Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, 1918. NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, 1918. NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS.

With the unrest of tile, people now so marked over the whole world, the question arises where is it all leading to! The war lias dislocated entirely, schemes of national reform and advancement. The countries which are embroiled in the great 'conflict have I not the time to turn attention with ! any degree of application to the many domestic and social questions, which if they do not urgently present themselves are clamoured far by sections of the community. The task before the belligerent countries is to win the war, and this task has grown more and more exacting both on the authorities and people themselves. The, resources have boon strained to tile point of exhaustion. • fn'this great stringency, hbrtU l affairs have drifted, elf had biit passing at. tention. National aspirations in the ordinary sense of the betterment of Hie State, have-'been submerged in the still larger question of maintaining the •xistence of the State. With matters at this pass, thil pCOple as a if hole have suffered, and certain classes have suffered . more than others. The improvident and unthrifty have felt the pinch of harder times at once. ‘ The casual labourer has found his opportunities for general employment growing h>ss and loss. Unless a skilled workman, openings are not readily available •Tore is the individual stringency which operates adversely. The seed of discontent is sown, and unrest created. The grievance is against the' State, forgetful that the strength or weakness of the .State depends upon--the unity of the people as a whole. Just as the people themselves regard right apd justice for t;he general welfare, so the fabrics of the State is maintained . a What we call law are the rules of the Styte which govern the rights ami privileges or the people. The democratic state may march to great in the matter of Law making, if the people so order. They enjoy a franchise which gives them the right to elect their o)fn lawmakers and from the elect then at‘c those selected who administer the law. Enjoying and rightly using all these privileges, a State should progress as far as the lim-. its of Utopia. But there always seems to come the right, which checks ideals and endangers eVen the' public welfare itself. A section takes a false view of the freedom they claim. Thtly think because a law may be passingly irksome- they may revolt against it. Vet it is only by the State guarantee that they live under the protection of the land, [f the laws' are not enforced for the commonweal, however irksqme to one class or another, the State endangers itself, and for the apparent relief of one section of the sjtatc the whole constitution may fly to pieces l'n a great crisis such as the present war has brought about national aspirations in regard to the maintenance of the State in particular, should be observed at all hazards. ‘ The authorities, in the first instance, should give their attention to the fair and equitable administration of the law and the maintenance of order. In the second place, the citizens as a whole should support the authorities loyalty and create an atmosphere of security. In this manner a State is well ordered and t able to pursue its way to- the great goal of democratic ideals. Without loyalty of service and a just form of administration, disruption and ultimate chaos await the otherwise national trend of the people.