Open Letter to British Soldiers.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 64, 31 May 1912, Page 3

Open Letter to British Soldiers.

For Publishing Which Tom Mann and Others are in Jail.

Reprinted by Request. .''Men! Brothers! ,' You a.ii'e.jn the army. So are, we. You, in the army of Destruction,; we in the Industrial, or army of. Construction. ./\H>,.\vork at' mine, mill, forge, factory, ■or dock, etc., producing and transporting all the goods, clothing, stuffs, etc. ,|, which make it possible-to live., , j.,,,, You Sons. When we go on strike to better our lof,, which ,is the lot also of your father's,''mothers, brothers and sisters, you a-rMiVMoU' upon by your ofiiivrs to murder us. Don't do' it I ■Yen-know how it happens. Always ha'A happened. We stand out as long as we can. Tb;*n one of our (and your) irresponsibler's, ! 'brothr : goaded by the sight and tlr<ui'glit\'o'f : liis and his loved ones' misery and ■' hunger, commits a crime on nW>r>er!\\ : Immediately you are ordered to m'ur-d'er' us, as you did at Mitohells-Olv-yy at ''I'enlhers'toiic, at Belfast. ' Don't' yoii know that when you are not of'the' colors and become a "civvy" a-.-n'nv,' that' voti, like us, may be on st.'-fk",'. nnd yen, like us. be liable to be murdered by other soldiers? '■'ff>vs, don't do if! ThM -nrtt kill, says the Book. ■Don't forget' th it. Tfj'/rhii'S not sav —unless yon have a ui'i'/.qnn'on. ■'i\'f/'? Murder is murder, whether cotnleitj.iMJ in the heat of anger on one who'lias wronged a loved one or hy pinq-ciayed Tommies with .rides. Hoys; ''don't do it! \r\ the man! Act .the 'brother! Act ■ the Imuran being 1 . ■ ' I'rpoe-yty .can be replaced! Human lif*\ never!-. ..-■■■ The.idle rich.class, vvlio own and order yo\i about, own and order us about ai-o. They and their friends own the land and remans of life of Britain. You 'don't. We don't. When we kick they order you to murder us. ' When v'oii kick you get courfc-niar-tialled and cells. 'Tour fight, is our fight. Instead of fjght'iiV"- against each other, we should lit l fighting with eacli other. .Out of, our loins, our lives, our h.onies voitcame. '. : I)o'ii't your parents, your class, 'by,' the willing tools any loii'rer of (he master class. Yen, like ns, are of the slave class. W.--rs" you rise, wleui we fall. even by yiuir bul'els, ye fall also. Fiiy.-laiid. with its fertile valleys and d-ills,, itS;V;ineral resources, its sea harvests, is the heritage of aces to us. You. rodoubt, joined the army out of prtvcrtiV;. We .work-.Vug hours for small wages at-,.b>!r 1 "jo- k of. our povu'tv. Ai;n'h';t!.i. yiir iuwojH.- ~il (i , uur« n-iVn, from 'l lie 'Tact that Britain, with 'its resoui-eis, Ivl-m'/s to only a lew people. These, ..few... owuitur Britain, own our juhj*. .Owii'n" cur jobs, they own ""- very liv-s,-. Oe'erados, have we oaM'-d in yaii'?- Think thi'tes out, and r-'fnse auv loir*"i' to mu'-d'T your kindr-d. 11.-ln us to win Mrit'iiu back f.»r the British and the world for the workers.