Truth BIRTHDAY BAILS

NZ Truth, Issue 730, 14 June 1919, Page 4

Truth

BIRTHDAY BAILS

THE PEOPLE'S PAPER.

SATURDAY, JUNE -: 14, 1919,

Democracy and Titular Distinctions

When Britain declared war on Germany, presumably on behalf of Francf. and Belgium, and the people of the out-lying portions of the Empire rallied to the flag of their : fathers and sent their sons to fight for freedom's "cause the word went. -forth that the war then beginning was, to put an end to wars. It was to be the last war by utterly destroying German militarism and German mendacity and German methods m international, "political, and industrial affairs. Everything German was to be henceforth and forever Anathema; The aeoursed taint was to be stamped out not only of the world's government, but out of .the very recollection ot the people, was the first resolve that nerved the arm of many, a Briton the more bravely to battle gainst the brutal Boche. Then this war saw for the first time men of all classes of society, rich men and poor men, aristocrats and .proletarians, saints and sinners, fighting m the ranks- as privates. Social barriers were swept away- and on the battlefield .men were recognised for what they -were m themselves. A comradeship, we were told, had, sprung up between Jack and his master, that, would outlive the- war, and that henceforth social distinctions would be scrapped and men would.takctheir places m the new world, which was to arise, like a phoenix, from the ashes of the old,, pot because of their wealth, but because. Of their worth; they would b,e hehTin high repute, not out of respect- to tltdiir^lineage and blue blood, but 'm accordance with their brains and labor • devoted to the service of the commonweal. That was our further resolve.

Such were the things^that were to be — when- the war was won. Yet such was the of inventive genius and initiative m the modern rulers of Britain that, long before the war was over, when seeking to find a new system of titulary distinction or reward for services rendered duringthe war, all they could do was to imitate the German Rat system under the style and title of 0.8. E., and like the Teutonic Rats consisting of various grades or orders of merit. Thus our first resolve was thrown to the winds, and with it our second, for; the institution of the 0.E.E., instead of leading to the abolition of social distinctions, tends, not only to perpetuate the pernicious system, but to create other and more ridiculous divisions among the classes. And this is being done at a time when the spirit of the people is almost unanimously against "tinsel stamps," whether of individual or hereditary mark. Lord Napier says m the opening of his history of. the Peninsular War that that war was waged not to add to the territory of any king or prince, not to aggrandise any military leader, but to decide whether for the future; autocracy or democracy, privilege or should be the guiding principle of -future European politics. There .was a time when it could have been claimed that the recent great war was for the same righteous cause, and crowns and coronets wer c thrown <jnto the smelting pot, and emperors, princes and peers driven into a too-lbng-delayed exile. And Europe to-day is certainly the better for it. It would seem, however, as if the march of progress has been stayed. Romain Rolland, the great French patriot and publicist, tells us that r „ Human progress is an evolutionary process. But evolution soon becomes tired; slackens its pace, stops, stumbles over obstacles, or falls asleep m the road like a lazy mule. To arouse it, vigorous shakings are from time to time necessary, powerful revolutionai'y stimuli are .. required which spur the will, strain the muscles, and surmount all obstructions. In the case under review, such "vigorous shakings" and powerful revolutionary stimuli seem to have spent themselves after partially performing the work necessary to free the world from the rule of privilege and caste. The pity of it that the nation hitherto recognised as the most constitutional and free, has been, and is being, fused as the instrument of obstruction ' and reaction m - throwing obstacles m the way of evolution and. making' its road so difficult that it begins to "stumble" and "fall asleep . . . like a lazy mule." • • • And yet, who knows but this new order of the 0.8. E. may be the thing that happens before the camel breaks its back. The trade and traffic, m titles has been for long so tainted that men 'of real nobility have dispised them. It is even more so m the case of the new Order of the OBritish Empire. Many of the new: recipients go about with heads anything but erect, the so-called ihonor being to them little more than an insult. The civil recipients have been sympathised with, and the grlad hand has not been held out to them. From their demeanor as .they go about their daily duties, it would appear as if they are conscious of having done something mean m accepting such "distinction," for unlike the military officers, the civilian 'is first asked if he is willing to accept such a distinction as the sovereigh is pleased to bestow. It is a point worth noting that most of the new 0'5.8.E., were officers under the section controlled by Col. C. M. Gibbon, C.M.G. And faere we may , point out that of all the civil staff who should have been singled out for distinction, but was not, there was a gentleman m particular who worked the longest hours, had one of the biggest staffs to control and has had practically no leave since the beginning' of . the war. But he was not under the sheltering- wing: of Colonel Gibbon, and, as the getting of a distinction, like kissing, goes by favor, he has, therefore, been sent empty away. So obvious is this aspect of the "selection" that m military circles the 0.8. E. is generally referred to as "Gibbon's Grants." Thus is the name of an Imperial officer to be perpetuated m New Zealand. * »■.,_'* "Truth" understands that three officers declined the "honor" conferred upon them, but being informed that they must accept or resign, two waived their objections and accepted. The third officer, Captain Cossgrove, has persisted m his refusal. True he does so on the ground that he has not seen service, but that we, may take as a polite euphemism. "Truth" is aware that there may be as much snobbery evidenced m refusing an ; honor as m accepting it, but m Captain Cossgrove's case it was his opportunity to emphasise his dissatisfaction at his treatment by .the . military aiifohorities. There are, we understand, others among the "snivel servants" who might have had the 0.8. E. affix, but it is surmised' they would be better pleased if they received ( pay - •ment or a bonus for the overtime they had ungrudgingly worked during the stress of the war-time^ • and as the ■Government had a giveh.. . number to dispose of, the "honors" were "hawked" elsewhere and conferred ; upon people who, under other .circumstances, would have remained "unhorior'ed." It is safe to say that never since the system of "honbrs" and "titles" tv£.s instituted, have they been held m less regard. The instituting .of the • Order of the ; British Empire ;has done 'more to cover the whole business of

title-taking with ridicule, than any scandal of title-buying possibly could. Verily, those New Zealander who have been weighted with an 0.8. E., have our heartiest commiseration. Whatever Government comes into power after the . next election, "Truth" hopes it will be one that will be democratic enough and courageous enough to ina\igurate a policy of "no more : titles for New ZeaJanderg. The Prince of Wales has declared that m going to the front he found his manhood. For the. future, may New Zealand as a nation be able and proud to say the same and refuse, baubles and honors and titles that instead of conferring distinction, on the recipients, are ah evidence of degradation and servility.