DEFINITION OF SOCIALISM

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1929, Page 10

DEFINITION OF SOCIALISM

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I should like to comment on a letter by "Student" in last evening's "Post." His quotation, "Socialism is the discontent of the inefficient at the prosperity of the efficient," indicates that he is either a mere student of books or else a member of the. "efficients."

If the correspondent's views extended a little into lite, he would perhaps observe that the efforts of the "efficint" so far have not been exactly Utopian iv their results. On the other hand, if men and women like Annie Besant, Margaret Bondfield, Edward Carpenter, Ramsay Mac Donald, Phillip Snowden, or 6. B. Shaw are the alleged "'discontented inefiicients," then may we be delivered into inefficiency.

Surely "Student" has seen enough o£ life to observe the misery, sorrow, and degradation it contains: does this* mean nothing to him? Is Christianity a formality or a reality?

To me, Socialism is a means to an end, working to put into a practical form, the basis of religious teachings. Of what use is religion if it is not practised? Socialism holds an Utopian ideal, and works towards that goal; it aspires to resurrect the mind of man by education, giving him a wider interest in communal and national affairs. It is a revolution of peace and construction, through strengthening true patriotism, and advancing international co-operation.

Commercial cynics may applaud "Student's" quotation as a true exposition of Socialism, but they should remember that the time distance between Carpenter's propaganda from colliery coal heaps and the present Labour Government—or Snowdenn's bombshell to The Hague Conference—is not a great distance. What will au equal distance in the future see in our legislation?—l am, etc.,

OBSERVER.