24 NOVEMBER 1883, Page 13

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE NEGATIVE VOTE.

To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Ilt.,—The proposal of Mr. F. W. Raikes in your last number as to a "minus vote" is certainly novel, but it is startling to find it quoted with approval by the Spectator. Surely Mr. Raikes's own instance supplies a telling, if not conclusive, argu- ment against his suggestion. I am ne defender of the obnoxious" views on religion held by the member of the School Board whom he mentions, but would it not be better to have a dozen Bradlaughs or Avelings on a School Board, than take so sure a means of rousing the ocUum, theologicura, not to say anti-theologicum as well ? That would be indeed the begin-