THE PEACE CRUSADE IN OLDHAM - NEWSPAPER LETTERS

OLDHAM CHRONICLE
10th August 1917 (Friday)
THE PEACE MEETING

Sir, Why all this hub-bub because a few peace cranks and conscientious objectors got the ragging they rightly deserved? If they wished for a cordial reception from the people of Oldham they ought to have set about a peace mission three years ago - before our gallant lads had fallen by the thousand on the various battlefields. Who ought to be the first to cry for peace - the parents, brothers, sisters, and sweethearts of our brave and noble dead, or a few mean and ignoble men, commonly called conscientious objectors and members of the I.L.P., men who preferred to hide and save their skins behind their braver brothers whose consciences would not let them stay at home? The people of Oldham say the former. The crowd on Monday evening knew and understood what the peace cranks were to talk about. There was not one person in that crowd but did not long for peace, but not a peace dictated by Germany to a broken nation, not a peace at any price - for that would be an insult to our fallen heroes - but a lasting peace, won by the blood of our nation's dead. We who have mourned our loved ones fallen in battle are sometimes apt to wish our boys had pleaded 'conscience,' then they might today be with us. But no, if every boy had pleaded a so-called 'conscience' where would Old England (especially its women and children) be today? Let the peace cranks and members of the I.L.P. thank God that brave boys were found who went forth at the trumpet call to 'fight the good fight'.
May I also add a few words regarding our new Zealand cousins. The writer of one letter says they are better fitted to be out fighting than our pale-faced factory lads. Let us not forget that many of these boys have been out and done their bit by the side of their British cousins, and they who have not yet been out will have the pleasure, in the near future, of facing the music played by the most barbaric of nations. Give to every man his due. As to being the guests of the Oldham people, the New Zealand soldiers have shown their appreciation of the people's kindness to them by the numerous acts for local charities, and I am very certain Oldham will not think less of their New Zealand cousins because these boys fought up and took the place of their less fortunate cousins confined to the war zones who could not be present to speak for themselves.
KING GEORGE

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[This correspondence is now closed.
Ed. O.C.]