FOR EMPIRE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9953, 24 April 1918, Page 7

FOR EMPIRE

LOYALTY DEMONSTRATION

GREAT CITIZENS' MEETING IN MELBOEiRNE.

So great was the crowd of peoplo which swarmed into tho Exhibition Building- in Melbourne to attend a recent loyalty demonstration that it was difficult to estimate it numerically (says the "Argus"). 'X'hero were three platforms in the building—one in each aisle—and two in the arena, Those who have had considerable esparaence m dealing with crowds in Melbourne estimated that not less than iO.iKM people were present at the gathering—3u,g(a> in tho building and 10,01)0 in the reserve.

Loyalty to the British Elmpire aaid the Allied nations and the suppression of disloyalty were the dominant notes in the proceedings. Proba'bly in no other g;airneivuig held in Melbourne have these sentiments been so pronounced. Speaker alter speaker was loualy cheered as he emphasised the call for patriotism and necessity for the extirpation of all anti-British influences. i\ow and again ihe vast audience rose in a mass, and, waving thousands of national ilags, eueered to the echo patriotic sentiments. . The scenes on these occasions was w'ondernilly inspiring. In .fho- words of one of the speakers, the demonstration was a warning to those whoso disloyal license has been too long tolerated.

Before tho meeting began the audience, led by the choir under the baton of l>r Floyd, with Dr Price presiding at the organ, sang over and over again patriotic airs with great fervour. l'i'<\m ail tho platiornics the following motions were simultaneously put aim agreed to:—"Tihat this meeting declares its unswerving devotion to His Majesty King George V.. and at this moment, when the men of our race are dying for freedom by thousands in the most stupendous ' battle known to history, it anirins its' passionate loyalty to the ideal for which their sacrifice has been made, and to that Empire which, throughout Australia's existence, has secured her in liberty, honour, and prosperity, and which now stands before the w;orld as the chamiiion' of civilisation, and of all that makes it precious to niankina." "Th»i this nieaMng records its keen gratiiication that fhe Commonwealth Government has created fresh powers for the suppression of disloyal utterances, demonstrations, and emblems, and hopes that in the highest interest of Australia there will bo swili and drastic action should the' offences- be repeated, 'lino meeting also amiins its conviction that the vast majority cv Australians are loyal to their country and to the Motherland, and would eagerly support the Liovenimenjt in any measures taken against tiaiton*. who are striving for the disruption of the EVnpire on which Australia's life and libeity depend." THE rii'.oE On the chaiiman of the .section of the uies-tiiiK he.,d jn the main hall (tiir Frank .Uattdeu) .rising to beam the' proceedings, cneering came from all over the buuutug. This was heartily renewed, when Cnaplain-Geneial Kentoul submitted Urn fiibt motion. With that fiery eloquence Sir which he is noted. Dr. itenroul ucorued the idea that had been put) forward by traitorous persons that tie ioyai movement of that, night was sectarian. "It is a malum, dark, and disloyai falsehood." asserted Br. Rontoul, who was supported in his statement by the whole of tho great audionce. The meeting, he explained, was composed of pei v ,sons of all classes and creeds. . It wa\J a warning to disloyalists. Deprecatory Reference was niade.to.Sinn Feinisni, whoso policy was-. (1) Separation from GTei\t Britaini (2) no recruits for the BritisA army and navy, and (3) that Ireland should take this opportunity to strike" azainst the - Eimaire. Tho mention of tho late Archbishop Carr's name in defence of tho righteousness of the war evoked a storm of applause. "Gad save Australia —(cheers)—God save, our boys at tho front (cheers)—God save the old motherland—(cheers)—God' save tho army and navy—(cheers)—God save Australia under the British flap: —(cheers)—God Rave ?ho King!" were Dr. Eentoul's closing words, which were lost in tremendous oheerinz. i

A stirring address bv Mr Jowett, M.H.R.. -was followed bv a reasoned speech by Mr L. A. Adamson on the cry for peace. He pointed out that priests were slain by the Germans &o that the French people would be impressed. Children were murdered for the purposo of terrifying their parents into submission. Women were outraged so that tho men might be all the more ready m> implore their Governments to make neaco. "To make a peace now would ba shameful to those who have made such i.'i-ea.t sacrifices for us Instead, our 'Uv-otioii should bo increased, in the cause ior which our boys have died," said Mr Adamßon—a sentiment that was most '\.-J'diallv cheered.

As an Irishman, the Rev. W. H. Scurr ivas very heartily received. His roeep.;on wa*> none the less. welcome; whvr ■o declared that ho was "only a common or garden wowser.'' Above all, Mr Scurr showed that ho wan an enthusiastic Imperialist, and it was in this relation that he was most commendable to the great audience. In hi B own words, Mr Scurr stood primarily for Australian honour, Australian dignity, and Australian integrity to tho British Empire. Had he a thousand tongues ho wquld uso them to declare this creed. Mr Scurr Urged that. a« disease was caused by a foreign organism iu tho body, ' so Ihe civic comniunTtv was similarly affected. Disease could only be cured bv the extermination from the body of the foreign element. Tho affection that was troubling the people in their civil life must also be exterminated. Disloyaltv, Mr Scurr insisted, must be "squashed!" whatever from it was taking. Ho mentioned that a woman with a lump on her forehead had called at the British Empire League's rooms that day. The lump had been raised by the fist of a railway employee who had been asked to sign the potition to (he Federal Government praying for the suppression of disloyaltv. (Lour cries of "Shamo!") While Mr J. R. MacFarlan disassociated himself from any attempt to intrduce sectarianism into tho meeting, lie omnhasised tho necessity of supporting the Government in taking whatever stops were necessary io snpross disloyalty. Certain peoplo in the community had "iade it their business to sow tho seeds of disloyalty, and the people's demand was for tho Government to deal with them. "I ca.ro not how exalted the ranli of tho disloyalist may be," said Mr MacFarlan. "bo should bo suppressed. In fact, tho more exalted his rank the wider was his influence, and the greater his menace to the community." In tho treuohes. Mr MacFarlan went to to say, do question was asked by any man as to whether his comrade was a Protestant or a Paptist, a Presbyterian, or a

