CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14130, 5 July 1916, Page 2

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS.

QUAKERS AND FORCE

Dealing with the conscientious objector in a recent article, Bishop Yv elldon quotes an incident from the journal of George Fox. A. number of Quakers had their pockets picked and they promptly complained to the justices and pointed out the man. "It would scarcely seem," proceeds Bishop Welldon, "that tho founder of the Quakers was wholly averse from invoking the aid of the law—i.e. of foree —for.the punishment of the thief who robbed him-and his- co-religionists. But the part which the polico play in the defence of 'personal liberty and property is practically the same as the navy and army play in the defence of notional liberty and property. There can be no sort of doubt in any reasonable mind that, but for the forcible resistance

which has been offered by tlio Britisli and allied navies and armies, the Kaiser would4>e master of Great Britain to-day. If the conscientious objectors are willing to accept that result, they ore not good patriots. If they decline to accept it. they cannot well decry or disparage the navy and army. It can fxiarcely be moro honourable than it is logical that any citizens should enjoy the full benefits which the State assures to them through the armed forces of the Crown, and yet refuso to take their full share, or any share at all, in the hardships and perils >by which alone those ■benefits. are assured. It appears then that two positions are logically consistent, and two only. One is that all use of force-is wrong. But he "who-, holds that view must be prepared to-, sacrifice without resistance his property, bis freedom, his life, and if need be,', the lives of the persons who are dearer io him than life itself. The other is that the punishment of wrong-doing i a acwrdant with the will of God. But if force is right when it i s exercised through the-police and the judiciary in the life of a single nation, so must it be right in international life, where the punishment of one sinning nation is indispensable for the welfare of humanity, and the force of arms is the only .means of inflicting the punishment."'