The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1914. A NOBLE TRIBUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 81, 31 August 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1914. A NOBLE TRIBUTE.

lew people could have read the cabled report of the speech of the British Premier, Mr Asquith, published in our last issue, witJhout feeling a thrill of pride at the lofty tone adopted by him in the glowing tribute paid to Belgium's heroism and bravery. One cannot but be. struck with the tense selfrestraint with which Mr AsqnitJh.was evidently dominated during the delivery or this noble oration. There was San avoidance of all exuberant terms, the speech being full of dignity, patriotism, and statesmanship of the highest order Not one word of flattery or exaggeration escaped the gifted speaker, but there was a spontaneous outpouring of praise, every word of which was aptly chosen as having its due value in giving point and force to the honor which he was paying to a nation whose heroism in "preserving the integrity of her national life" will go down in history as cne of the outstanding and glorious features of the war whereby our brave Belgian ally has won "that immortal glory which belongs to a people who prefer freedom to ease and security, even to life itself." The reference to the historic deeds of the people of Athens, Sparta and the Swiss Cantons was a stroke of genius that emphasised in the right degree the grandeur of Belgium's self-sacrifice on the altar of duty, which has evoked the respect and admiration of the world. The sublime words uttered by the British Premier were no mere empty phrases, but were charged with the Iheartfelt respect and honor°of the whole Empire. This tribute should 'be graven on tlio hearts of the whole British nation. It would have been, so easy to have indulged in flowery language and " emotional appeals, but Mr Asquith is absolutely devoid of such embellishments, being of a cold, forensic mould, yet lie accomplished the end in view with the consummate art of a leader of men to whom words have their true significance when coming from the heart.' Away at the remote corner of the Empire, we :n New Zealand cannot fail to feel grateful to Mi- Asquith for so ably and fittingly voicing the sentiments of the Motherland and her children towards the brave Belgian people. We, too, are with them (heart and soul, and they can count on our whole-hearted and unfailing support, while the memory of their magnificent achievements will ever be remembered and honored with true British loyalty and gratitude, and be an incentive and inspiration for ns as a nation in the herculean task before us of helping in ridding the world of the unscrupulous Teutonic military despotism.