THE PART OF THE PEOPLE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1929, Page 2

THE PART OF THE PEOPLE

(Timaru Post.)

Towns, cities, aiul countries are what the people dwelling therein make them. A country, great in natural resources, possessing in itself every element of strength and leadership, can be brought to a condition of decreptitude and impotent by a people deficient in the elements which go to constitute greatness in point of achievement and foresight. Exemplification of this axiom is to be found in the histories of many countries to-day. In this connection history is illuminative; the instances that could be quoted in proof of the theory are numberless. If we reflect, for instance, on the glory that was once associated with Greece and Persia and Carthago in ancient times, and compare their exalted position of yore with their condition of decadence oif to-day, we can arrive at no other conclusion than that the changed status has in every case been brought about by the failure of the people to maintain the high standard of past ages. There is nothing to show that in point of climate and productivity any of these countries have undergone any material change; the change must surely be in the people, who assuredly have failed to maintain the standard of excellence which enabled their piodecessors to become loaders in a race in /which there were many rivals. How true arc Byron’s words:

Such is the aspect from the shore : >'['is Greece, but living Greece no more. So coldly sweet, so deadly if air. We start, for soul is wanting there.

On the other hand we could quote instances whore tlie work of evolution has been in progress —where countries once suffering severely 'from the 1 inferiority complex ” have, through the industry, enterprise and foresight of its people, perhaps migrants from othe r lands, been raised in status till they attained places in the sun of which earlier inhabitants never dreamed. The United States of America can be quoted as a typical instance. Prior to the arrival of the “ white faces” 'from the East the greater part of that vast Continent was akin to a wilderness; its place in tile, roll ol nations was of negligible importance. True, in parts of America, north and south, there was in pre-European days a high-class civilisation as shown by the inimitable ’ works''of Prescott and many other writers, but taking the Continent as a whole its role in woild affairs was entirely negligible. The position to-day is very different. .In place of the wigwams off the Red Indians there have arisen cities rivalling in piagnificencc any that the woild has seen-; from a vast prairie America has become one ol the gardens of the world; from a position of impotence she has attained one off almost omnipotence; whilst other countries have receded from their once proud place, the Republic has advanced, till to-day she occupies a place in the sun second only to the British Empire, which the 31 other Country is proud to think lias supplied the foundation upon which this magnificent structure of national greatness has been reared. And as it has been with countries, so also has it been with cities and towns. Progress or 1 retrogression ever depends largely upon those placed in control—upon the manner in which the highest traditions'of government are maintained, for under inefficient, or maybe misdirected guidance, a city or borough may easily fall from its high estate, although such falling away may not be as serious as that depicted by Shakespeare, when he says: When lie falls, Jie fall like Lucifer, Never to hope again; Ifor it is always possible to rectify an error, although it is sometimes difficult to entirely obliterate traces ol a misguided past. AH should work in cooperation for its advancement; the guidance of affairs should be placed in tne best possible hands.. No risks should be taken. He would indeed he a foolish disciple of Abel’s calling who would sow tares and expect a crop of wheat. The days of miracles arc past; not even the greatest miracle worker of 'to-day can'fashion silk purse from a sow’s ear.