The Bishop of Hereford (Dr. Percival) has issued in the
form of a letter to a correspondent, not named, a passionate protest against Mr. Chamberlain's proposals. He refused, he says, to interfere in the recent election at Ludlow, but he feels it a moral duty to raise his voice against the "raging, tearing propaganda "now being carried on. He believes that " propa- ganda " to involve, as Lord Goschen said, "a gamble with the food of the people," and that "the Birmingham gospel is all in the interest of the rich, and is without mercy for the poor and needy." These doctrines will sink the poor into deeper poverty, and foster all those elements in our civilisation which are anti-Christian. They "will go far to hand over our industries and our commerce to the baneful influence Of Trusts, monopolies, and corners." The Bishop therefore
implores all ministers of the Gospel, as specially trustees for the poor, to resist appeals to party influence, and not to give their support to a dangerous agitation. The Bishop's attitude reminds us a little of the mediaeval Bishop who refused to shed blood, but attacked his enemies with an iron mace, and his language is somewhat unconventional ; but there is no doubt that the agitation does involve the question of our moral right to tax the poor for the benefit of the rich, and any ecclesiastic who sees that is bound to instruct and, so far as he can by persuasion, to defend his flock.
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