. It is strange that this would be Truth," although my report was so lengthy, can only point out that the" affair" as he terms it, did not eclipse all the receptions' throughout the recent elections, that the hall was not full, and that the gallery was filled with young girls. My reply to that is simply this, that the facta as given are not altered by his simple statement, and I have no need to repeat them. I may, however, say that in neither of the elections of 1868, 1874, and 1880, did I sea as many electors gathered together in such an orderly manner to meet and to do honour to any candidate. It is true there was not an old ricketty hotel 'bus to be dragged by a lot of youths with a man standing on the roof making all sorts of capers, to make it appear like the turn-out of a circus troupe; but all marched orderly four abreast following the band, and gave their man a right loyal welcome. I have already trespassed too much upon your space, but am bound to call attention to one little state- ment this writer Truth would have us believe. He says a brass band was engaged and paid, and adds that they were asked to play gratuitously and refused. This is a base falsehood, and the writer must have known it when he wrote. The bani is composed of supporters of both candidates, and were to play for both parties on the same terms. To our terms (I say our, as I made the engagement on behalf of the band) Mr Evans' party raised not the slightest objection, but paid honourably; yes, even more than was agreed upon. But of Mr Lloyd's committee it may be said that on several occasions one of their secretaries endeavoured to have the services of the band uaconditionally, or at least on condition that they got a subscription from Mr Lloyd. The reason therefore that the band did not play for them is. that they would not be paid; so that Truth's remarks on this point will be valued by your readers Mututo nomine d: te fahula narratur." This would be teacher of good manners and gentlemanly behaviour, political principles and political candidates, of religious ministers and Christian views, had better, in the school with which he is so closely connected, study well the Welsh phrase which he quotes—" Mwyaf twrf, llestri gweigion "-and try to discover if any other vessel in the kingdom is capable of making more noise than the one he works in conjunction with.- Yours faithfully, OWEN JONES.