A MASTER BUILDER

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19762, 18 December 1935, Page 6

A MASTER BUILDER

The President of Czechoslovakia, Dr. Masaryk, has retired and one of the most remarkable figures in post-war Europe thus passes from the international stage. The son of serfs, who became a blacksmith, he had a wonderful career. One writer said of him: “ Thomas Masaryk, the blacksmith who became king of his people, the philosopfier who turned statesman, the rebel who became a constitutionalist, the man who made a nation.” He was one of those dangerous men who dream great dreams, and j'ears before the war he, drew up a programme that was based on the defeat of Pan-Germanism, the dismemberment of the Hapsburg Empire, a united Poland, and a reborn Czech nation. And it all came true. With the outbreak of war a price was put on Masaryk's head, and in exile ho preached his doctrine of free States in Eastern Europe. He converted all the Allies to his cause and when at last the State of Czechoslovakia was created the exile returned, with his comrade, Dr. Benes, to set about the great task of building a nation. There followed years of steady constructive effort. He built on the basis of individual freedom, created the Little Entente and formed a plan for the economic federation of the Danubian States. His influence spread until this old man —ho is eighty-five years of age —was one of the dominating figures of Europe. “If I were asked,” wrote Emil Ludwig, “ to name him who among living men deserves the highest rank, I should say Masaryk, the Czech. No statesman in the whole world to-day has so great a moral right to live in his palace at Prague as this wise, brave old man.” The people of the State were composed of different races —including nearly 4,000,000 Gormans —but he secured a wonderful degree of unity, and the place he held in the national life was clearly shown when, his second term of office having been completed, the people, rather than lose his wise leadership set aside the Constitution in order that thqir first President might continue to hold office. It is a. wonderful record. From poverty to the presidential palace, the exile who became the builder of a nation; the dreamer whose dreams came true. Like Mazzini he found refuge in Great a Britain, and was for a time a lecturer at King’s College, and in London he worked with many able men who were anxious to see both Poland and Czechoslovakia independent States. But liis greatest work has been the guidance of the young nation through the maze of post-war problems. He has been one of the master builders and probably in his retirement will continue to exercise a widespread influence on the direction of affairs for his companion in exile, and his right-hand man in nation-building, Dr. Benes, will it is expected succeed to the Presidency.