(TO THE EDITOR OF THE 0 SPECTATOR:1 Sin,—Because the above
Society wisely declines to devote its money' and force towards the prevention of that which, in Mr. Morris's opinion, is "the most heinous of all forms of cruelty," namely, vivisection under proper regulations, he abuses it in no measured terms, and advises all subscribers to withdrawtheir sub- scriptions. Surely Mr. Morris is capable of understanding that there can be and are certain forms of brutality, such as over -driving or ill-treating animals, which in the eyes ef all Englishmen con- stitute "cruelty to animals," and which all would rejoice to see diminished ; while there are also other pains inflicted on animals which, though abhorred by some as utterly unjustifiable, in the opinion of many are justified by the end. Is it not competent for a Society, without being reproached as a do-nothing, to devote all their energies to practical work—work which has borne and is bearing good fruit, instead of entering on controversial ques- tions, where the success they might obtain would be pro- blematical P Mr. Morris says that the Society, week after week, send out "begging letters" asking for more funds. This is enough to show that, even in their present field of operations, they are hampered by lack of funds, and that they have no money to spare for questionable attacks on vested interests. It is very certain, too, that if they were to undertake a campaign for the total abolition of vivisection, a large number of subscribers would cease to contribute, and would either found a new society, or be constrained to withdraw their money and help from the cause of the dumb animals. There is already a Society formed expressly to obtain the total abolition of vivisection, to which Mr. Morris and his friends can subscribe ; but if their rage against vivisection leaves them a small residue of dislike to brutal emelt", they might still continue to give a helping hand to the old-fashioned Society, instead of effectually playing the game of the brutal drovers, drivers, costermongers, and that ilk. I, for one, heartily agree with the present policy of the R.S.P.C.A., and with the speech of Lord Aberdare in the House of Lords the other day.—I am, Sir, kc., S. C. B.
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