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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 12 (March 1, 1940)

Idealism In The Pit

Idealism In The Pit.

It is evident to normal intellects that it is futile to read a tract on peace to a tiger, and the time inevitably arrives in this struggle between Idealism, however groping, and brute materialism, when there is nothing left but brute force with which to resist the peril of brute force. Lamentable and cruel as the necessity is, the point is reached when civilisation must descend into the pit to destroy the forces of cruelty and evil. It was this thought which, at the outbreak of the present struggle, prompted me to write:—

No dream of conquest for the sake of gain,
No mad ambition in a cynic heart,
No scheming, plotting, for out-
rageous ends—
In these we have no part.
No hatred for a people who elect
To follow in the bloody steps of greed,

Reading a tract on peace to a tiger.

Reading a tract on peace to a tiger.

Who, led—perhaps reluctant—yet are made
The bitter fruit which springs from Hatred's seed.
No eye that covets other nation's wealth,
No hand outstretched to take what Law denies,
No overbearing lust for brutal power,
Whilst Freedom dies.
No, none of these we seek to gain with arms.
Reluctantly, yet using all our strength,
We enter on the monstrous field of War,
That we may serve the ends of Peace—at length.
One privilege, and one that true men prize,
In spite of War's attendant agony,
We seek to guard and hold—not
power or pomp—
But Liberty.
‘Tis better that we cease to breathe if breath
Demands the price of base indignity
And despots, with their hands
plunged deep in blood,
Take that which makes us men—

Our Liberty.