Conscientious Objectors.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 14 May 1918, Page 2

Conscientious Objectors.

(To The Editor.)

Si'r,—.l wal-- very pleased that someone had enquired, through the medium of your columns, liow much loaiger we at Levin were to endure the presence of these so-called conscientious objectors.

Wei, who have gpven of our dlearest and our best, have to put up with these smug-faced complaisant creatures, and why? It iis a positive disgrace on our mothers, wi'ves and sisterfe, whose 'husband, son or brother lias given his Life; every bi('; as mucli for the "C.0." as he has for Ms own kith and 'kin. It is an outrage, I say, that we'should be compelled to breath© thie same 'atmosphere. The One they profese to put forward as felieiv pattern Aid not scruple to give His life for otters, but not these wcalc-kiioed individuals. If these meai will not serve neither should tliey have the sligln'xst protection Of the law. No "conscientious; objector"—detestable term—sih'ould be allowed either—

I.—To hold any property in £he Dominion. ,

2.—To hold -any business or shares in any business.

3, —Or to vote at any election what-

This may appear stringent bu|i it is the very essence of government. Government is the maiking of la ws by the people and the ability to enforce thiose laws. One law, we Have l , to which every man is liable, and that law is that a man shall take up arms in defence of his country. If a man be -a notorious he, according i':o our law, can be put into jail for the remaincW of his natural life. What chance has he of benefiting by eithea" of the three propositions'l have enumerated. Then why by all the sanel laws and! sense of man a being who refuses (the highest and noblest duty of mwnild'nd— to defend liis women and children, why should he be treated better than tlie fmfortunate individual whose crime moft likely is tlie Inability fto distingu&h between "Mine" and "Thine l ."

We are an absurdl people at the best! of times but our topmost absurdity is the recogniiedon of the creature iknown as ithe "conscientious objector." Yours etc., "ONE LAW iFOR AM,."