BRITON OR ANGLO-SAXON?
Commenting on the local school essays on the subject of “Why New Zealand boys and girls should be patriotic ?” Mr Poyaton S.M., who judged the papers says : “Referring to the British Empire, which is certain to become more prominent in the world's affairs in the immediate future, I would suggest that the pupils of your school be instructed not to speak or wtite so much about “England" or “the English" when Britain or Britons are meant. To use the words England, and English in this relation is unjust to the Scotch, Irish and Welsh, who have done so much to build up our vast Empire. They should also be cautioned against using the detestable term “Britisher." It is uncouth, incorrect and really a Yankee vulgarism intended to express contempt, and by its inventors usually associated with an offensive adjective. Why not “Irisher" “ Scotcher " and “Welsher?" It is regretable to find this verbal monstrosity so often in even high class journals. The word “Briton" is correct and much more euphonious. Again, the too common use of the term “Anglo Saxon" is highly objectionable. The Anglo-Saxons were only a small portion of the numerous immigrants into the British Islands. There were many others such as Romans, Danes, Normans, who, in the aggregate, must have greatly outnumbered the Angles. Yet, by the way “Anglo-Saxon" is used by the greatest of modern writers, all those other invading races and the original inhabitants of the Islands who were always more numerous in historic times than all the intruders together, are completely ignored. Roughly the ethnology of the British Islands is Teutonic (invaders) and Keltic (aborigines). Therefore, the inhabitants should be called British and not AngloSaxon ; but if a concise term is necessary to describe their ethnic elements this should be AngloKeltic and not Anglo-Saxon.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19140917.2.18
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1298, 17 September 1914, Page 3
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302BRITON OR ANGLO-SAXON? Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1298, 17 September 1914, Page 3
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