[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SpEcTATOrt."] SIR,—I have read
with much interest your remarks ou the impolicy of the executive of the Liberation Society in forcing on Disestablishment as a test-question for candidates in the approaching general election.
I am a Liberal and a member of the Church of England. As the latter, I appreciate the labours of the Church in many places, and the great religious influence she possesses. As the former, I know that she exerts, notwithstanding all shortcomings, a vast civilising influence in many districts which could hardly be well replaced, and a real hold over the working classes.
With you, I think no question that could be raised more likely to split up the Liberal party in a disastrous manner than this. And, if the proposal succeeded, what would be the result ? The Disestablished Church must, on any principle of justice, be allowed to retain a large part of its present wealth. The liberality of its members would soon make up the deficiency. There would then exist within the State one of the most powerful close corporations which the world has ever seen, more wealthy, probably, absolutely—almost certainly more wealthy in pro- portion to numbers—than any other now existing, rendered bit- terly hostile to the State by the movement which severed it from control, prepared constantly to throw its influence and vast resources into the scale of Opposition. Those who know the hindrance to settled Government which a hostile Disestab- lished Church causes in other countries will be the last to desire to see the experiment tried in our own.
And the immediate effect on the chance of election of Liberal candidates would correspond. There are comparatively few constituencies in which the declaration of the candidate in favour of Disestablishment would, if the question were not raised, gain him a very appreciable number of votes ; there are many in which the declaration would imperil, if it did not even
actually lose, his election.—I am, Sir, &c., A VOTER.
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