29 APRIL 1893, Page 31

THE VETO BILL.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:J.1 Sin,—The following quotation from Oliver Cromwell's letter to the Scotch clergy, September, 1650, seems so apposite (and opposite) to the modern theory of making men righteous by Act of Parliament, that it may interest your readers :— " Your pretended fear lest error should slip in, is like the man who would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deprive a man of his natural liberty upon a supposition he may abuse it. When he doth abuse it,judge." (" Letters and Speeches," Vol. pp. 239-240, Second Edition.) That seems an anticipation and pre-condemnation of the Veto Bills.—I am, Sir, &c., W. K. GILL.

Eversley, Wimborne Road, Poole, April 26th.