Page:The Psychology of Jingoism.djvu/52

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
40
The Psychology of Jingoism

sentiment occupies the British mind. But this denial will be false. Our press, our politicians indeed make no such honest avowal. But the Indian Planters' Gazette has dared to put into print the true craving of Jingoism which in this country has everywhere pervaded private conversation in the railway carriage, the drawing-room, the tap-room, and has occasionally risen to the publicity of the music hall. Kipling's 'Good killing at Paardeburg, the first satisfactory killing of the war,' and the phrase 'exterminate the vermin' which, in spite of official disclaimers, did actually voice the general sentiment of the British of Natal at the outbreak of hostilities, express honestly the savage passion of the mob-mind in this country. The public has throughout the war been prepared to accept and approve any measure adopted by the military to crush 'the rebellion,' the bloodier the better. This is the naked truth of the matter, and it is best to face it.

A twelvemonth's debauch in these ancient and abandoned stews of savage lust has set back the dial of civilization more points than we care to contemplate. All that the popular education of half a century has done, and vastly more, is lost in this single bout of the war-fever.