CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 132, 5 June 1900, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

.MR FOWLDS AND THE WAR.

(To1 the Editor.) Sir,—One of the hon. members for Auckland city in posing as an apologist for the present war as the solution of South African difficulties has taken up a position I submit is untenable, coming from a single taxer and a prominent Christian advocate. A writer in the "Westminster" March number, and a single taxer, referring to Kipling as the Jingo-Jingler, travesties the "Absent-minded Beggar thus: "Pass the hat for the landlords' sake and pay, pay. pay." He points out that the patriotic fund divided among, the sufferers from the war simply passes on again to the landlord. Briefly, the ideas associated with » single tax teaching do not harmonisft •with a war policy, or what may be covered under the term Imperialism. But to pass on, the man who upholds the flag as the emblem of prestige, pride or Imperialism is at least honest and forcible, and so long as pride and prestige are paramount his position .3 tenable. But the Christian teacher and the ethical philosopher are confronted with ideas diametrical!}- oppo- v site. Thus, we are taught that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Blessed are the' meek, for they shall inherit the earth. '. A broken and a contrite heart, etc. Possiblj' extremes meet, and merge from one position to the other. Our M.H.R. may be a causuist and explain the position. I submit, in conclusion, that this war has been a severe blow to Christianity and ethics. The beautiful ideals of the Lord's Prayer have been totally forgotten by Briton as well as Boer. That we have in Lord Roberts one who will conduct it with chivalry, humanity and skill in avoiding unnecessary bloodshed is the one redeeming feature. —I am, etc., ROBERT YOUNG. '

(To the Editor.) Sir,—As' one, though not in Mr Fowlds* electorate yet who took a great interest in his candidature, and. was delighted at his success, may I claim a few lines on his reply to "Single Taxer"? Mr Fowlds says: "I recognise as vividly, and deplore as deeply as Henry George the evils of war; "but having seen something of Boer wickedness and corruption, having tasted something of Boer tyranny and scorn, I have no hesitation in declaring my conviction that the con«..' tinuance of conditions existing in South Africa before the war was a oxeater evil than war itself, and I hay« spoken and acted accordingly." Surely Mr Fowlds must remember, or if ho cannot remember the- records of- tfie National Association will remind him, that all he has said about the tyranny - and corruption of the Boer, gosrernr meht has been said a thousand times of the Government of which the Right > Hon. Richard John Seddon ,L.LD. : continues to be head. —I am, etc.,

DDsXA FORGET.

(To the Editor.)

; :;•-.—l think it would be very" unprofitable both for your readers and myself to continue a discussion with "Single Taxer" on the question of whe^gf ther my opinions on the South African war are in accord with those of Henry 1 George or anyone else. I have given the whole question very considerably gf| thought, I have lived in South Africa, j and studied the problem on the spot,-* and have satisfied myself that war ill .. South Africa was inevitable unless the British tamely submitted to be ousted from that part of the continent;^ but I have no desire to compel "Single Taxer" and others to hold the same opinions that I do. • I have honestly . and conscientiously formed my own conclusions, and willingly - recognise that other people may conscientiously . have reached conclusions different from mine. In answer to Mr Arthur Dye,'l may say that my conceptions of Christianity require under exceptional circumstances the application | of the whip of knotted cords.—l amj etc.,

GEO. FOWLDS. ,