THE "PLIGHTED WORD."

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14307, 19 March 1912, Page 8

THE "PLIGHTED WORD."

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PKESS."

Sir, —In these days when we are apt to considor that in all things wo are superior to tho men of our race who have preceded us, it is well to recall the rules of honour that governed our forefathers, as regards a man keeping his "plighted word," no matter if ho might break it with advantage to himself, or to the benefit of thoso in authority ; and also how those who would profit by his doing so, however urgent ihe need, would remnd a man of his duty to perform a promise given, soonor than gain advantage by his breaking faith with another. li€t us look back to the 21st Juno, when the Battle of Vittoria was at its fiercest. The village of Ariuez, vigorously defended by the French, for a time resisted every effort mado to obtain possession of it. Even the 88th Regiment, so often distinguished by its gallant achievements, was repulsed, and ror a time tnere appeared a very {..doubtful struggle. On an eminence above the village, Lord Wellington, in the midst of the musketry fire, accompanied by a singly officer, was watching I the conflict; and immediately afterthe I repulse, hi 3 Lordship, wishing' to despatch an order, turned round and directed the officer to proceed with ix,, when, instantly recollecting tho situation in which that officer was placed, Iho said, "No you cannot do it." The officer, Captain Hay (afterwards Sir Andrew Leith Hay, K.H.) who was ! alone with Lord Wellington, at this critical period, had been taken prisoner by the French, and tho day beroro the battle was allowed by tho French general, Comto uazan, to join the British Army, on his giving his parole i that he would not serve in any capacity against Franco until an officer, oT equal rank with Hay, had been exchanged, and left England. Wellington, knowing the circumstances under which Hay was present on his staff, notwithstanding the urgency of tho case, as a man, and a gentleman, would not use Hay even as a galloper. In 1912 wo, probably under similar circumstances, would appease our conscience by the thought that no ono would be tho wiser; but to Wellington it was repulsive to do any act that would cause a man to violate his "plighted word." No finer anecdote has beon related of tho great Duko, though in tho various works on his life, it lias generally escaped notice. Sir Andrew Hay, in his "Narrative of the Peninsula War," 4th edition, 1850, says: "What renders this unecdoto more striking is, that in the bustle of such a scene, when the success of an attack appeared for a moment doubtful, when from the midst of firo and smoke he had detached every officer previously with him except myself, his mind continued so unshaken by events, and in such a perfect state of equanimity, as to remember the circumstances under which was placed so insignificant a person." From Spain in 1813, carry ourselves to New Zealand in 1912, and tho recent ''political battle" at Wellington, and recall, with shame, the manner in which ifc was won. Those who have some regard for tho ways of our forefathers, and still believe a man should, as they did, observe nia "plighted word, ,, cannot but look on tho late miserable intrigue to cause men to disregard their promises to their constituents, as an incident that has brought shamo on our Dominion, and disgrace to the tempters and tempted. Tho future historian will estimate their conduct at its true valuo. When Wellington, in the days to come, will bo honoured for his treatment of Hay at Vittoria, let ns hope, for the credit of New Zealand, tho methods of the victors in tho "political battle" will have sunk into the obscurity they deserve.—Yours, etc., HENRY SLATER, Colonel. Christchurch. March 18th, 1912.