[TO MR EDITOR OP TION "SPECTATOR. " ] SIR,—It seems so probable
that the vital issue at the forth- coming elections may be lost sight of by many electors in the dust raised by party warfare, or, if kept in view, relegated to a place among the other so-called planks in the party plat- form, that I venture to submit to you the desirability of an organised effort to bring home to every voter, from a strictly non-party standpoint, the enormous gravity of the question his vote will tend to decide,—namely, the existence or other- wise of an efficient Second Chamber in the Legislature of his country. At this juncture it would probably be impossible to organise meetings, but something might be done by means of leaflets and posters; setting out as concisely as possible : that the drafting and circulation of the leaflet or poster had nothing to do with any party or political organisation ; what the effect would be if the Veto Bill became law ; why an efficient Second Chamber is vitally necessary to the people's freedom ; that, compared with this necessity, small holdings, Land-taxes, Tariff Reform, free breakfast-tables, &c., &c., sink into almost paltry insignificance; that whatever this or that party's present prospects of success at the polls, some day their opponents' turn will come ; and that therefore the way each man casts his vote now involves his willingness, or other- wise, to submit himself and his children to the possibility of unfettered rule by persons diametrically opposed to his cherished convictions. I venture to ask you, Sir, to consider inaugurating a scheme of this sort; I cannot but think that, if a fund for such a purpose were started by you, many a moderate "man in the street" would gladly contribute.— Trusting I may have the privilege of being one of them, I am,
[We are afraid that it is too late to take the action suggested by our correspondent. The only thing for men of moderate and " Centre " views to do at the coming Election is to vote against the Government candidates, and so against single-Chamber government.—En. Spectator.]
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