Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28th., 1933. LORD RAGLAN’S “RAG"

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1933, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28th., 1933. LORD RAGLAN’S “RAG "

J-JEROES, ancient and modern, are cockshies for many, these days, national illusions being shattered, —or are they? Book after book, speech after speech, endeavour to throw the mighty from their pedestals, but although a few may crash, some are merely shaken, and the majority remain immovable, so strongly established are they by popular tradition, not always ill-founded. Some of the assaults are in the nature of legpulling, some are inspired by the fact they make remunerative “copy,” and some spring from the zeal of ill-balanced reformers. Among the iconoclastic brigade, Lord Raglan is prominent, to-day. A former Guardsman, and sprung from a prominent Tory family, his views would not be expected to be radical, but, apparently, his mis- ,

sion is to offend, or at least arouse, national susceptibilities. The first Lord Raglan, during the Crimean War, gave the order which, —alleged to have been misconstrued, — led to the famous charge at Balaclava. The present holder of the title may find that his attack on national heroes, especially, those whose memory is dear to Scotland, if equally brave, will be equally fruitless. “Magnificent but not war,” was a French General’s estimate of the Balaclava charge “Magnificent, but not true.” will be the general estimate of the latest Raglan charges.

None will dispute that some national heroes committed deeds that shock the present generation, but other times, other manners. Wallace, for instance, was not lilywhite in his methods, but his patriotic efforts for his country will ever cover a multitude of sins, in his compatriots’ estimation.

Hebrew heroes must not be judged

by to-day’s standards of conduct,

those living now having the benefit of thousands of subsequent years’ experience and greater knowledge to guide them. As for English children being encouraged to have a superiority complex over the French, or any other nation, there is little wrong with such doctrine, and it is to be hoped that the French, and other children, in turn, are taught that they are really better than their neighbours. Far better for children to be given too good a conceit of themselves, than to be taught to be semi-ashamed of their own race and country. The error is not in inculcating a belief in national merits, but in evading the responsibilities such privileges carry. After all, some race has to be the best. Why not one’s own? As an Englishman, which people would Lord Raglan say was superior to his own, and why? The swing from ultra-patriotic jingoism has gone too far, and wrong as was the creed that a Briton was worth several foreigners, it is a sillier mistake to attempt to prove that he should almost apologise for his existence. The whole truth about national heroes will never be told, but it is ■well to extol what is known of their notable deeds. Nations will continue to uphold their mighty dead, be Lord Raglan and his like ever so unquiet. Inspiration is ob- ' tainable from stories of the achievements of the men Lord Raglan belittles, and if the darker side of their characters is kept from children, is that not commendable ? They may learn later of the failings of their heroes, but they will be the better for their former trust. It is the noble deeds of national heroes, not their mistakes, that are held out for emulation, 1 and there is nothing ‘ 1 deplorable ’ ’ about this. Revelling in the black spots on heroic careers may be left to the cynical adults. It is well for the child-mind to dwell on the brighter side, and it is to be hoped that hero-worship, within moderation, will never be banished from national tuition. Happily, more recognition is being given, these days, to the fact that peace hath her heroes no less than war, and if Lord Raglan is in earnest in his crusade, he should turn his attention to what is constructive in this direction. Probably, he is indulging in a form of “rag,” but this may have mischievous results.