The army is officered for the most part by people of a higher social standing, whose qualities they will willingly admit; but the social gulf debars them from gaining inspiration from their achievements.  In the case of the rank and file, largely drawn from their own class, the effect is different.  The Tommy is flesh of their flesh and blood of their blood.  The qualities he displays reflect credit upon his class.  The working man is not unmindful of the high opinion in which the British private has been held by a line of continental soldiers from Napoleon to Bernhardi.  The exploits of his fellows in the field have given the lie to stories of deterioration; and working people are experiencing a sense of pride in their class which may have no inconsiderable effect on their attitude regarding social developments in the future.

Already the national temper has not submitted without protest to the disgraceful sweating of our troops merely because their patriotism has led them to sacrifice their lives, which are beyond all money payment.  But the feeling in favour of the war and the spirit of trust in the Government has, up to the present, overridden serious criticism.  The result has been that the Government has often remained inactive when action was needed and has acted unwisely and ignorantly at times; for example, in the case of the Local Government Board circular, stating that the Army Council are prepared to issue allowances through the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association or the Local Representation Committees.  It has been said that “the whole system is an outrage on democratic principles.  The State sweats its servants and then compels them to take the niggardly wages it allows them from a charitable society[1].”  This type of action may pass muster during a time of stress, but whether the spirit of the people will accept it after the war is over and there are the dependants of the slain to be maintained and the permanently crippled to be provided for is a different matter.  Not merely justice, but the new pride of the people will rebel against it.  These are but phases of the larger social problem.  There is the question of poverty in all its ramifications.  For the moment, economic injustices and social evils have fallen into the back of people’s minds, and the new and abnormal causes of destitution are calling forth special measures of assistance.  After the war, the ever-present deep-seated poverty will reassert its presence, and in the hearts of many people the question will arise as to whether the community which courageously and whole-heartedly fought the enemy without the gates will turn with equal courage and determination when the time comes to fight the enemy within the gates.  The experiences of the war time, the willingness to embark on great projects in face of a national crisis, will not be forgotten, but will inspire in social reformers the hope that the country may also face the internal national peril in a similar spirit.