Methodist, a Jew or a -Gentile." < The touchstone there was. "Is the man doing his bit?" If he were.-ho., was :: proving himself a man. The touchstone in the community should be as to whether_ a man was loyal in sentiment, thought, speech, and deed. Dr Leeper. who presided at tho No. 2 platform, road the following letter sent to tho loyalist cominitteo by Mr Benjamin Hoare:—"l thank you for your invitation to speak at the loyal demonstration. It is an occasion when every true son of our struggling Empire must wish to bear a part. My whole heart, in every fibre of it is with you. The circumstances which compelled me to come to the mountains for a rest do not preclude me from conveying to the meeting my earnest wish that the demonstration may be such as may become historic in its warning against the seditions people in our midst. The cant which is talked from disloyal platforms about free speech is nauseating. Is treason to claim free speech in time of war? He who is not with us is against us, and he who gathereth not. scntfereth abroad. ■ The* man who boasts of his refusal to help recruiting is ah enemy to tho Empire, and ns an enemy should he treated. It is ." timo when our magnanimous imperial mother is assuring us that in the final pinch of war the last man may bo the determining factor. I hope this meeting will strike such a note, and follow it up by such action, as will put every treasonmonger in mental or physical restraint. Nobody desires to see lynch law here, as was recently shown in America, but oven lynch law would be better than a toleration of impudent rebellion-" In supporting the first resolution, which w.ns moved by Professor Tucker, Mr Herbert Brookes said that the Pope had shown tho other day what lie thought of Great Britain's freedom and toleration when he sent a; telegram to his priests telling them that they could return to Palestine now that tho British had occupied Jerusalem.

"Too long had loyal people submitted patiently to the public outrages of their mo?t sacred feelings." declared Senator Bolton, with 'the full approval of his audience. "We demand that the Federal Ministry should dpal effectivelv . with such enemy activities in our midst." "T.hsv say that there is a constitutional mnvpuKn*- known under the name of Sinn Fein," said Sir Robert Best. "If so," he went on amidst cheers, "it should change its nnino. Sinn Fein stood for rebellion and tho Sinn Foiner was a greater enomy " than the Him.

"No quarter to Sinn Fein or to its leader." was the.course advocatedf byr.the. Rev. Henry Worr.all. „.,,„, t-„■»' Mr O. Stephen drew loud cheers bv declaring that ho was an Australian Catholic. Those who dragged om- llaß- in th-9 dirt while they were protected by it were, he declared, traitors', and should meet the traitor's fate —a firing squad and a prick wall. "So are the other crowd.""said someone when Mr W. A. Trenwith had declared that tho Germans viero dragooned to obey the will of a single man. ThoTe was some excitement at ('his, hut pood humour was restored when .the 'interjecto.r !explained that by the "other crowd" he inean the supporters of Dr Mannix". * Alderman Cabena presided at the. No. 3 platform, where a few men and -women who disagreed with sentiments of the speakers were . smartly ejected by the crowd. Strong exception was evinced at the failure of the Federal Government to take stronger steps, and ringing cheers greeted the declaration of Mr A. T. Strong that if tho Government did not put an end to disloyalty and Sinn Feinism, an organisation would be formed to take practical and definite steps to see that J)y. ,Mnp.nix. and his influence -were put down , for all time. The idea that sectarianism was behind tho demonstration was spurned by Mr J. H. Hewison. """We were proud," he said, "to know, that the Irish stand shoulder to shoulder with other parts of the Empire, hut when-we. look for that spirit of Irish loyalty shown bv Kitchener and Jellicoe in Dr. .Mannix, what do we find?" The answer from,..t]io. .audienco was a mighty groan. Mr Palmer, M.H.R.. declared that tho Sinn Feiners were trying to dominate Australia. There was a shout of "Never!" that rang throughout tho great building. It was a growing shame, Mr Palmer said, rthat the voico that created the Sinn ltein feeling 'hero was not silenced by G\>vorament action, and the cheering at this had hardy died down before it was renewed at the declaration that "every disloyalist and German should bo put out of tho civil service." Processor Harrison Moors, referring to Sinn "Fein, said that in its .meaning. "OursiUvos alone," it expressed callous selfishness. Mr M. P. Pinientol roused the audience to a great pitch When he said "Let us take their challengo rip; let us fityht them." The hope that the sentimenvw voiced dmring the ovening would be translated into action was expressed by the Rev. C. W. Wood. "Who introduced sectarianism?" he asked, and the reply came spontaneously from thousands of throats, "Mannix." Speaking with a considerable degree of force, Mr Wood said : '''The Government has been absolutely spineless so far as this man is concerned. Dr Mannix is a traitor to the Empire, and, Australia,", which called forth further cheering, and crios of "deport" and "intern." The speeches Were received with remarkable enthusiasm, and tho resolutions, having been carried amid great cheering, the gathering broke up.