tTo THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR,—There is an old
Spanish proverb which says that " no one pelts a tree unless it has fruit upon it," and this saying is called to mind by the Spectator's attack on the Cadburys and the Rowntrees. The very bitterness of the attack betrays its origin. Moral indignation on any question is expressed very differently. If a newspaper became suddenly converted to morality, it would be extremely easy to find people on its own aide of politics to accuse of hypocrisy. Personal abuse is the last refuge of disappointed politicians—and disappointed newspapers. Betting and gambling are undoubtedly blots on the character of a nation, but there is a still greater danger to our prestige rapidly growing up amongst us. The time has passed by when we judge of the strength of a nation by the size of its army and navy. The test of barbarian times has given place to another, and we all turn instinctively to the quality, and the purity, of the Press when we want to decide where a nation stands. The possibility of the Press of this country passing into the hands of a " ring " is a far more serious danger to the honour of England than even the betting evil, great as that evil undoubtedly is. We have seen how easily a few men from behind the scenes can engineer a war, and even by an outbreak of Blatchford hysteria " can almost bring us to the brink of one. From this acute danger at great sacrifice, and no gain to themselves, the Cadburys and Rown- trees have tried to save us by helping to keep alive the right of free speech and open criticism in this country, which it is the aim and object of all "rings" to deny us. The future will do full justice and full honour to the moral uplifting and progress Great Britain owes to these two great families, but when that history is written their grandest record will always be that they incurred this misunderstanding and bitten antagonism in an attempt to save their country's honour, the only form of patriotism of any permanent value to a nation. They can safely hold their peace now. The " glory " is "to him that doeth well and suffers for it."—I am, Sir, &c., S. [Our critics are developing rapidly. Another week and a good many of them will, we have little doubt, have persuaded themselves that it is really the Spectator which incites to betting. In the last phase they will hold that " Captain Coe " is none other than the editor of the Spectator himself. —En. Spectator.]
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