The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1890-07-18 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

SIR W. LAWSON ON WAR AND ITS BURDENS.  Sir WILFRID LAwsow, M.P., presided over the morning sitting on Tuesday, and among those present were the Mayor of Birmingham (Mr A. C. Burrow), Sir Arthur Blackwood, Sir Joseph Pease, M.P., Professor Blackie, Mrs Ormiston Chant, Mr Percy W. Bunting, Mr G. Cadbury, the Hon. Chauncey M, Depew (New York), and the leading delegates from abroad.  The SECRETARY (Mr D. E. Darby), announced that the Committee of Procedure had considered the question of opening the proceedings with prayer, and had decided that those who desired to do so should assemble a few minutes before the prescribed time for opening the sittings in order that they might carry out their wishes. It wax felt that under the circumstances this would be better than arranging for more formal devotion.  The CHAIRMAN, who was cordially received, said they were present that day to consider the religious aspects of the question of peace or war. He remembered that during an agitation—he believed it was the anti-corn law agitation—a pamphlet was published entitled, "Should religious men be political ? " and to this a reply was issued on the theine, "Should political men be religious ? " Personally, he thought that politics were all the better for being taken part in by religious men. There was an idea abroad that Christian people should not meddle with politics. The Times the other day, when they were carrying on an agitation the need for which had now ceased, asked, "What does it matter what the great religious associations say? The House of Commons is not going to be influenced by them." Ah ! but the House of Commons was influenced by. them. (Cheers.) The Times writer forgot the maxim of John Stuart Mill, that "one man with a belief is equal to a hundred men with only interests," and his audience entertained the belief that it was wrong to settle disputes by the arbitrament of force, instead of the arbitrament of reason. (Cheers.) They were, in fact, in accord with his ever revered friend, Mr John Bright, when he said, "Force is no remedy." (Cheers.) But that was not the declaration of the world, and not the declaration of many so-called Christian people in this country. He was always surprised at the way in which religion was carried on in Britain. Christianity taught them to love their enemies, but fathers sent their boys into the army, there to learn how to bayonet their enemies. (Laughter.) Clearly, either Christanity had failed, or those had failed who had sought to expound its principles. A boy was sent to Sunday school and told to love his enemies, and on leaving that school he was put in the army 1 For what? Not to love, but to kill his enemies. (Laughter.) This was not, lie thought, a very good way to carry out the precepts of religion. As Burns had said—  Ye hypocrites! are these your pranks_ To murder men and then give thanks? In very shame proceed no further— God won't accept of thanks for murder. They should not look to the success of the peace movement from the high, the mighty, and the noble in the land. Let them rather look to the democracy of England to carry out the great principles which they were assembled to advocate. (Cheers.) Why should they despair? It was only a few years ago that the democracy acquired any power. Previously the government of the country had been by the classes for the dames. Now they had government of the people for the people by the people. (Cheers.) He spoke with great delicacy as to other countries, but he understood that there was to be found in France a strong condemnation of what was known as the adventurous colonial policy, while in Germany there was evidence of the greatest discontent with the burdens which the people were called upon to bear. (Hear, hear.) As to this country, let them look back to the general election  of 1888. In that election one party in the State attained a great suCCCBB, because it declared for the equal rights of nations, and against the horrible warspirit that then raged. The Congress was to spread the truth in the matter, and point out to the nations a more excellent way. (Hear, hear.) Those who took part in the movement would, of course, encounter the ridicule of the world; but let them not heed that inevitable result. (Cheers.)