THE VOICE OF PREJUDICE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—What does your correspondent Mr. Ashe make of Christ's words to His disciples, recorded in Luke xxii. 35-38—" lie that hath no sword let him sell his garment, and buy one " ? I am inclined to think that they were spoken ironically, and that in resenting the disciples' literal interpretation of them, He closed their mouths with the abrupt remark, " It is enough."
But another interpretation is possible. Christ may have meant that His policy of non-resistance must be practised by Himself and His then small band of followers : but that when His society was enlarged, and included many nations, this policy would be often found to be mistaken. Nations must needs defend themselves ; nor would they necessarily be acting unchristianly in so doing : they might be completely unselfish in fighting for those nearest and dearest to them.
There is all the difference between the conduct of indi- viduals in voluntarily forgoing their rights and the conduct of nations in allowing their members to be sacrificed to other nations' greed.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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