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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 11 (February 1, 1940)

Unity

Unity

Researches by scientists, of whom New Zealand's own Rutherford is the outstanding star, confirm the deductions of the great philosophers and mystics that there exists an underlying unity which is at once the touchstone and the source of all diversity in nature.

This applies equally to the affairs of men. However diverse the outward manifestations, true progress is only possible as the underlying unity of mankind increases.

The genius of the British race for colonisation is related to their fortunate faith in this unity—a belief expressed by Burns in the lines of “A man's a man for a' that,” and by Kipling in his crescendo: “The colonel's lady and Judy O'Grady are sisters under their skins.”

British justice and British diplomacy are alike founded on this faith. It is of the essence of democracy. Hence, under an appearance of ramshackle arrangements and easy-going methods, loosely operating within the British Commonwealth of Nations, exists a constant policy of sublime faith in popular response to trust. The success of that policy is seen in the real unity of the British Commonwealth.

A totally different belief is expressed by the present Government of Germany. There Hitler and his henchmen cry perpetually the old German myth that their race is somehow superior to any other, and that destiny demands for them world dominance.

In times of peace this outlook would be regarded with quiet tolerance by New Zealanders. Being ourselves “more English than the English,” we would think of the German idea as just a temporary aberration which the years would amend.

But when Germany, despite the lesson of the last war, again disturbs the peace of the world and brings shameful war upon certain of the weaker, small, free nations of Europe, with the imposition of slavery, torture, misery and death for the peoples throughout the conquered territories—then we British, who desire peace and abhor war, remember the great deeds of those who fought for and won the freedom which we now enjoy. For the fight is on between Democracy and Dictatorship—between freedom and slavery.

We remember our debt of gratitude to those who fought that freedom might prevail, and our obligation to those who are to come after us.

The attitude of the British race to war was well expressed in those old lines which had such vogue when the century was young:—

“We don't want to fight: but, by Jingo, if we do, We've got the men, we've got the ships, and we've got the money too.”

Peace in our time is the desire of all rightthinking people; but when war is forced upon us by those who would impose an irksome bondage and an alien philosophy, who desire division and deride unity —then we remember our history. In conditions such as these, can we forget Crecy and Agincourt, Wellington and Waterloo, Marlborough and Blenheim, Nelson and Trafalgar, Rodney and Raleigh and Drake? These were the warriors and these the battles that secured freedom for the British people to be themselves, and that assisted others towards that freedom.

Great Britain, her Dominions and Allies in the Great War, fought once more for freedom and peace–a fight in which our own Anzacs gained immortal glory in keeping with the highest traditions of the race.

Shakespeare, born to the greatness of Elizabethan days, crystallised in memorable words what others felt but could not utter. Alfred and Bruce, Cromwell and Milton, Hampden and Pitt, and a thousand other leaders and heroes of our race, planned and thought, proclaimed and fought that freedom and peace might forever live amongst our people. Great is our heritage, and greater our opportunities by unity and high purpose to safeguard those rights which properly used mean ultimate unity and peace amongst the nations.