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268 JtfETIfODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.
Much attention has been drawn recently to the merits of
the BO-called Gothenburg Scheme, the adoption of which has
been EO ably advocated by Jlr. J. Chamberlain, M.P. Nom,
what is this advocacy but argument from a successful experiment
? Tho municipal authorities of Got,hcnburg allowed a
certain method of conducting the sale of liquor to be tried
thore, and the success was apparently so great that other
Bwodish towns are rapidly adopting the same plan. This is
just tho right procedure of trial and itnitation. But if Mr.
Chanlbcrluirl means that, bccnuse the plan succeeds in Gothenburg,
thorefort. tho ruunicip;d autlloritios of Euglish towns
ought nt 0 1 1 to ~ ~ be obligcd to purchase and uduiuister tlm
public-houses, he got.3 mucll too fur. All me ought to do is
to try tho sy&m in a limited llutnbcr of towns. Anyono
ncqutrintod with tho bright little Swodis!l seaport,, and xllc
orderly poliuhed lower-class p~pulat,iou of Sweden, will bc in
no hurry to draw almlogios butween their condition and that of
our grcat, busy, turbulcnt Snglo-Irish towns. At any rate it
is obvious that experiments ought to bo mado upon the most
closcly proxirnate CI~SCS which can bo found, and if three or
four such towns as Birtningham, Bristol, Bolton, and Newcahtie-upc,rl-'l'ylle
could bo induced to try the Gothenburg
schme, it would Le a11 amplo first exp