THE ANTI-BRITISH BRITISHERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2582, 19 May 1923, Page 4

THE ANTI-BRITISH BRITISHERS.

A POSE OF SUPERIORITY. There is a certain class of persons within the British Empire who receive all the priviledges of citizenship and accept all the advantages which the Empire’s protection confers, and yet who make it an interest in their lives to belittle the Empire in every way they possibly can. These individuals adopt the pose of high brow intellectual internationalists who understand the polities of all nations upon earth. To judge from their general postulates they are quite fitted, on paper, or in debate, to run the entire universe. Such a class of self-constituted mentors have never yet learned that the world, and the little part we name the British Empire, are not managed and developed on any lines of mere debate or literary direction. There is an inter-nationalism which is sound, honest and of good repute, which all lovers of humanity respect and admire —of such is the movement of the League of Nations, the Red Cross and others which antagonise or belittle no nation but seek the good of all. The anti-British internationalism adopted by some within our country is of: quite another cast. It is more properly described as anti-national than .international. Our country, or our Empire, always wrong, is about the view that this body of sorry malcontents have adopted. Very often they judge the nation or Empire, on the politicians who hold office for the time being and because they are opposed to the latter make subversive attacks on the former which stands above and beyond all political office-holders.

Tt has been said that ‘‘lf is a poor bird that fouls its own nest.” Similarly we can say that “he is a poor .specimen of a citizen who decries his own country.” What are the reasons which lead these people we speak of to attack the Empire to which they belong? The main cause we believe is an overwhelming conceit which is natural in the case of certain individuals. They are so very anxious to be noticed that they prefer being notorious to being passed over, they like strutting the stage as intellectual giants who can solve all problems and who are vastly superior to that stupid mass —their country and Empire. Because the body of the Empire is simply engaged in doing things in mostly inarticulate ways these almighty talkers conceive that fheir’s only are minds that know. Here in New Zealand, and we believe elsewhere, this anti-British internationalism is more or less' an organised movement; it works not on the line of open attack upon the Empire, that would require much courage, its methods are those of insiduous suggestion, covert assault and permeation of social groups with ideas which may subvert our confidence in the Empire' we belong to. One political -arty—(he N.Z. Labour Party—declares itself plainly as internationalist and. if we are to judge bv its press and leading speakers, it is rather of the subversive order. We find this element has found its way into one of' the Educational Institutions of our country. The Victoria College Debating Society has become noted as a centre which frames motions for debate couched very often in language which suggests that the British Empire is all wrong. Students, when out of class room, are often a lively lot and we are not disposed to take some of their escapades very seriously. The students of this College would, we believe, show themselves truly loyal if ever the call came to them. Meantime, not by themselves but in association with visitors whose views are decidedly revolutionary, they continue to pass resolutions which present the Empire we belong to as about played out. Of the persons who adopt this general anti-British attitude we would not dream of suggesting their suppression—there are those who would glory in having the crown of martyrdom bestowed upon them even if it was merely part of a Capping Carnival. Let u« avoid the weakness of advertising folly to its advantage. With an Empire such as ours, so full of faults, guilty of sins of omission and commission and. apparently. very far wrong in many ways, wo have wondered why so many of these blushing internationalists remain in it. There is nothing to prevent them from walking out —il is the freest country wc know of to 'ret out of. The old man John Bull i- a tyrant at home. Mother Britain is a lerinngant, the meals arc had, the roof leak's, there is not enough down in our beds —so our international brothers paint it. Whv is it they will stay on and whine? Goodness knows they do not make home any happier with their eternal .grouch. No. they will not go —they cling to the old home in spite of everything. Well, well, do nol actions speak loader than words? Tn face of all silly debate the facts remain that men and women of many nations and races cleave to tiie British Empire, are mist anxious for its shelter in times of world storm and stress and, strange paradox of human nature, often love home most when they abuse it most frenuentlv.

In this best part of the Empire our people are not likely to be led away by subversive folly of idle talk, the only persons it ran barm are those who indulge in it and these may think a era in before they seek to put any such theories into aetunl practice. (Contributed by the X.Z. Welfare League).