The Sun THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1914. REASON, NOT FORCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 89, 21 May 1914, Page 6

The Sun THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1914. REASON, NOT FORCE.

There will doubtless be a general consensus of opinion among the interested public that in admitting to probation; Edward Hunter, who was found guiltjr of uttering seditious words during the late strike, Mr Justice Hosking made the pumsh'ment, fit the erirhe. His. Honour, in corning to this decision, took into account extenuating circumstances, including -the fact that Htmter's outburst was'made when the strike was practically over. Now that the Justiee - Department has made plain: through the punishment by imprisonment of Messrs Y.oung and Holland, that it will not tolerate any longer the Bed Fed. demagogues preaching violent and illegal doctrines, no good purpose would have been served by sending this foolish young man- to gaol; The lesson taught these revolutionists the last few months may reasonably be expected to bear good fruit. The Law has shown that, while it can be both patient and long-suffer-ing, it will not be mocked. The arrest of certaiii of the strike leaders eame as. a thunderbolt to the followers who stuck gamely but so ill-advisedly to a hopeless'cause. There had been boastings in every public meeting place. Defiance and jeers were hurled at the Government behind which was the Law. And it was only when the men were arrested the strikers reeognised that, though the law can be-at times an ass, at times also it could kick : with both feet. Men like Hunter, instigated by a vainglorious patriotism for their comrades laid by. the heels, endeavoured to hold the disorganised army together by empty promises and transparently futile threats. They shouted victory when the issue had been definitely deeided against them and theirs. Impelled then by sheer -bravado Hunter sought to impress the faltering lines with a childish flaunting of the red handkerchief in the face of the authorities, and, probably just for the reason that they might not be deemed inconsistent in their apprehensions of the sedition-mongers, the authorities placed Hunter under arrest. It was riot that they feared bloodshed and rapine as the result of his incitement. Hunter was but small game. His was only a pale imitation of the real leaders. His threats curdled the blood of nobody. So the L,aw took hold of him even as a parent more in sorrow than in anger apprehends the spoilt youngster, and if Hunter has any sense of the fitness of things he will adhere to his promise not to repeat his foolish performances. There is every reason for believing that the lesson will prove effective. We want no I.W.W'sm in New Zealand. A strong element of violent Socialism has done its best to inculcate in the more unthinking classes of Labour the doctrine that might is right, that if the workers wanted a thing they, should combine to secure it by force. Of course, that is all- absurd nonsense and the shallowest of fallacies. It is as much a feeble imitation of the anarchist methods of the American I.W.W.'s as Hunter's speech of the hysterical declaration of W. T. Young, and there is no health in either. The first great test of the effectiveness of direct action in New Zealand resulted in a dismal fiasco for., its promoters. The doctrinaires proved themselves absolute!/ lacking in initiative, resource, and organising capacity, and the training necessary to develop any cause along decent fighting lines: They misread this little world of the Dominion, which was not to be deluded into believing .'that bluster was anything but bluster. "Reason, not force," preached one of the most militant syndicalists not so long since. If he and his brethren had only adopted that as a war cry before entering into a battle with public opinion, their, cause would not be discredited as it is to-day. And if it be "reason, nbt force" in the future, then it will be many a long day before we have a'repetition of the "old unhappy things" of last December, and the impetuous Youngs and the imitative Hunters of the days to come will not conflict with the Law by uttering sentiments which the courts term sedition, and ordinary people, in their hearts, designate as a farrago of bravado and bluster.