The Spectator

The Spectator at war: A pacifist replies

‘A pacifist protest’, a letter from the 15 August 1914 Spectator in response to a piece in the 8 August edition:

SIR, – One is willing to believe that your article in last week’s issue called “Keep Your Temper” was not intentionally provocative, but it shows some lack of justice and of courtesy towards the pacifist. You divide pacifists into three classes. The first consists of obstinate fools who refuse to think their own country can do right; the second consists of cowards; and the third, which you are generous enough to admit to be a small one, of knaves. One would like to ask to which class you consign those pacifists par excellence, the members of the Society of Friends. Their sane and noble appeal Christian patriotism and Christian brotherhood had not appeared when the article was written, but with their long record of quiet and solid philanthropy and public service you would hardly stigmatize them as stupid, timid, or base.

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