WHAT IS LOYALTY?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2068, 16 December 1919, Page 4

WHAT IS LOYALTY?

AN APROPOS QUESTION FOR ELECTORS. An interesting article appeared in the Wellington Post last week on the question of loyalty. The writer, t “No. 1367890,” puts it thusly:— What is loyalty? Loyalty is a duty that we owe to ourselves, our neighbours, our King, and country. Loyalty is the thing that makes men do things; it makes them see the duty they owe one as to another. It was loyalty that sent our boys to the front; it was loyalty that -made them die for liberty. Liberty is a great thing; it is worth lighting for; it is worth dying for. * What did the present Labour leader, Mr Harry Holland, do for liberty when the Mother Country and our country were sofe pressed lighting for liberty against a foe who could not light fair; and murdered women and children by Zeppelin or submarine. Did Mr Holland, as an editor of a weekly newspaper, wield his pen for the cause of his country ? Did he wield it in asking, for subscriptions for the Red Cross or the Y.M.C.A.Did he wield his pen to uphold his country’s honour? Answer these questions for yourself. A' oll know he

wielded his pen for Iho conscientious objector, the man who would not light, or even act as a bearer to

carry our wounded. ■ ... And there is Mr Semple, who tells the people of Wellington South how the miners went to tight. Did Mr Semple'ask the miners to tight? No; they went on their own responsibility. They went to tight for liberty. Did Mr Semple take the platform to help the country in the country's hour of need? Did he do anything, say anything? He did nothing. You would have thought he would, as a practical miner, have wielded his pick to get eoal for the transport, the hospital ship, or the food ship, or even for the poor householder (for whom Ink heart bleeds so much). Did he? No, he didn't. What did Mr Fraser do ? He did nothing. What did “Paddy" Webb do (the friend of these three men who are asking the electors to put them into power in the name of loyalty). Mr Webb went in the more congenial work of planting trees for His Majesty rather than for fighting for him. But Mr Webb did Mr Holland a good turn —he got his seat. These men are the leaders of the Labour Party. They ask you to support them and those who are standing in the interests of Labour. Think of it, digest it, and reason what they stand for. Remember that those who are not loyal are disloyal. Are you going to be loyal to your country on the 17th December ? Are you going to keep the flag flying? Are you going to govern yourself, or are you going to lot those govern vou avlio did nothing to.light for lib-