LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
[Letters of the length of one of our leading paragraphs are often more read, and therefore more effective, than those which fill treble the space.]
THE PERILS OF ORATORY; OR, THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FREE CHURCH CLERGY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sre,—The speech of the Prime Minister to the representatives of the Free Churches on the 28th inst. was a fine effort, rich in impressive and alluring phrases, well calculated to linger in the memory. His advice, in the striking passage in which he pointed out the danger of forgetfulness, was quite admir- able. " The new temper " is certainly "one of the dangers of the moment"; but that "the Churches alone can cope with it" is doubtful. A new spirit—the spirit which Christianity seeks to implant—is sorely needed if this distracted world is ever to reach peaee and if civilization is to be saved. One can imagine the effect of the speech on many of the hearers; but, reading it in the cold light of reason, without the spell which the orator casts, I find that it ignores pregnant facts and may serve to foster illusions.
The greatest danger to civilization at the present time does not arise from the menace of local wars in Europe, but from the powerful organized forces which are everywhere working for revolution of Communist type to be combined with the destruction of Christianity. The Prime Minister's only hint of such danger is his statement that "If a man writes an article in this country to provoke and foment revolution and anarchy, you prosecute him."
Mr. Lloyd George must, however, he well aware that speeches, articles and leaflets intended "to provoke and foment revolution" are rampant all over the country, and that the corruption of our young children for revolutionary purposes is systematically carried on in many places. The few prosecutions which have been instituted have proved an encouragement rather than a deterrent, and the volume of subversive litera- ture, largely alien in origin., continues to increase. Perhaps, by an accident, the Times gave space immediately preceding this report of the speech to some startling evidence of what the Semitic revolutionaries in Russia are attempting in the British Empire.
"The roll of battle," said Mr. Lloyd George, "has passed on to distant fields "; but, if we can no longer hear "the roar of the artillery," fighting of the worst kind is in progress every day not many miles away from our shores, and the speech contains no allusion to the wrecking of Ireland and the reversion of Irishmen to tribal conditions. "Trust not in force. The nation that does so brings ruin on itself." "The ill-equipped armies" won this great war because "they had righteousness on their side." This may be attractive as oratory, but it is not true, and it may be perilously misleading. Force is the rock upon which law, order, security of life, and all that civilization implies must continue to rest. That force may be, and has often in the past been, basely used is no reason for the insidious suggestion that it is now a useless and immoral possession. The armies which were ultimately best equipped gained the victory.
The. Prime Minister had much to say about the League of
Nations which elicited the cheers of his audience. "If it succeeds, civilization is safe." When the uncivilized and semi- civilized people who form the greater part of the world's popula- tion are all imbued with the Christian spirit, and when the advanced nations are guided by that spirit, it will " succeed " if it is then required. But this "ingenious iron puzzle "—a wonderfully apt phrase—will depend upon force, as Articles XVI. and XVII. of the Covenant plainly recognize, and if, in circumstances easily imagined, force is not available, it will break down hopelessly. In any case, it is powerless against the greatest present menace to peace and civilization, and it already serves the purpose of international revolutionaries who can gather and intrigue under its tegis.
Oratorical power is a great gift; but, unless controlled by cool judgment and a full appreciation of stern realities, it is never free from the perils which the Prime Minister has again exemplified.-1 am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
