MR. GRAYSON.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SescrsTon."J Sin,—In your article on " Mr. Grayson " (Spectator, August 10th) you have applied the whip of sarcasm to his very crude omniscience and conceit, and probably that weapon is more likely to be felt than the fiery heat of indigna- tion; but I think that he and those who 'admire his talk in Parliament, and, again, in Belfast, require the application of both. He poses as a " Socialist," which means, I suppose, that he professes to desire the good of humanity. But what is the " good of humanity " ? Has it, in his view, any con- nexion with, or relation to, goodness ? There is no man living, I believe, who has done so much to establish the kingdom of righteousness on earth and to bring justice and peace to the oppressed as Lord Cromer has done by his work in Egypt. And yet this " Socialist" does all that lies in his
power to belittle that work and to show ingratitude and in- difference towards the doer of it. It is a melancholy and dis- heartening thing that in this, the most democratic Parliament we have ever had, there should be found more than a hundred men who by their votes proclaim themselves indifferent or hostile to the cause of justice and mercy ; for it was not simply a matter of voting a sum of money to Lord Cromer, though in mere honesty he was thoroughly entitled to that repayment of what he had expended in our service ; but it was the only opportunity given to the official representatives of this nation to express the deep gratitude of the people for what Lord Cromer has done for the welfare of humanity and the glad pride of the nation in what he has done to exalt its honour and standing among other nations. By the use they made of that opportunity have not these hundred men mis- represented this country ? I do not know how it is with the Irish. Their representatives have so persistently proclaimed their hostility to the honour and repute of the Empire that one almost begins to believe them ; but I am sure that the people of Great Britain at any rate desire most earnestly to thank the man who, as far as one man's wisdom and integrity could, has made the name of British rule synonymous with justice, and has done more for the social advancement of mankind than all the " Socialists " in Parliament or out of it have yet achieved.—I am, Sir, &c., E. S. S.
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