BEFORE THE COURT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2124, 16 April 1914, Page 4

BEFORE THE COURT

The only did their obvious duty iu taking effective measures to break down tho movement- which has been organised for preventing the free expression of opinion on political questions. The. disturbance at Me. Fisher's recent meeting resulted in the appearance of nine persons before the local Magistrate yesterday morning. Seven of them wore fined, and remands were granted in two cases. If rowdyism of this sort were to be allowed to gy unpunished the evil would become quite intolerable, and the lawless elements of the community would sow be in a- position to deny tho right of public meeting to all. who differed from them, If the law of the land is not- strong enough to protect peaceful citizens from such exhibitions of rowdyism as were witnessed at Mfi. Fisher's meetings in St, Peter's Schoolroom and the Town Hall, the result must be that every man will bo compelled to take measures to protect himself, and meet violence with violence. This would mean _ that, the miyn who could hire and maintain the strongest band of retainers would be able to do as lie liked, and the weak would go to the wall. The law is the solo, protection of the poor and the weak; the strong can took after themselves. Every breach of the law aught to be punished, otherwise respect for law In general is_ weakened. The road to anarchy, which is "the most galling form of tyranny, is pared by acts of unpunished lawlessness, That section of tho Anti-Reform Press and party which at first found it very difficult to conceal its gratification at the treatment meted out to Mr. Fisher by the aggressive rovolutiqnavies i« now inclined to change its tunc These short-sighted people now see- that every deeent-.ni in tied

niaiiV'.iUKl'vWoiiiiui' in tls« c-ui'ii-msifi'ii v.. -■ is -: disgiis!i:i) nt such .iiii-Urllisli-tactics," ami (iwy.'iire Im-gitiniiig-to realiiu': Uut Us*; public arc not, guing to permit public; meetings to "he broken up by organised gangs, secretly encouraged for party purposes by pimple who ought 0> know hntteri The men who wore fined yesterday deserve no sympathy whatever, nor will they get any from the vast- majority of people; and if riotous behaviour at public gatherings is not discontinued the effect of heavier fines, or even imprisonment, will have to be tried. Lawful freedom is a thing to he prized, but freedom to break the law, and to'trample on the rights of others, is oppression of the most intolerable kind.