THE CREED OF UNIVERSALISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2766, 2 August 1924, Page 4

THE CREED OF UNIVERSALISM.

FAR TOO TRUSTFUL. In a very able speech recently delivered in Parliament the Hon. Mr Ngata placed an emphasis on the weakness of New Zealand’s Socialist Labour Party as relating to the important matter of defence. He describes the attitude of the members of this party as being “too trustful.” If we take the published programme of the party and the pronouncement of the leaders criteria (and there is nothing else to judge from) the Party’s trustfulness reaches the length of ignoring all need for provisions of national defence and relies solely on a sentimental gesture of universal goodwill. However, we may desire peace such an attitude towards l’easonable provisions of safety is, in our opinion, far too trustful; so much so as to be actually dangerous. The world, unfortunately, is not a collection of races, nations and individuals all actuated bv altruistic sentiments and feelings therefore reason requires that we shall deal with conditions which exist and not with what we conceive should exist. The Soviet Government in- Russia abates no jot or tittle of its military jingiosm and in addition, it openly declares its intention to force its system of Dictatorship upon (lie people of the world. With that, and other dangers of aggression, confronting our Empire it would be sheer madness to neglect our defence on sea and land. St range indeed is it, and something requiring explanation that whilst the Socialist Pacifists within our Empire decry every action taken by way of National Defence, we search in vain for any utterances on their part in condemnation of the utterly brutal military designs of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic. There is widely current to-day a propaganda of sentimental Universalism, which is doing harm in weakening our justifiable pride of race and leading to sociological assumption entirely at variance with the facts of biology, history and a rational sociology. DANGER OF TOO MUCH SENTIMENT.

A rational philosophy teaches nvoidance of excess. To carry sentiment into the regions where reason must operate is to ldur the vision of mankind with false issue of human relationship. The ideal of human brotherhood as expressive of a spirit.of general kindness towards others is an ethical principle of greatest value when if is applied in the clear light of understanding as t*• the wide differences of quality and character that exist within the family. The sentiment which postulates all as having the same qualities and assumes a common character for all. is sentiment that has “slopped over.” Ti is emotion approaching madness and babbling the language of' delusion. This universalism of abstract sentiment is a. danger to be repelled on account of the evil results which arc bound to follow in its wake.

Professor McDougall, who holds the chair of Psychology at Harvard University, in his"books “Ethics and World Problems” deals thus thoughtfully with • this subject: —

The univcrsalist ethics, carried to its logical conclusion, demands that the whole of mankind form one society without national boundaries and without race distinctions. And it requires that this vast society shall be organised on the principle of communism. All men shall shave equally in the fruits of the earth and in the products of human thought and human labour. Suppose This state of affairs to be establish cd and maintained, every man practising faithfully the principle ~f strict communism and of brotherly love, always postponing his own claims and interests to those uf his fellow men. If we make this impossible supposition, we shall see that in this earthly paradise there would prevail a differential reproduction rale. He contends that “with universal comfort and pleasures for-the mass the masses would respond by raising their birth inte to a natural maximum and population would double every twenty years or less.” On the other hand the more capable and energetic individuals denied the incentives of family national sentiment and personal distinction would be content to do their communistic duties and to pass away, without perpetuating their strains. The further result he describes as follows: —

“The prevalence throughout a brief period of such differential reproduction would exterminate all higher aspirations; it would produce throughout- the world a population that would spend all of its leisure .jigging to the jolly strains of jazz hands, gazing at sensational trivial “movies,” and applauding the heroes of the milder forms of gladiatorial combat. After a brief space of time the Fatty Arbuc-kles, the Charlie Chaplins, the Baby Ruths, and the Queens of the Musical Revue would reign supreme as the beneficent dispensers of the preferred pleasures of the populace.” The wiser heads of the Labour movement in Britain are not enamoured of this Universalism and we line! Mr J. H. Thomas voicing nationalist sentiment as strongly as any Conservative Imperialist could do. When our New Zealand Socialists express similar national sentiments there will be less doubt regarding their loyalty. A general sentiment of love for humanity in the mass cannot take the place of the specific duty of devotion and loyalty to our own race and nation. (Contributed by the N.Z. Wielfare League).