The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1915. PATRIOTISM AND PETTINESS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 95, 23 August 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1915. PATRIOTISM AND PETTINESS.

fill'; The mooting hold in Stratford on Saturday last was certainly not a gathering tho record of which can lie looked, hack upon with pride and pleasure. An unfortunate atmosphere of personal fee Up g was early apparent, and instead of patriotism, which ought to have keen the keynote of the proceed-j ings, pettiness and self-glorilication held sway. It is also matter for regret that the country districts were not hotter represented, for it was with the especial object of insuring a large country attendance that the meeting was fixed at, an hour which quite precluded many business men from taking part in the proceedings. Whatever else the Patriotic Committee which was originally appointed in Stratfora has done, it is to its credit at least that it has worked in harmony and with the highest motives to actuate it, in everything it has done. Possibly the case could have been put no better than in the wise words of .Mr T. Hairy Penn, who said that the work of the Committee spoke for Itself and that so far as the things it had not done wore concerned no doubt many good friends would take care to call them to mind. Undoubtedly the Committee did great work under piost unusual circumstances, and it ill-deserv-ed the cavilling criticism levelled at it. We doubt if any laxly of men could have done better under all the circumstances. The exceptionally ungrateful treatment of .Mr •). B. Richards, who. as honorary secretary, has for twelve months devoted about qiiobalf bis time to the work of the Patriotic Committee, and lias done so cheerfully and without benefit or pecuniary recompense of any kind, is simply disgusting. The need of a broader spirit is sadly apparent in nor midst at this time when all should work together, not each for his own end's, so that the great task ahead may be taken up and dealt with in a spirit of national brotherhood and s*lfsaerifice. This is a time when caste and creed and faction ought to be put aside and every pettiness wiped out.