The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1922. SECTARIANISM IN POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1922. SECTARIANISM IN POLITICS.

Sectarianism is becoming a marked, and an unpleasant, feature of our political contests. It took centuries to obtain for British people that freedom from tyranny which existed for centuries in the Motherland, and to establish that complete measure of civil and religious freedom now enjoy ed under British rule. Sectarian strife in connection with polities can only be regarded as attacks upon the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and, therefore, a menace to the liberties foe which our forefathers fought and won. These liberties are a sacred heritage, intended to endure for all time, and as such should be cherished and fostered, but of late they have been unwisely jeopardised. The curious feature of this reactionary movement is that it has reared its head to strike and. eject its poisonous matter in a country like New Zealand, where freedom is enjoyed to a greater extent than in any other part of the Empire. This sectarian feud was started some years ago by an .rganisation which did not realise it was playing with fire, and its challenge was accepted, and a counter organisation was initiated, and now commands, it is said, an influence and a power which is felt in every electorate in the Dominion. We do not seek to apportion blame for the condition of affairs which now obtains; we simply deplore it as operating against the best interests of our country. Let us go back a little so that we can the better understand how our liberty has been won and how we should jealously guard it against the attacks of the insidious. The reign of Charles 11., so far as the character of the rulers and their foreign policy are concerned, has been rightly pronounced to be the worst in British history. Politically and morally, there were to be found in the Government all' the elements of confusion, weakness and crime. Yet, despite these drawbacks, it is an undoubted fact that in this same reign raor? steps were taken in the right direction than in any period during the preceding twelve centuries. By mere force of that intellectual movement, unwittingly supported by the Crown, there were effected, in a few years, reforms which changed the face of society. The two great obstacles by which the nation had Jong been embarrassed were spiritual tyranny and territorial tyranny —the tyranny of the church, and of the nobles. Above all. the liberty of printing was freed from intolerable restrictions, whereby there was laid the foundation of that great public Press which, more than any, other single cause, has diffused among the people a knowledge ofj their own power, and, to an in-l credible extent, aided the pro-j gress of British civilisation. As the power of particular sections of society declined, the power of the people at large increased. Now, after the lapse of nearly two and a half centuries, in a part of the Empire then only just discovered by Tasman, the embryo of that violent sectarianism which j kept back and disgraced the Motherland in the Middle Ages, appears to be again developing. Polities may be cleaner than they were, but there is still far too much vicious indulgence in mere uersonalities and too little regard

for vital principles and unspotted virtues. To add to such the introduction of bitter sectarian controversies shows little comprehension or regard for the teachings of history and is generally to be deplored. Under the British flag all creeds find shelter and toleration, but if these precious safeguards are abused, it may become necessary to institute such preventive measures as will seriously imperil the liberty of the subject, otherwise there may be another and more serious revolt against authority. That, however, is but one phase of the question—a very vital phase—but still leaving an equally important aspect to be noted —the effect on the moral and religious feelings of the community. It has to be . remembered that the decrees of churches are only binding on the consciences of their respective adherents, but the law of the land is supreme, and it is only so long as this supremacy nolus good that true liberty can exist and democracy hold sway. We are impelled, therefore, not only to voice an appeal to the better instincts of sectarian agitators, on whatever side they may be, but also to strike a note of warning as to the danger of their persisting in stirring up strife between members of the two great branches of the Christian Church. If the evil grows it will be a menace to good- democratic government. Every member of the community is entitled to his or hexreligious belief, but there is no warrant or justification fox* creating a battle ground in the political arena, nor for offending the susceptibilities of those whose motto is: ‘.‘Live and let live.”