[To THE EDITOR 07 THB "SpEcriros."]
SIR,—The following passage in Henry Drummond's "Natural Law in the Spiritual World" may be of interest to those who are now discussing whether able-bodied male citizens should or should not be required to help in the defence of these islands should the necessity occur in the future as it has done in the past. In the chapter on "Semi-Parasitism" occurs this passage : "Any principle which secures the safety of the individual without personal effort or the vital exercise of faculty is dieastrous to moral character." Might this not also be applied to the present-day tendency of certain so-called humanitarians in their dealings with social problems ? It is easy to gain the applause of the masses at the expense of the minority, but one wonders if the moral character of those who are being taught that personal effort is a side issue will bear the strain of this wave of political charity. The "inborn parasitic tendency" in man is being encouraged by our present-day politicians to the detriment of personal and national character. In contemplating the mass of helpless male citizens should a foreign invasion of these Islands again take place, one marvels that the true patriots and far-seeing men are scarcely awarded a hearing in their praiseworthy efforts to awaken the conscience of the nation to the necessity of individual effort and service.—I am, Sir, &c., N. M. B.
[Woe unto those who are drowned in security 1 is the essence of Professor Drummond's statement. We are most heartily with our correspondent in what he says as to the tendency to regard personal effort as a side issue. The girl is to be told in effect that if she has low wages and yields to temptation the fault is not hers, but her employer's. The man is assured that no free-born person ought to be worried by having to learn to defend his country and his liberty. Such duties, he is told, should be left to those hired to perform them, or to enthusiasts who are willing to undertake them for nothing...-. ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
