WOLFE & MONTCALM

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1930, Page 3

WOLFE & MONTCALM

T<> that time-worn cliche wliieli asserts that 'h.story 'reheats itself scant respect was paid last week when a memorial to James Wo-lfe, the hero of Quebec, was unveiled in Greenwich Park. The ceremony was -per-

formed by a descendant of the general who Wolfe defeated on the Plains of Abraham, and at a dinner in the evening, which the delegates of the Empire Press Conference were privileged to attend, there were present, seated shoulder to shoulder, united in paying tribute to a. great soldier and ' o a t momentous historical event, men ibgariiig .such,, namesv, as Wolfe Panel MtJijtcalm; Levis and Saunders; names which;: 'through spine ' 17b,,. years, .have been spoken invariably in the-same breath, rarely - coupled;:

(u, out own t.iipo a great, change, has taken' place"iii"tlie attitude of nations to tlie arbitrary barriers set up between -peoples speaking -s'trange languages but-thinking The same, thoughtSV sharing: the same- aspii'iUions; -Representatives of 'the Powers , now meetregularly to discuss .means whereby age-old prejj lid ices may he removed and war may be “outlawed” for all time. The principle is not now, but t lie process is. International fraternisation .in the past was rather a question of expediency; treaties were orawn up with the idea in view of “You help us and we’ll help you, and we’ll all help ourselves to the best of our ability.” The thought of joining in an irresistible union merely to help a third party rarely occurred, but the ..wishes of the people have been "ightly translated by their' statesmen o embody that sentiment—the business of treaty-making has been more t less sublimated.

It is doubtful whether Wolfe had any vision of the different light in which bis battle might be refought over the coffee cups 170 years after his death in the hour of victory. “Now God be praised, T will die in peace,” were his last words, uttered when he was assured that the French were beaten and that their retreat was cut off. His business was .witlf arms, not with considerations of goodwill to all mankind. Yet it may be surmised that General Wolfe and General Montcalm, if they had been able to return to their battlefield in later years, would have found little difficulty in discussing amicably a dispute which was between countries, not between a "nUant Frenchman and a brave Englishman.

The truth, indeed, was realised long before a statue of Wolfe was unveiled on the bank of the Thames. In the , garden- -ot the Governor's Mouse tic. Quebec is a monument erented to the memory of two soldiers, and bearing the inscription: “VV.olie and Aidrit-. calm. Mortem virtus commenum, famam historia, monumentum pfostentas dedit” Old, wounds are slowly healed, and even the scars become invisible as lime passes. When sweet reason takes the place of senseless animosities victor and vanquished can fraternise. The only thing to be regretted is that the. reconciliation is often all too slow in coming.