(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—The Spectator has
once more laid the country under obligation by boldly tackling the Jewish question. A new publication has been attracting attention by the masterful unmasking of the wiles of German mercantile policy, which dates back from the Hanseatic struggle in the Middle Ages. The only criticism that can be offered is that generally for " German" should be substituted " German-Jew." No sooner is the War over than this activity reasserts itself to the detri- ment of our commerce. What is not generally recognized is that success of the Jew depends on the weakness of our usury laws. Our authorities recognize the duty of straightening bad corners on high roads; they recognize the duty of putting up, at public expense, a protection or a warning. Why be afraid to disarm the 'unscrupulous money-lender? Those of us old enough to remember the havoc among undergraduates and subalterns marvel that the passing of tho Minors' Protection Act was delayed so long. And what a Homeric fight it was to get it through the Commons! Who is the offender? What would Mr. Cohen say if the jury he asks for had to pronounce on the iniquity of allowing the Post Office organization of the country to be used to tempt the foolish, the weak, and uneducated? It is only those who work among the lower middle-class who know the widespread ruin caused by the countless advertise- ments in provincial local papers tempting the unwary to send for needed money in secret, "on note of hand, without security "! The cases published are those of fa-hionalhe gamblers and riotous heirs of estates, and they evoke little sympathy, but the thousands of small traders, farmers, sons of tradesmen who are ground down at rates of interest of from 40 per cent. to 140 per cent. is incredible! The vast number of these advertisements testify to the extent of the evil. We need some Wilberforce or Plimsoll to fight in this cause until that which obtains in France and Belgium under the Code Napoleon, which makes it a punishable offence " d'abuser do la faiblesse du citoyen," is law in our land. The day that Act is passed will see another exodus of Israelites.—I am, Sir, &c.,
AR UNDELL LEAKET.
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