[To TUE EDITOR OF TIER "SPECTATOR.'l SIR,—Every good man must
rejoice in the advocacy of a high standard of morals for politicians and journalists ; and nothing can be better than to preach in season and out of
season that "hypocrisy clouds the mind," and the duty of avoiding anything which will give the appearance of evil. They are common themes of Christian teaching, applicable to Cabinet Ministers and others. But you must realize that the efficacy of such diatribes as you have indulged in depends altogether on the Spectator's fulfilling two conditions—that its own hands are clean, and that all this sermonizing is not a political device to discredit your opponents, the "organized hypocrisy." As to the former, a few weeks ago your paper published a column of advertisements, the whole object of which was to lead up to the statement, "Mr. tire will again play the lyre "; and I presume you pocketed the price of that infamous and con- temptible slander. When you justify the employment of such methods of political warfare, and when you show the same zeal in investigating the circumstances under which over fifty Unionist members of Government have been during office directors of public companies (see Daily News list), some of your readers will better appreciate your advice (now reduced to "delicacy and discretion") to men whose policy of reform for the first time has introduced Christian treatment of the aged poor and labouring classes.—I am, Sir, Ste.,
NoNCONFORMIST MINISTER.
[(I) We cannot, of course, be judges in our own cause. That must be left to our readers. We have, however, looked up the advertisement complained of, and find it was that which the London Municipal Society set forth just before the London County Council elections. As we were ourselves strongly supporting the Municipal Reformers, it is absurd to say that we were guilty of hypocrisy in publishing it and pocket- ing the price. We should be glad to repeat the operation. (2) We have always been opposed to Ministers retaining their directorships. (3) We began our Marconi articles last autumn with the charge of "Want of delicacy and discretion." Our correspondent must try again.—En. Spectator.]
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