WORK WANT—AND LIGHT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 266, 6 August 1919, Page 8

WORK WANT—AND LIGHT

Sir,—Tuo faiiher of philosophy said that "all who have meditated upon" tlio art or government have been convinced that the fate of empires depends upon the education of their youth." Another has said: "Hβ who does not know what is useful and necessary to know,'is an ignorant man, whatever he .i:ay];now besides."- The writer is old Jnough to remember the introduction of our "free, secular, and compulsory" system of education. From the oldest philosopher to the youngest, what really has been achieved in the suppression of the old , (and new) evils of selfishness, pnrd. and ' tyranny? Luxury and indaipence, apathy and loafering, are hut ether (onus of these. Organised "sabotage" and "go slow" are other forms. Labour is falling under a new self-inflicted tytanry, perhaps not easier to restrain than that of old. Perhaps the greatest failure of our time is in the direction of our erentest success—"education"—"light." Our youth are cheated and our parents deceived. No doubt thinkers already perceive this—from different mgles. ■ It is just about those angles that lijlit is , wanted. Some object to it shilling there, because, forsooth, of what it may; roveal. Undoubtedly those dark and divergent angles of partisanship, class distinction, denominationalism, etc., .ire shadowing the nests of discord; and what noivls arise when the light turns tluther. How blind, too, are they in the iight of ■ truth, who are educated in the gloom ot prejudice? But as men have faced the tjranniea of old, so will men withstand the new. Men will succeed in su far ss they accept and practise Justice, Reason, and Truth; and they will fail in 60 for as they evade, pervert, or ignore these principles. Let us then take warning while we deal wilii current events. It is a cause ot solemn sorrow, therefore, to perceive the spirit of many of those 'dealing with these events. The public-tlio sfrcat -Jiinl party—is patient , , but it does at times aot intelligently. Here we some things . it 111.13-do in view of these events. Declare and enact: *, 1 "That no government whin government, except under the people's sovereign will, shall.be permitted; and as there shall be one government, there shau.to one law, aud obedience lo it oy all. 2 "That the powers of aibitrauon 00 enlarged to compel settlement of Übcur 3 PU "fhat no force shall bo permitted except that of law, or ; for immediate or personal defence." / . i "That those who defy thwe enactments shall, among other things, be dis-. franchised (U.S.A. leads us m tiny, and not allowed to travel by rail or steamboat, or even send a telegvam without special license." ~ These, perhaps, will suffice for the time. Ido not think it will become necessarv to brand or tatoo upon tun forehead 'this class of lawbrata, except, perhaps, the very worst, or ; those who refuse to wear a badge-tor no- Cain would wish to be revealed "a fugitive or vagabond" to be. More closing, t would like to refer to a statement mads during the reeriminatio.'is at the rtctmt coal conference, that "Labour.has pr» duced all the wealth of the world. K would be truer to say that thß th inker has produced immaterial y, by p ee.wi• cal invention, ecientific discovery, laboi • ous research, ami system of The chief wealth, however, 0: any twina thinker, and the I'aWce ge.6 a l_ lite i* some r clfl nm e et C " Te Horo, August^]9W.