FORCE AND GOVERNMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18591, 27 June 1922, Page 4

FORCE AND GOVERNMENT.

Assassination is a very old weapon in the armoury of political agitation, and its use has not been confined to any one country. It represents the climax of hate against opponents, ,and in practice it has frequently removed a very real friend of national progress. Last year, for instance, Mr Takashi Hara, Premier of Japan, suffered death when performing public, service of inestimable value to his country. Senor Dato, Premier of Spain, was also done to death, and Germany, which a few months ago witnessed the removal by the assassin’s hand of Herr Erzberger, has now lost the services of Dr Rathenau. Coming so closely on the tragedy of Sir Henry Wilson’s death, this assassination rivets attention to the whole question of force as an influence on Governments. It is not necessary to instance the case in Ireland, where, for some considerable time past, a section of the public has endeavoured to influence the British Government by practising murder on a wholesale scale; nor need we emphasise the general effects resulting from the machinations of the Ku Klux Klan nor the lawless lynchings in America, nor yet the operations of the Fascist! in Italy, except to" say that each of these movements constitutes a reflection on the efficiency of government. History has proved by a hundred examples that political assassination fails to help the cause of those who have recourse to murder, and movements such as those which ’have prospered in America and Italy can only be regarded as an incitement of the individual to that violence which means murder. Herr Erzberger was a prominent figure in German politics, but was out of office when his tragic end came. Dr Rathenau was not before the public in politics for so long as Herr Erzberger was, but as a business man of many parts and an author of distinction he was a prominent German, Since the war his work as Minister of Reconstruction marked him as a conspicuous figure in his country. During one of the political disturbances he surrendered Ministerial office, but he continued to wield a wide, influence in national thought and in practical affairs. His death has created a profound impression in Germany, and the'cablegrams which wo publish this morning relative to it bear a close resemblance to those received by us when Herr Erzberger was shot. Events proved that the latter’s death had an effect opposite to that expected by his political opponents, and it may be found that Dr Rathenau’s assassination will have the effect of cementing the Republican forces. “In his scheme of reform,” said a recent writer, “he has a place for the State, though not the State of M/irx; for capital, though not the capital that cuts throats ; he would rein competition and divide the world’s raw' materials, markets, and finances fairly—ho wants a ‘people’s State.’ ” He also wanted simplicity in life without drabness or dulncss. “It is not the struggle for existence which poisons life,” he said, “but the struggles for the trifles, the vanities, the worthless things.” He wanted world unity and big reforms, but ho was also a practical philosopher. “Twenty fewer varieties of shirts,” he declared, “and we should still have more than our fathers had thirty years ago.”