The Sun WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1918. TOO MANY TEARS FOR THE “ANTIS”

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1274, 13 March 1918, Page 4

The Sun WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1918. TOO MANY TEARS FOR THE “ANTIS”

We do not profess to understand the finer theological shades in the discussion by the Christchurch Prebytery of the conscientious objector issue. Like most of our readers we judge things from a severely practical and public standpoint. But if the intention of the speakers yesterday was to enlist sympathy for the average military law-breaker it is sincerely to be hoped that it will prove another case of “love’s labour lost.” This paper is not likely to be accused of any undue enthusiasm for the Defence Department. But the Prebytery has, it is to be assumed, read, marked and digested the very full and frank statement issued by the Minister on the case of the “martyred fourteen,” and is performing therefore a questionable public service by joining in the cry of persecution. It is clear, of course, that yesterday’s discussion turned primarily on the case of the three men convicted here in Christchurch four or five days ago. Unmistakably one of those was a conscientious objector in every worthy sense, though not unfortunately within the meaning of the Act. Conceivably all three were—though desertion and defiance arc suspicious methods of proving it. But does the Presbytery seriously contend that a man shall escape military service absolutely by the mere expedient of getting some one to certify that he held pacifist convictions before the war? Open the door as wide as that, and how many hundreds will not squeeze through—members of Parliament among the crowd. There is far too much talk of the martyrdom of the man with anti-militarist convictions, and far too little of the martyrdom of our ten thousand who have died for him. And certainly it is impossible to justify coarse or brutal treatment. But which, after all, is the greater hardship—to be hugged by a drunk in King Edward barracks, or to grapple with Fritz in the Flanders mud? By all means let the Defence Department provide adequate accommodation for prisoners—preferably away from an odorous stable. But let Christchurch also retain its sense of proportion, and waste no foolish tears. As for the faithful fourteen, it is sincerely to be hoped that the country has heard the last of their martyrdom. No one, unless he confuses straining at a gnat with swallowing a camel, will waste any sympathy at all on them after an impartial examination of the official statement. With three or four possible exceptions, they were not objectors, hut downright rebels. Four at least were simple deserters —men who, whatever their moral squint may have been, treated the law with deliberate contempt. Five others over whose mangled consciences the Dominion has been urged to shed tears raised no religious or conscientious objections when their appeals came up for hearing. When the Board decided that the country’s need was more urgent than their own private interests, these noble souls simply sulked. It is a stupid disregard for the meaning of words to go on speaking of their consciences. Of the remaining live, one at least seemed genuinely unfortunate; hut • even if sympathy be extended to all, it is very hard to believe that the mutilation of their consciences in caring for the wounded outweighs the objection to allowing them to defy authority. Anyhow, any further opening of the door is a problem for Parliament only. As mailers stand, the Minister has no more power to exempt a Presbyterian, Anglican, Roman Catholic, or Methodist, say, than to liberate P. C. Webb. He would be greatly exceeding his duties if he did either—and, as seems most likely, will not be saddled with any great accession of power when the House meets early next month. It may seem absurd that the only official conscience in the matter must be of the Quaker, Christadelphian or Seventh Day Adventist order. It is absurd. Riit is this absurdity that the Him has forced on us half so preposterous as the only practical alternative? Crude as the official measurement is, it impresses the average citizen as a rough-and-ready approximation to he adhered to in default of anything finer. It will be time to begin shedding tears over the man defying his officers when our sympathy is exhausted for the man saying No to the Hun.