I am glad to note a very sensible passage in
the sum- ming-up by Mr. Justice Humphreys in the trial of four Communists on a charge of conspiring to seduce soldiers from their duty. "A person in this country," said the Judge, "has liberty to say that its constitution or its religion should be changed, that there ought to be no religion at all, that there ought to be no king, that we ought to have a republic, or any other form of govern- ment. What persons cannot do is to advise that changes should be made by force or terrorism." ,This is, of course, good law, and it is also good sense, which is more than good law always is. If the Communists can gain their ends by. persuasion no one is entitled to interfere with them, any, more than with the Primrose League. The right way with them is to let them talk. The phlegmatic working-man listens and goes away to vote against them. Hyde Park oratory is a great safety-valve.
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