“TRIFLERS AND HYPOCRITES.”

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 31, 7 February 1916, Page 3

“TRIFLERS AND HYPOCRITES.”

OPPONENTS OF CONSCRIPTION

WHO DO NOT ENLIST. WILLIAM ROSSER STATES THE CASE. “THIS IS A WAR AGAINST WAR.” Mr. William Rosser, the well-known Labour leader, president of the Australian Railway Workers and General Labourers’ Association,, has made a noteworthy statement as to the reasons why he Iras relinquished his union duties at the present time to enlist as a private. He states (says the Sydney Morning Herald) that really this is a war against war. “I do not want to see Germ'an hegemony of the Continent of Europe,” he says, “I am opposed to conscription,” but “to oppose conscription and yet not ! enlist is the action of a trifler and hypocrite. It will be too late to enlist if we are conquered.” The statement is as follows; I have been asked by so many of my friends why I have enlisted for 'active military service at the seat of war, especially in view of my opposition to conscription and militarism, that I wish briefly to state my reasons. I do *his with pleasure. At the same time, in view of all the circumstances as they appear to me, it seems , the strangest of 'all possible questions | at the present juncture of the world I crisis to ask a man of British blood, 1 single and in sound health, why he should enlist. I enlisted on 10th De-1 camber, 1915, after carefully! thinking ( over the whole war position. I felt, as I still feel, that no Briton can view the German successes with indifference and equanimity. He cannot help feeling that, whatever may be his feeling against militarism in the abstract, it is his duty, when his country and the liberties of his race are in danger, to offer his services to his coutnry, to give it the best and the utmost that is in him, 'and, if need bo, unhesitatingly to give his life in the attempt.

It must never be forgotten that this terrible war was thrust upon the world by Germany, who for many years systematically prepared for the campaign of carnage, slaughter, and destruction in which she has been engaged from the moment she invaded (.unfortunate Belgium. And there can -be no doubt whatever as to the object of Germany in seeking world domination. It, is an object which takes by .the throat every principle of freedom, justice, liberty, 'and social progress, so dear to the hearts of sincere and earnest lovers of humanity the world over. Can any man of sensibility and spirit sit still and allow the sacrilege to continue and not move a step or a muscle in defence? The position can be met honourably only in one way, and that way is by means of the step I have taken.

The intelligent workers of this Commonwealth must look the facts in the face and act fearlessly as the occasion demands. AN AMERICAN OPINION. Let me for their information quote a recently expressed opinion of so impartial an authority as Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labour, one of the most powerful Labour organisations in the world. Referring to the war in a letter to Mr. Appleton, secretary of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Great Britain, he stated: “I have no hesitancy in saying to you that, in my judgment, there are some things that are even more abhorrent than war, that is, to be robbed of the birthright of freedom, justice, safety ,and character. Against any attempt of any person or group of persons, or nation or nations, who may be engaged in an effort to undermine or destroy these fundamentals of normal human existence and development I would not only fight to defeat it, but prevail upon every redblooded liberty and humanity loving man to resist it to the last degree.”

This is 'an expression of opinion which every intelligent man or womail who understands the real significance of the present war must agree with. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.

We who fight with the forces of Great Britain and her Allies will be engaged in a war against war. To do otherwise is an act which encourages, aids,, and abets war and all the horrors 'associated with it. Now is the time to act. For the most ardent opponent cf militarism there is only one legitimate course to take. It is to fight militarism till it is crushed. I am opposed to conscription,, and to save Australia from it, I, as a mere unit in the commuity, feel that to be logical and right in this hour of need I must help the Government of the country and enlists To eppese conscription, and yet not enlist, is the act of a trifler and hypocrite.

All such are not men, and are useless to the world at this period of its dire need—or indeed at any. time. The call of the moment is far MEN.

GERMAN HEGEMONY

I want to see the Allies win. I do not want to see German hegemony of the Continent of Europe. Rather do I wish for the recogniitcn of nationalities within their natural boundaries, with their own languages and customs, allowed to work out their destinies in peace and freedom. The cause of the Allies emphatically stands for this ,and all the weaker nations know it. In such a cause every true man who possesses the slightest genuine sympathy for humanity must feel it to be a privilege to be identified.

To those who still may doubt, may I in conclusion say the occasion Calls for immediate decision and instant action. In this moment of world crisis, as in most things, delays are dangerous. Mere than this, it involves disaster to all we hold most dear in life.

The enemy will not allow us an indefinite period of time to argue about the situation. Now, as never before in our history, our country calls. Will it be said in future it went down 'in disaster because its sons in its dire extremity remained deaf to its cal's? OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN. The Germans are winning the war on land. We cannot shut our eyes to that fact. Their successes are, to a large extent, nullifying our victories at sea. And from whatever point of view I look the future of the Allied

nations is still in the realms of uncertainty for those who honestly sympathise with the cause of the Allies there is only one course to take, and I have taken it.

Such being my convictions, as a citizen who tries to take an intelligent interest in the struggles of his fellowbeings and his country, what else was left for me but to enlist? It will be too late to enlist should we be conquered.