The Matamata Record THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1918 THE GREAT SPIRIT.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 106, 14 November 1918, Page 2

The Matamata Record

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1918 THE GREAT SPIRIT.

The Only Paper published in the Matamata County Published every Thursday Office Tower Eoad P.O. Box 38 ’Phone 82

MAT AM ATA with other parts of the Empire celebrated peace last week in a manner which, although not of the hilarious nature that greeted the good tidings of the South African war, was thoroughly fitting such a great occasion. Although the news was somewhat premature, the celebration was carried out with spirit, and will probably rank as the spontaneous rejoicing? If there were some who could not join in, it was because of the memory of their dear ones who had fallen in the great fight during the past four years. On the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the sunny gardens of France, in Egypt and on the ground that Christ once trod.the blood of New Zealanders had been spilled. It is a open to wonder that anyone could celebrate as the victories of old were celebrated, until the great spirit of the nation is considered. The enemy had prepared for forty years to make himself the master of the world. His whole aims and energies had been devoted towards this; the aim of its leaders had been to foster the war spirit in school, university and laboratory, and they had sent their sons to all parts of the globe on missions of peaceful (?) penetration. These had been received in the British Dominions in a spirit of comradeship, and as settlers who would be encouraged to make good. They were accepted in the honest British spirit—a spirit which means that a man is worth his place, to be treated as a friend, until found otherwise. The maiority of them proved " otherwise." However, this spirit was fostered throughout the Empire " while the Hun was educating himself in the ethics of war. While the centre of Europe had its youth on the parade-ground, British, boys were on the playingfields. On the latter Britishers learned to take hard-knocks and smile; they strove to be better than the other man, and they knew that they had to use legitimate means in doing so—the sporting spirit was ingrained in them. They learned to fight a losing game and rejoiced in a win. They were sons of Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand who took the chances of success at Gallipoli, with the odds so greatly against them. It has taken many years—four of the longest years in history —for the great spirit to defeat its martial rival, but we know now that it has beaten it, and we hope, killed it for ever. Right has defeated Might in the greatest war of all ages. The sportsmen nations have defeated the militarist nations at the fighting game, and we rejoice over the success of the clean, conscientious men. We mourn for those who fell in the fight—their duty was nobly done, but they died in the true spirit, fighting for the weak and oppressed. They played the game for a win for humanity—and won. They would have us rejoice at having rid tne world of its great beast for all time. We rejoice because they have killed war, perhaps for all time, and most certainly for a generation.