WHO ARE THE TRAITORS ?

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 878, 4 May 1917, Page 5

WHO ARE THE TRAITORS ?

VI iHE principararticle in - the London j "Clarion" of March, 9 (organ of .the Socialist Party in England, edited by Robert Blatchford and Alex. M. Thomson) is a trenchant condemnation 'of the "Maoriland Worker" for its-sick-ening peace-at-any-price tone and attitude. It is headed "Who are the Traitors ?'' and is from the pen of Miss Hilda Thomson, daughter of the; coeditor. -Listen to this arid you will soon perceive the wide difference between the patriotism of the sane and loyal Socialists of England and the thinly-veiled sedition of the writers in the "Worker" : —-

• I have been puzzled all day by some--thing the postman brought me this morning. This something is the Christmas number of the "Maoriland Worker j" a New Zealand Socialist paper, which, judging' from its size arid advertisements, enjoys a large circulation. No article is specially marked, and I .had perforce to conclude that it was the general contents I was desired to read. This I have done, with the aforementioned puzzling result. For . the "Maoriland .Worker" is very obviously a pacifist organj a "peace-at-any-pricer.'' It is chock full, from beginning to end of its large eight-page /size, of pacifism; of reports of pacifist meetings;- of No Conscription—or antiConscription, as they prefer to call it. It exhorts to resistance that militarism in every shape or form ; it urges the organisation ;of meetings arid yet inore meetings to express the desire for peace, to denourice the continuance of "the present war. V This, then, is the paper- some unknown person in New Zealand has taken the trouble to address and post to mie at the ' 'Clarion''- office. ' 'And I can't tell why!" If other members •of our staff Have been similarly favoured,' the ,■ occasion, for wonderment is not so'great perhaps. Maybe it is hoped we shall all be converted , arid enter into the pacifist fold, _ there to . receive absolution and remission of our bloodthirsty, sins. At the moment of writmg, however, I do not know, if this is the case. If not I ask myself once again, why. have I been thus marked out? Can" it be that my leanings are supposed to be towards, this _ socalled pacifism ? . Can it - lie that hitherto I have riot clearly enough expressed my opinion on these matters ? Is it possible that my immortal writings ' are ; not regularly read by our New Zealand "friend ?" There is no - one' to answer these questionings; dear little New-Zealand is tod far away for .the speedy reply I require. - Therefore let me answer" for myself. Let me explain for -the benefit of this unknown, and of others who may be of his belief, what riiy opinion is.> on this matter, and of -the "Maoriland Christmas number." ' r - ;

I read the paper in the train this "morning, interested because it oame from -a country I had learned to love. But interest changed to wonder, to Amazement, and to anger. Hoii fierce •anger, if you please, my friend unknown. Mentally I damned the paper, its contents, and the writers of these -articles. Even was I tempted to damn the Government of . New Zealand for permitting the issue and circulation of •such opinions at such a time as the present. "With the -expression of -opinion on the-horror, the futility, and madness of war, I am in absolute agreement^'Who could .be otherwise? "Surely none' of all the warring nations ibut the Germans themselves. Anyone

"The Clarion " " Damns " "The Maoriland Worker."

who can believe in the efficacy or right of it niujst -be- insane—tlife maddest of the 3 mad. . But I cannot understand nor agree with" the idea that -at this stage of the proceedings, peace at all costs should be established. "At all costs!" To save ourselves the further sacrifice of valuable livesj to save ourselves the awful pain and tears, to save our men and women further agony of niind and of body.

- Peace now must mean at whatever terms the. Germans choose, since they are incontestably the victors. Germany believes in war. -The writings of her great men prove it and reiterate it unceasingly. Arid we—even the pacifist, anti-conscription, anti-militarists —shall consent now to peace on the teiiris of a nation that believes unin . the right and efficacy, of bloodshed; we shall confess ourselves vanquished, and acknowledge the right of war; We are to repudiate the sacrifices our boys have made of their very lives, mock'at the sufferings of our .women, forswear our beliefs and make terms "at all costs" with the nation of blood and iron. Is this seriously what -we are asked to do by the pacifists ? Is it what the writers on, the "Maoriland ■ Worker" wish to-see accomplished ? The thing they, are striving for in New 'Zealand?

Who can say whether tliey or we are right? History, when it comes to - be written and read, when the horrors of this period are past,, may : have some , light to throw, on a subject . that at present is dark.: But as most of us see it to-day, by the-light of whatever understanding is vouchsafed to us, we - cannot follow out' this reasoning; we cannot reconcile, it with out belief of

what is right, what- is'for the'best- We are in now; we have suffered, believed, hoped,, for thirty long months* and we will not lightly gainsay it all. This, then, is my answer to whoever [sent ~ me the pacifist ; ' 'Maoriland Worker." The ■ opinion is not lightly penned, noi"*-given much serious thought and heartburning. I-have visited the. military .hospitals— at one time twice a week unfailingly for nearly; four months.. Those who- visit our wounded boys- will • uhdei-stand ; what this means;"will know tho agony of mind is as great as the physical sufferings one must so callously-witness. > ' - My postbag . during these fifteen months lias contained more - letters

than I can count from, "boys" in the fighting line, breathing their hopes, • their fears, - their cheerfulness, or general "ied-upKess"; letters from the - sad women left -behind who have suffered the torture of suspense -and the agony of deadly certainty. . Only last night a heartbroken letter came from a woman to tell me ' how yet one more fine man had paid the fall price. X am - myself anxiously .waiting for further news of a dear lad whi> is "-seriously wounded in a French hospital. • " One ; does not light-heartedly or without serious thought advise-the continuance • ' of; a struggle*that means so much further suffering ere it can be ended. - Yet my answer is the same. I believe, too,, that whoever tries to i hinder the> progress. of the war at this juncture,' to i>revent the sending <rf Reinforcements and munitions, is a traitor. Traitor not alone to his country and birthright, but to the brave boys who- ' have faced and are facing a helL worse Than any threatened to unbelievers by ' the Christians of old.

This is my answer. And never again. do I wish to set' eyes on the "Maori- .. Sand Worker," please. It angers and - disgusts me.; — !