[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—May I venture to
voice the opinions of many private members of the R.S.P.C.A. who yield to no one in zeal for humanity, but are beyond measure perturbed by the scenes at the recent general meeting, and by their reaction through- out the country in the withdrawal of subscribers and the censure of the onlooking world ? We feel that, even if Lord Banbury had been out of order in replying from the chair to a public attack on him in connex-ion with the meeting, this could not have justified more than a formal protest against his action.
To make it a reason for refusing to hear his defence, and so visit his supposed sins on perfectly innocent members, who had come long distances expecting to discuss important matters, showed a lack alike of sportsmanship, of sense of proportion, and of the commonest consideration for the rights of others. To enforce the refusal by the simple expedient of shouting down a numerically weaker party was as morally and intellectually futile as it was physically effective.
And that these things should be done, at a general meeting, by the very people who urge us to arm general meetings with supreme power because there we decide judicially after hearing both sides (!), would be the most gorgeous comedy if the whole business had not a side too tragic for the laughter of gods or men ; it must certainly afford the most exquisite amusement to every foe of our common cause !
For all that, we should be only too ready to join heartily in any effort to infuse fresh life into the Society throughout the country, and thereto, perhaps, to develop the representative element in our constitution. But the scene on May 9th only made it once more apparent that to give supremacy over eight or nine thousand members to a non-elective gathering of a few hundred in London would make the Society (I speak only constitutionally—with no reflection on particular parties or persons) far too much like that later Roman Republic which Henry Sidgwick described as 4' a country state, mis- represented by a metropolitan mob."—I am, Sir, &o.,
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