DISESTABLISHMENT.
LTO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.']
SIR,—I have read with interest a portion of your article on " Disestablishment " (quoted in a Glasgow newspaper), in which it is proposed to make use of the Referendum as a means of ascertaining the opinions of the electorate on a given subject. May I suggest another method of finding out the same, without disturbing the present machinery of voting? My idea is that at a General Election, when it is desired to ascertain the opinion of the electors on a subject distinct from that on which the Election turns, the polling-booths should be supplied with two pencils, a red and a blue, instead of the ordinary black-lead pencil. By using the one or the other as agreed upon, the voter while voting for the candidate he wishes, could also record his vote for or against any particular subject.
The coming Election turns on Home-rule, but it is desired to know whether the people of Scotland wish the Church to be disestablished or not. The elector, therefore, when recording his vote, marks his cross in red if in favour of Disestablishment, or in blue if against.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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