Militarism and Armaments.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 41, 15 December 1911, Page 4

Militarism and Armaments.

An Appeal.

We have arrived at a crisis in the history of our country. "Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth, and falsehood, For the good or evil side." That moment has come to New Zealand. Through the ages an increasing purpose runs, and it was not a mere accident that for so many centuries this gem of the Pacific was withheld from tlte eye of civilisation. In a sense profoundly true, this land of ours was a virgin land only a few short years ago, and in the then bringing it within the reach of civilisation there was some purpose, which will be accomplished, unless we prove unfaithful to the trust reposed in us. If I should state in a simple sentence that which seems to mc the great purpose, it would be that hero was to be developed a society and a government based upon the brotherhood' of man. All through tlte Old World, during its centuries of struggle,'-the underlying political facts "have been the rule of a class and the organisation of tribe or nation on the selfish basis of personal interests. "Each nation has lived for it-self, prosecuted wars with other states and nations to satisfy the ambitions of its rulers or to promote its selfish interests. This ba,s only, been possible by the subjection of a'class. The means to: prosecute wars cotild •jnly be obtained, arid can only be cbtoined to-day, by the practical conlemnation' of the masses of a people x> what is, in essence, a life of slaviry. The burden of armaments has K'oved a crushing burden to all except those who directly profit in their manufacture. Militarism in the countries of the Old World has effectively barred c':e way to a more equitable mode of life by rendering social reform impossible. It has, besides, been the very means of creating and maintaining a law of caste and privilege. By it the great masses •raf humanity have been the spoil and prey of a few individuals. It has always and everywhere by its very na-

By 0. REGINALD FORD, Author of "The Defence Act:''A Criticism."

ture been opposed to the ideal of the brotherhood of man. In New Zealand we have hitherto been free from this curse. People and Government alike, have been content for many years to pursue the arts of peace unhampered by great military expenditure and the loss of industrial activities of large numbers of men devoted to a military. life. Then occurred that great blunder and crime—the Boer War —followed by the inevitable of the militarist spirit in British. people all over the worlds with the accompanying loss of moral fibre manifested by the incoming of the spirit-of cowardice coincident with th© increase of armaments. • Great Britain, urged by Navy and National Service Leagues and unscrupulous syndicated papers, rushed feverishly into increased naval and military expenditure. As her expenditure increased, so did her .suspicion, hatred, and fear of other Powers —especially Germany, Unhappily, New Zealand did r/ot keep herself free from this reactionary movement. Twice did she- increase her naval expenditure. Then,, in 1909, at the bidding of the Prenik-r. she offered a Dreadnought, or two., if necessary,, t<? the British Navy. Not satisfied with this, her Government, in a state of fear and suspicion, impelled by the National Service League and a reactionary press, passed the present Defence Acts,, which have committed the Dominion to the pernicious conscript principle of compulsory military service—a principle, the application of which, to quote a recognised authority, "will be extended as circumstances require? This thing could never have been, however, had the people of New Zealand been alive to their responsibilities and their opportunities. To us was given the inestimable privilege of leading the world in the recognition of the brotherhood of man, in the realisation of the essential unity of the human race and in the bringing of international peace. We have proved unworthy of the trust reposed in us. We have been found sleeping while the enemy has en-

tered che gates. We have betrayed our children. We have placed upon their shoulders and the shoulders of their children the burden- —an ever-in-creasing burden.., alas!—of militarism. The burden is not yet heavy to us., but to our children it will mean that their movements on the path of social-re-form, on the path towards freedom, equality and human brotherhood is impeded, if not stayed. It is not -alone a burden of excessive taxation, but it is a burden of caste., of privilege., and of oppression. And this is not all. Not «alcne does militarism stay the progress of humanity within the nation—that is not ail the burden. It creates and mcrease.s— yes, inevitably increases fear, hatred, and suspicion of oilier nations and postpones for weary ages the coming of that --time foreseen by the inspired prophet, "when tli-o- swords shall be beaten into ploughshares and the spears into pruning hooks/ and when men shall learn war no more fori ever.". ' : V ; Our condemnation 'is ttie greater in that we have permitted this thing to be done at a tirae when tlle.re ! is absolutely no necessity—at a time when man's irresistible drift away from the conflict and tovvards co-operation is beeoming_n!ore and more apparent. —at a time when 'international law and arbitration are making rapid strides —at a .time when the movement towards peace is,, all over the world, ' wider, stronger and better organised than: ever before. But —and this is the whole-object of my writing—lf we awaka ffrosn our sleep at oma it 5s nat yafc. too late. We can yet undo the wrong we have permitted to be done. There is yet time to save our children. Beit there is not one moment to 5039, If we fail, the cause of Humanity and peace will not fail. We sltall simply stand in history as the nation which lost the great opportunity. As a lover of my country, as one who desires to see her progressing in the arts of peace, progressing in all that comprises the true grandeur of nations, who desires to see her the home of a people "simple in their home and splendid in their public ways, ,, thehome of., righteousness, peace and brotherhood, I appeal to all to awake from their sleep ■of indifference and strike this accursed thing hard. I appeal to all who love their country, their children, and their kindred in all nations, to vow not to rest until the curse of militarism is swept from our midst.