A LEAGUE OF GOOD CITIZENS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " ancroroz."]
Six,—The correspondence following your article on " A League of Good Citizens " has provided very excellent food for thought, and I have carefully read it all. If only as serving to indicate the psychology of the writers as representing various points of view, it has served a useful purpose. One fact becomes out- standingly prominent, which is that all are agreed that some- thing along the lines of your suggestion should be done. With all respect, I suggest that interested parties should concentrate on that fact. Another point which seems to inspire agreement is that the organization, whatever its name or however it is conceived, must be of a voluntary character, and free from any official connexion with the Government of the day. The Middle Classes Union has undoubtedly, albeit in a small way, accomplished something in the right direction, and has, more- over, provoked others to do likewise. It has at least aimed at action, and though its achievements may not have " set the Thames on fire," they have been sufficiently definite to provoke the active opposition of the "extremist" element in this coun- try. There could, perhaps, be no more eloquent testimony of the work of the Middle Classes Union than this. The British Empire Union has carried on valuable propaganda work, as have other similar societies. The Glasgow Voluntary Workers have acted usefully within the limit of their sphere, in Glasgow itself, in accordance with their declared policy. It is evident that the last named, with the British Empire Union and the Middle Classes Union, are working along the same lines, being guided by the same policy in regard to defensive action against any attempt on the part of an extreme minority to strangle
the community. This being so, surely a working arrangement between such similar societies would secure the best results Whatever may be said in criticism of the Middle Classes Union, it does, in fact, provide a skeleton organization of a national character upon which a very powerful structure could be built. Three hundred branches composed of persons inspired by the knowledge of a common need and drawn from all classes (socially) of the community do indisputably provide a working foundation. So far as I have been able to ascertain, there is no other organization extant to-day which is so deve- loped. With all respect, one is forced to the conclusion that if there had been more "good citizens" as able and willing to do something toward helping insufficient efforts instead of check- ing those efforts by adverse criticism, the adverse criticism might not have been necessary. Those—and there are many— who are really concerned as to the present trend of our country will learn with regret of any multiplication of existing bodies, which would only increase the present dissipation of both energy and money.—I am, Sir, &c., MAX Oluxr.
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