THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPEOTATOR."] SIR,—The problem of how to deal with the conscientious objector is rather a difficult one for the authorities. The conscientious object();
has generally a morbid love of martyrdom which the present system rather administers to, and perhaps you will allow a suggestion of an alternative method of treatment. Instead of dealing with the con- scientious objectors as they are being dealt with now, would it not be better to pass a law declaring that any man who had a conscientious objection to defending his country when called upon in this time of her need should be " de-citizenized " by being permanently disfranchised, and that this degradation should be publicly proclaimed in the• Courts t They might then be allowed to go free. It will generally be found that conscientious objectors are very active politicians, and probably ninety per cent. of them would rather withdraw their objection than be debarred from taking their full part in the political life of the country. It may be. asked whether Quakers should be included in the treatment here proposed. It would be better to make no exoeption whatever to the principle that if a man would not defend his country he should have no vote as to its government. The pacificists and the other conscientious objectors, although active, aro not numerous, but have misled this country, or rather the Government of this country. It is some consola- tion, though a very poor one, that they misled Germany still more.—I am, Sir, &c., E. L OLIVER. The Waterhouse, Bollinton, Macclesfield.
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