The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1914. NATIONAL VIRILITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 1, 20 May 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1914. NATIONAL VIRILITY.

Down through the long aeons of human •existence there runs a, thread of continuity holding fast, from age to age, the one general principle that has been and will be inevitable for all time. It k briefly but tersely expressed in the maxim that self-preservation is Nature's first law. Primitive man, face to face with, this eternal law, had no alternative but to make the best of it. Not only had he to find the means of supplying Ms bodily needs, but he had to defend himself against the dangers that beset him on every side, and his rude weapons of wood or flint were ever in his hands to fight against his foea—men, reptiles, denizens of the aar, water or forest Ever on the alert, lie became active, cute and virile, not by choice, but from the exigencies of his ' environment. Families grew Into tribes, [nations were founded, cities sprang up, dynasties were created, and wars eventuated, but the self-same basic principle remained paramount, and to-day is just as applicable as in the primeval period. Where are all the mighty nations of old! Gone, every one of them, their cities mere crumbling ruins, their glory vanished ages ago, but the lesson of their fall remains. It was the infraction of the inexorable law of virility as the essential of power. Their very greatness brought about their downfall. Satiated with the lust of conquest and plunder they became effete and a prey to the rapacity bf barbarians strong in their brute force and filled with the fire of contest. They, too, in turn went under from tho same cause, and the danger is tho same today with the civilised nations as it was in tho dim ages of tho past. It is merely a difference of time and methods —"autre temps, autre moeurs," aa the French proverb puts it. The one great outstanding lesson that he who runs may read is that the units of a nation that would pride itself on being great shall bo fit for the work of keeping that nation unsullied by effeteness. In other words, a true patriotism has its duties that none should shirk. The question is often asked: Has the age of chivalry departed! God forbid, for chivalry is .the purified essence of patriotism. It stimulates the men to be strong, bold, tender to women and true to the loftiest ideals of nationhood. There is so much cant and hypocrisy 'in these days that it is hard to sift the false from the true, but there is also a healthy manliness that augurs well for tlio future of the English-speaking race scattered over the globe, yet all bound together as ono by the ties of kinship and love of country—the Old and the New. The outcome of this is seen in the system of universal training which New Zealand has instituted. Unfortunately for the honor and good name of the Dominion there is a minority—small but blatant—who cavil at the scheme from what they miscall conscientious motives—the peace at any price party until their prejudices are touched. To all persons possessing a sano intelligence the defence system of New Zealand appears as a splendid asset. The. training is well calculated to make real men of our lads and to bring home to them that they have a vital stake in the country. No greater fallacy could exist than tho idea that this training will imbue our virile sons with tho lust of war. On the contrary, it should engender a feeling of mutual brotherhood knit together for the purpose of protection, not only of themselves and their relatives, but of itho community and the country to which they belong. That this is the predominating spirit is evident from the enthusiasm that is generally displayed by the cadets and the Territorials. The outcome of this is seen in the excellent results already achieved, and the praise that has been bestowed on New Zealand's defence forces by the distinguished Imperial officer, General Sir lan Hamilton, who to-day is visiting New Plymouth in the course of his duty aa In-spector-General of the'Overaea Forces of the Empire. The Defence system has eomo to stay, to grow vigorous, and to become a potent factor in ensuring the virility of the nation. The training and discipline will be an inestimable benefit to the young men of the Dominion, while the very fact that every able man in the country will in the near future be able to take his place if necessary in defending the Dominion against any possible foe, will of itself have a deterrent effect. Though their services may never, it is to be hoped, be required in actual warfare, it is imperative that tho men should be prepared, and that which is worth doing is worthy of being well done.