JUSTICE FIRST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 110, 3 February 1919, Page 6

JUSTICE FIRST

Sir,—At the meeting of delegates to Sir James Allen re conscientious objectors Mr. J. Roberts is reported as having said: "Tho object/ of the Peace Conference is to forgive and forget." Is it? No doirbt people have very short memories, but for the sake of Mr. Roberts and his descendants, as well as tho whole British race, it .is to be hoped that those who are responsible will see to it that no forgiveness or forgetfulness takes place until justice hiis been fully satisfied. I have my own opinion about; these ob. jectors, and my opinion is that any true and genuine Christian, if he did not believe in taking life, could at least have helped the sick nnd dying. How- about the Samaritan in the parable? The first two men we are told passed by; they were too extra good, according to their lights, to help, but tlie third mV a wounded man. That was enough for him. He did not stop to weigh the pros and cons, but immediately went and did all ho could. I wonder if Mr. Roberts has ever read the story of the retreat from Mons by an English writer, and how he would, have felt if he had had -a son or even a brother there, if ni-:n had refused to come to those striken soldiers' assistance. But just read tliij:— I seemed to sec a furnace of torment and death nnd agony and (error seven times heated, and in tho midst, of the burning wiis the British Army. In the midst of the flame, consumed bv it, and yet aureoled in it, scattered like ashes and yet triumphant, martyred, and for ever glorious. Then agaia read: For 48 hours no food, no drink, under a tropical sun, choked with dust, harried by shell, and marching, marching, marching, till even the pursuing Germans gave it up. Also, theire ig tlie statement of a British sergeant "that the people did not realise that if the Germans got to Britain they would leave it a graveyard." I say, what would have happened if inon had all developed these consciences, and surely numbers of us know of good Christian lads that went. Many of them were boys, and for their sakes' don't lot us forgive and forget until Germany truly navs— I am, etc., A PARENT OF HGHTIIv"- SOLDIERS,