The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 17. LABOUR AND PATRIOTISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 341, 17 March 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 17. LABOUR AND PATRIOTISM.

It would be a libel on the workers of Australasia to refer to them as unpatriotic, but it is undeniable tliat there is a growing section that is vehemently opposed to any proposal savoring of militarism. In the acceptance oi the term understood in Europe, where practically every able-bodied man has not only to receive a military training, but has perforce to serve for considerable periods in the ranks of the standing army, we could understand the average colonial citizen protesting, but under the systems (proposed in Australia and New Zealand, whereby every man is merely to be required to lit himself as well as he can, almost without interference with his vocation, to defend lis home and liberty should the occasion arise, we are quite at a loss to understand the species of reason where#* a section of labour can justify its opposition. To the broad aims of the Socialists, the basic principle of whose doctrine is universal brotherhood, every right thinking individual must subscribe, but unfortunately we are still up against the obvious fact that international goodfellowsfaip is not yet. lliat the advance of education and enlightenment amongst the masses of Europe, as. demonstrated by the growing power of the Socialists*, Radicals and Democrats, is one of the best auguries for the peane of the- world—in the future when true Socialism and the power of the masses have made themselves' felt in the cause of disarmament. But that stage nasi not yet been reached by far, and however much the Socialists of Europe may ab!hor war, they will none the less eagerly buckle on their armour in the hour of national peril. The French Socialists did not find their German brotherhood refusing to cross swords with them in 1870, despite their tenets and lofty aims of international fellowship in time of peace. Nor would there be any more respect shown for such considerations tomorrow were the war trumpet to sound. | The moral of it all is clear: deep down in every man's composition is ingrained the first law of nature —seifpres'ervation—and we have no fear that labour organisations that at present declaim against equipping themselves for defending their country, would be the first in the field to offer resistance to an enemy. History has ever sliown that 91 the lace of a common universal danger, as! fast as it was recognised, the laws of commercialism, the habit »f struggle and trade enmity, .were thrown aside as meft. stripped to meet it, and everywhere, under all circumstances of discomfort and deadly peril, moved up. into the firing line as fast as they were , needed. No theatrical heroism, no posturing or speecu-making. Just as all able-bodied France—the ordinary, undis-j tinguished, common or garden trades- j man, soldier, workman, sailor, clerk, 1 men of every shade of opinion and occu- j pation —lined up spontaneously to fight j the recent floods that threatened deso-1 latioQ, so in the face of an enemy j threatening national existence would ( every man rally to the defence of his country. The vapourings of the loud mouthed orators who at times tem-1 porarily warp the better judgment of gatherings of people, and lead to the affirming of resolutions that are foreign to the instinctive promptings of their auditors, need not causte apprehension, The patriotism of the great force of labour is not, nor ever will be, in doubt, and if national training is riot a success we are certain it will not be because of want of assistance from the ranks of combined labour. The minor ity which endeavours) to raise dissention on this question may safely be left to be whipped into line by public opinion.