“BE BRITISH!”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 20, 24 May 1915, Page 4

“BE BRITISH!”

The recent foolish outbursts against peaceful alien residents in New Zealand is generally deprecated throughout the land and in some quarters particularly strong language is used. The Auckland Star says: We hold no brief

for the Germans, but we are very seriously concerned for the maintenance of the law as well as for the assertion

of those principles of justice and fairplay on which the safety and welfare of all civilised communities must depend. And here we venture to address to the people of Auckland and New Zealand that appeal which we have made the text of these remarks;

■•Bo British!” There is, unfortunately, a spirit abroad in our midst that stands for the very antithesis of the noble traditions of our race.

\Vo urge upon the attention of the community tin* danger that is involved

in these riotous proceedings, and the injury that must be inflicted upon the whole nt society if they are allowed to

spread unchecked. Let us clear our minds of all caul and hypocrisy on this question. We may all fairly detest Prussian militarism, and denounce its methods, but this certainly will not justify us in depriving inoffensive foreigners of llteir legal rights or subjecting them Lo indignities and humiliations from which the law protects all peaceful citizens. Let us be loyal and patriotic by nil means : but let us “be British,” not only in our methods of

fighting, i>ll l in our treatment of our fellow-citizens, ami more especially iu our determination to give all men that “lair-play” which as the British nation rightly hoasts, Kngland has never failed to extend even to her enemies.