ذالة
206
- 24-
war.
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- 2.5
would like to ask every British subject where night, in connection with the question of sentiment, what they think our status would he if Germany had been allowed to over-run England the same as she did Belgium.
Applause.)
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Someone in the audience remarked: 1 fallen from my friend, Mr. Harris. My friend in the audience has asked if we are to return late for hate. Certainly not. But we have a sacred and solemn charge to per form, and that is to punish the guilty. (Loud applause.) Mr. Harris is as anxious as I am to exorcise the evil spirit in Ger- Day. And, gentlemen, I do honestly be- lieve you are with me, that you cannot exor- cise the evil spirit, which is in the German people quite as much as it is in the German rulers if we are to believe their own books
until the territories of Germany are pene trated by our troops, and their villages laid
Another person asked:-Are we to return te for bate? In reply there was a loud chorus of "Yes."
The same person added:-That is all i
waste, and they are made to feel what war means within the confines of their own country. (Loud applause.)
The resolution was then put to the meet-
of Mr. Harris. He said:--Reaily, there is ing, and the Chairman declared it carried by not very much to reply to before the resulu ion is put. (Laughter.) I am not saying flat sarcastically of the remarks which have
either by the British or by persons of other vinced, by the men and women whom, we nationalities on these terms. That is legisla- must believe, are members of the Church of tion that can be called for and can be passed. God. I may be allowed to go back into history, we read that in the times of the Kings of With regard to the suitability of the time, well, we certainly have not quite got the Israel and of Ahab's rule that Elijah the Germans on the run or at our feet, but there prophet said that he alone was left as a is a great deal to be said for putting forward worshipper of God. The answer to him was our views. Therefore, the argument regard-"Yet have I left me 7,000 that have not I feel that there ing the unsuitability of the time need not bowed the knee to Baal." carry great weight. But if it gets known are thousands in Germany of that same com throughout Germany that the settled view pany, who have not bowed the knee to the of the whole British Empire is that the Ger- war gol, and when peace is brought about mans are to be kept within the confines of the views which they hold will be enforcer] their continentai boundaries, it will stiffen In this connection I would like to refer to want to know. I can only say that that the remarks made in a recent Reuter tele. puts us in the same category as the Ger their opposition and protract the
ns. (Laughter and loud cries of "No.") (Laughter.) I put it forward to you as an gram in describing the sinking of a hospital argument that it would do this if they were ship in which were some wounded Germans
Before the resolution was put the Hon. in & position to continue the struggle. Would When the ship had been struck a German it be worth while to continue it in order to Colonel who was on board remarked:-"ir. Holyoak briefly replied to the remarks gain that end! Then we have practicability, cannot approve of my people in this way Well, gentlemen. I do not know whether it (A voice-He was in the wrong boat." Much is practicable. Of course, a great many look laughter.) A very apt retort, but I think upon this as though we were passing a pena! we can give him credit for other feelings One more point, and that is, that I think sentence of servitude for a certain period as
this spirit is being exorcised by the British punishment upon the Germans. Well, if we can do it as an Empire as a whole and enforce the people, in the kind care that is being: lesson there is a great deal to be said for it. extended to the prisoners and to the wound ed in our hospitals, and in the prisoner But it is very questionable whether we can. On the question of sentiment I think there camps. The effect of war ought to be chas is another view. With all due respect, have tening. Our enemies suffer: we suffer. The not the sprakers been appealing to our pas- fact of suffering should bind survivors sions rather than to our higher natures together in a league to exorcise evil. I do (Cries of "No," and a Voice: "Have you lost not say that we shall succeed. Evil and a son 1") Let me state my view that Ger wars will continue to be, during the pre- many at the present time is under the spell sent age. But it is our duty to seek to of an evil spirit. (Laughter and a Voice: mitigate their horrors and attendant erik a sentence of banishment on. "Always has been. The quotation which To pass was read to us from Professor McElroy's whole race-even of a limited period is w address was apt, but the Professor wanted to set up and to perpetuate a race hatred and point out that the policy ontlined was due a racial strife that must have disastros to the nation being under the absolutist rule consequences. Are we the only people that of one House and monarch, and he said that have suffered in and by the war An we the only people who detest Germa the way of exorcising that evil spirit and
barbarities? Certainly not. If exclusi changing that policy was to introduce &
13 good for Hongkong, is it Republic. That was a point which was
Can we conceive mostly lost sight of. Let the nation as a good for other countries? whole get the power and it will be impossible of exclusion legislation being adopted by
No, we cannot. Kę for that damnable policy to be carried out. the Entente nations? I say the people are under a spell, but, this strictive legislation affecting companies evil spirit is exercised under the blows of clubs, residence, etc., must be and will be the Entente Powers. (Hear, bear.) The evil passed. The laisser faire, laisser aller poby spirit is being exorcised in the suffering and of the past will not survive the present war Borrow endured, which must give rise to thought, and thought will lead to a desire for knowledge. The views which were held by Frederick the Great are now held by the House of Hohenzollern, but there are others who do not hold these views. Politically, we hear of them as the Socialist Party, and they hold diametrically opposite views, and some have gone to prison and suffered greatly in their persons and properties because they maintain them. The views of the House of Hohenzollern are not held either, I am con-
but more than that is not expedient, acc desirable. Until we know that this or the German regrets and abbors the crueltis perpetrated by his countrymen in his num I for one can have no intercourse with hi He will go his way and I will go mine. B so long as they will obey the laws of the land in which they live, I say let tlu live and let them learn. And let those whe wish to have intercourse with them. as listen to reason; not sentiment. Take long views and exercise a wise charity.
a large majority. In point of fact there were only two dissentients observed in the gathering, which numbered 700.