THE PEACE CRUSADE IN OLDHAM - NEWSPAPER LETTERS

OLDHAM CHRONICLE
9th August 1917 (Thursday)
THE PEACE MEETING

Sir, The organised plot which prevented the 'Peace Meeting' on Monday night effected such a disgraceful scene that any fair-minded citizen will not care to reflect upon.

Whatever the difference in point of view one of the boasted traditions of an Englishman has been to uphold the right of free-speech. This, however, did not present itself on Monday night. Furthermore, it has often been told us that only in Germany was the right publicly to discuss peace withheld, but apparently in this town of ours whenever or wherever the military element manifests itself all civil and constitutional rights are to be sacrificed. This is a vital point which every citizen ought to safeguard, for it may not always be the pacifist who will suffer under it.

Then the wanton attack on the I.L.P. rooms was a sorry and demoralising exhibition of premeditated destruction, such as no one would expect from people who call themselves men. Nobody with any spark of common sense or a regard for fair play would condone such an action as that, not to mention the foul and brutal attacks on those persons who were unfortunate enough to fall into the hands of the mob.

Yours etc.,
F. PARKER