The Dominion WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1015. A PLEA FOR OPTIMISM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2603, 27 October 1915, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1015. A PLEA FOR OPTIMISM

The vigorous plea for optimism as regards the progress of the war made by Sib A. Conan Doyle should act as a wholesome corrective for tho excessively pessimistic opinions which arc just now being expressed by a section of the Press and public. The British Empire is at present beset with so many and great difficulties, that some of us may bo inclined to take a rather gloomy view oE tho situation. It is well, therefore, that we should bo reminded that there is another side to the picture. It is this other and brightey side that Sik A. Conan Doyle shows us. Ho has nothing new to tell us. He merely recounts the successful achievements of Britain and her Allies since the commencement of the struggle. But his list is an impressivo "ne, and it should prove a good tonic for drooping spirits. But when lie asserts that "in our heart of hearts we are just as certain of victory as_ « r c are that to-morrow's sun will rise," he is apt to convey the ' unfortunate impression that Britain must always win as a matter of course, as though the everkstingness of the British Empire had been established by an irrevocable decree of Providence. We are confident that we shall win in this struggle if we throw, our whole might into the effort necessary to ensure tho triumph we look forward to. Unqualified declarations of our certainty of victory, however, are liable to have a slackening effect. They tend to make people overlook the fact that the fate of the war and of our Empire depends upon _ the character and energy of the British people. The only _ way of "making certain of victory is to fight for it with all our might, and to make the fullest and best use of all our powers and resources. We cannot afford to neglect anything in this crisis which has any fighting value. Rational optimism is a gooci thing, but it is vain to imagine that we are going to win merely by constantly saying that we must win. Victory is ours if we are prepared to pay the price—to make the sacrifices, necessary to secure it. It is a mistake to be over-clatod by small successes or over-depressed by minor reverses. This is a time for clearness and sanity of judgment. We need to see things steadily and to see them whole. We want to bear all the facts in mind, and not only half of them. The ill-balanced optimist who thinks that victory will bo thrust upon us, in spite of any amount of blundering and indolent, is just'-as foolish as the pessimist who believes that the enemy makes no mistakes, while Britain makes nothing but mistakes. We can find a sound foundation for rational optimism in the knowledge that we can beat our enemies 'if we are absolutely determined fo do so. That ought to suffice. Sir A. Conan Doyle has some justification for his protest against the kind of criticism which has been directed against the authorities by a section of the British Press, and the whole Empire will agree with the fine tribute which he pays to the splendid work which Lord Kitchener has done. The unfair attacks which some newspapers have maclo upon him has not shaWen public confidence. in the War Minister. He has undertaken a task of enormous cifficulty. He has worked with untiring energy. He has succeeded in building up .and equipping a groat army while tho war has iio'n in progress, and the men he iu\s sent to the front have in m.u.t cages' proved themselves fine soldiers, and arc covering themselves and ITielr country with glory. He is entitled to all the moral support the Empire can give him. His firm confidence that we will win in the long run has given •us encouragement even when the outlook was darkest, and should be an inspiration to everincreasing effort.