[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."1
Sat,—The Spectator is so widely read and so much respected among the Liberals of Scotland, that we are deeply pained when we think we receive any injustice at its hands. Many of us feel that we are so treated in the present question of Disestablish- ment. That question has been long "fully probed and un- folded" here. It is stirring Scotland to-day from shore to shore. The Liberal Associations, as you know, have made it a plank in their platform. I venture to say that not even Mr. Gladstone—and his name is a name to conjure with among us —is able to stem the rising current for religious equality in this country. It is not to be stemmed ; and no one who loves Scot- land, and who is deeply concerned for her social and religious peace and prosperity, can wish to prolong this strife one single unnecessary day.
The Church Defence meetings, which are now being held all over the country, are scarcely anything else than packed meet- ings in the Tory interest. The feelings of Dissenters are being outraged, and their passions are being stirred, by the language that is held in many of these meetings. A judge of the land— Sheriff Campbell Smith—speaking lately of Dissenters at Dun- dee, said :—" They have in them no quality or temper of the spirit except such as may be deduced from the father of lies. Shall we trust the veracity, the charity, the meroy of such men ? Never in this world, nor in any world. Let them carry their charity elsewhere ; let them reserve their brotherly love for each other, for go where it may it will waste like a plague." At Perth, morel recently, the same gentleman used language, if possible, even more unscrupulous. In fact, as terms applied to Dissenters, Atheists, liars, revolutionists, thieves, robbers, are among the commonplaces of the platforms, pulpits, and presby- teries of the National Church. A thousand thanks, then, let me say, for your recent article on "The Duty of Moderation." I only wish it may have effect in proportion to its reasonableness and good sense.
Now, what we do feel aggrieved at is, that knowing the strong sentiments in Scotland, you should be willing to go for the maintenance of the &Wish Presbyterian Establishment as a bolster to the English Episcopal Establishment. Is this fair ? If Disestablishment in Scotland is just and expedient, then why not let us have it on its own merits ? We do object to be made a foil for English Episcopacy.
Might I further ask if it is proper to bring the name of the Queen into this controversy P Can you seriously imagine that our good and sensible Sovereign will interfere in this matter in a sense contrary to the wishes of her deeply loyal subjects P In the town where I live thousands of us are Liberals, even Radicals ; few of us are Republicans. But I believe it will only help to increase the number of the latter to attempt to overawe us with the name of her Majesty in our social and religions dis- cussions. Personally, I am intensely loyal ; but loyalty depends upon circumstances. The entrance of the Spectator is an event of the week in many -of our homes. But recognising, as you fairly do, the position of Dissent in Scotland, why should we he wounded in the house of our friends P—I am, Sir, &,c., Hamilton, N.B., November 2nd. .R. D. SRAM.
[Our correspondent is entirely mistaken as to our having proposed to bolster up the English Establishment with the 'Scotch. We have always recognised that the two questions are entirely different. All we stick to is this, that till Mr. Glad- stone's programme is carried, nothing which might endanger it most seriously should be put forward.—En. Spectator.'
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