NATIONAL MORALS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3197, 22 September 1917, Page 8

NATIONAL MORALS

THE BRITISH WAT.

Cndes of rirtue which are suitable to indMduat Ire (says Mr, Arthur Kitoon, in "Land and Water") not always practicable on the part of corporations and States. Failure to recognise this diotinctfon is responsible for many errors on the part of British Cabinet Ministers m the. past. They have attempted to base tUβ foreign policy of this country upon the principle wfiich govern heir mn prvate lives and conduct. And the results have been deplorable To this wo«» the unfortunate Declaration of London, which hampered our Navy for thei first. tm> years of the war. It was no doubt chtralrous-but it was suicidal! It w the same error which has prevented the Government in the past from making.toe ii&essary retaliation which might hate saved many lives and spared muehofto misery inflicted upon held captive bv the enemy. It is this whioli is earryir* <™ W> issinn Allies to duty of a Government js the safetj, care, and welfare of its own subjects. Those who endeavour to establish inleination.il policy based solely upon, the Sermon on the Mount seem to be cha* in™shadow. Those .teaeh ng» were > - vended primarily .for the guidance o individuals in their own private \u,e». They cannot rightly bo applied to nation's in their corporate capacity under the conditions, which now exist, end which have existed m the past. V\hen tho Toung man was advised to sell, all he hid and give to the poor, the advice did not imply that ho should dispose of any funds entrusted to his care belonging to other*. And it is not tho part of a (jOvernmont to sacrifice or ' endanger .he lives liberties, or interests of the subjects whoso welfare they have sworn to protect, .in tho pursuit of sonio merely idealistic- or altruistic purpose. Viscount Grey's solicitation Srf tho weifere of neutrals, which was prompted by_ tho highest moral considerations, involved tho sacrifice of certain interests of this, country. ~, . . Tho strength, safety, well-being, and happiness of a nation depends not so much upon the exercise of mercy, love, charity, chivalry, or altruism, but upon Justice. The prevalence of our national moral disease — self-depreciation —ot which Pacifism and tho f> ew Morality aro merely symptoms, is directly traceable to a lack of a national 6onso ot justice, justice to one's self.'to one's country, as well as to ono'fi enemies. And the object of this-war should be—B3 was admirably denned by tho French Premier, M. Kibot —tho establishment; and enforcement of justice. Not mercy, but justice, is the surest anchor for national Eatery.