OUR COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONG.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2486, 28 September 1922, Page 3

OUR COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONG.

(To the Editor.) Sir. — In the recent discussion ; in Parliament on the Near East situation, Mr T. M. Wilford' said he personally endorsed the principle of “MyJ country right or wrong.” Mr How- | ard interjected that such was an immoral .doctrine, and Mr Holland said it was Prussianism.- It is remarkable that these men should so hastily condemn a principle which they have no hesitation in practicing. They do not say “My country right or wrong” .because they are International Socialists who think nothing of country, but only of class and party. There can be little doubt, however, that they do stand for their party right or wrong, and if they choose to name the principle immoral we must remember it is .of their own practice they are speaking.

*■ Mr Holland’s contention that Prussianism consisted in the Germans loving (heir country right or wrong is absolute fudge. The vice of Prussianism was not in the Germans’ love of their country, but in their hatred of other countries, which found expression in the infamous hymn of hate and the brutalities' which followed *ueh insanity. Where the anti-national Reds deceive. themselves and others is in confusing love of one’s country with endorsement of every policy adopted by it. A sane man will love and defend his mother and father whether they are in the right or not, and' exactly in the same spirit a loyal citizen will defend his country, whether it is right or wrong, in regard to any particular policy. This does not imply, and only a fool would think so, that a man who defends his father is supporting every sin such parent can commit, or that a citizen in jjefending his country is endorsing every wrong it does. The rational view is that we love our parents,' or our country, because they are ours, and to neglect them is to injure ourselves. The party that declares it will never defend a country that does wrong will prove an Ishmael and outlaw that loves no nation on earth. Again,' the party that declares that it will support only the country that is in the right is conceitedly arrogating to itself the atributes of an infallible judge, and, to be logical, would require to follow the absurd course of constantly changing its allegiance. The test of is that a citizen wifi defend his country under all circumstances. It has nothing to do with-the question of whether his country is right or wrong in any pa rticular instance any more than a boy’s love for his mother has to do with the question of whether she is always right or not. The man who takes up the attitude that he will defend his country only when he thinks it is in the right is in truth a conceited creature, who shelters in a coward's castle, and offers his help only when it is not required. Amongst men—real men —the friend we all value is the one who stands by us at all times, who grieves if we are in the wrong, but defends us to the best of his ability. Instead of being immoral, the spirit that impels men to love their parents, their country, their friends — whether right or wrong —is one of the highest moral impulses as it is founded upon desire for the good of others, and readiness for service when required. “Our country right or wrong,” after all, means but love of our country under all circumstances; any other sort or patriotism would be a poor staff for any nation to lean upon in time of trial. —Yours, etc.. N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE.