CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2821, 12 July 1916, Page 8

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS

Sir,—The statement of the Quakers, as published in this mornings' issue of ..your paper, is deeply impressive. It manifests one characteristic of these sincere Christians. I mean their repudiation of any.special treatment. They claim for all conscientious objectors what they desire for themselves, namely, the right for each man to bo loyal to his own convictions. . A few - weeks ago there was an influential deputation of church folk to the Prime Minister on this problem of compulsion; but the Quakers sent no representative, and I am told, expressed the wish that no special consideration should be sought for themselves. They stand for principle. TJie.v ask .110 favours.

Face to face with the present war, a lot of us are in danger of losing sicht of the hellishness of war in general. Wo are .ant. to foryet that, as Channini' said, "War is the concentration of all human mines," or, as General Butler said. "War is the sum of all human wroncr; and' it holds every possible injustice'in it." My support of the present war is due to the fact that I believe it to be essentially and fundatoentallv for us Britishers a war against war. Ko other war in the entire history of the world has ever seemed to me either necessary or justifiable. This war, however, is so abnormal that, though it never ought to have been begun, we Britishers are, I think, for the sake of humanity ljound to nee it through. My conscience concurs in our participation in the struggle, because, rightly or wrongly, I have readied the conclusion that we are engaged in n gisnntic effort to exterminate militarism, which is the biggest foe of humanity, and just now finds its fullest incarnation in Prussianism. At the same time I am not prepared for coercing the conscience of ray fellow-Britishers. On the. contrary, T am prepared, at, all costs, to stand side by side with the Qmikti'i, or anybody else, who may fight for its vindication. Conscience is worth more to the world than tho winning of this war. He wlio honours conscience, whether he bo Christian or atheist, honours God and helps the Empiio. Tliey who penalise loyalty to conscience afresh crucify our Lord, and strike a heavy, blow ill: die Empire's greatness. One of the biggest blunders so far made bv the German war lords is the' imnrisonnient of Dr. Liebknecht. That fool< Ish and wicked notion will probably do r'ore to divide the Gorman nation 011 the war issue than nil the victories of tl'f Ilios. Our legislators appear In-, dined to perpetrate a similar blunder, though. perhaps, 11 smaller one. Foma of us who are now backing the war are not iroing to back tho persecution 0? conscientious obiectors. Wo are not even gain?, to allow them to bo wrserated without protect. Our consciences do not drive us to Hidr conclusions; but wo are going to claim for them the right (0 accept those conclusions. Some nf the sneers at the Quakers in the House of Representatives, such as Mi'. Kornsbv's "snivelling hyrtocrifes," are a discredit 'n New Zealand. mi"ht be natural on tho lips of a Prussian. I'ho- me donlorabl" oil the lips of a Britisher!—l am, etc., J. K. ARCJTim. .Tuiv Jl, 11118.