"THE SOCIAL STORM IN STORE."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 April 1913, Page 2

"THE SOCIAL STORM IN STORE."

(To tlio'l&litor.)

Sir.—Since Mr Murdoch left this district to go as locum tenons to Mr lliiulniarshj discussions on tho questions of question withered out of the paper, I think Mr France is growing; impatient of the doldrums, and is trying to tease some' of us hack into it. Glad of his interest. The time is near when these tilings cannot be put back till to-morrow or covered, up out of sight. Make no mistake. 1 appreciate his goodwill, and, personally, a quite contented ; but it is our duty to look beyond tlie personal horizon. Mr France says that it is owing to individualism that men of some originality and push can lift themselves up above the average; under State socialism tliov would ,all be on a dead level. Good old "dead'level!"

Tt is impossible to imagine a system. no matter how clumsy, that would succeed by keeping all men on a dead level. T think Mr Franco is mistaking the present attempts at State capitalism or boss ruled State socialism for the genuine article—viz: Social Democracy or democratic socialism, such' as most up-to-date Socialists stand for. Tho two former would check individual ism; the latter would foster it in its best l and broadest sense. Tho individualism of tho present state the world over (a relic of barbarism) has a very limited .scope and is fast being reduced to vanishing point. In older countries it is being represented by so many millions of people on a dead level of penury and poverty, to a few fat landlords and industrial magnates. Verily Mr France will soon be looking for individualism with a lantern and finding none.

Ho •docs not appear to have noted that the .small individual working employer is passing, ami tliat we arc moving |.ast, very fast, town ids a capitalistic despotism of trust. No doubt that would also be a "triumph of individualism" in the sense of tho biggest rogue on top. There is such a thing as restricted individualism and democratic individualism. The latter is dominated by a good sense of flu educated democracy. The former is dominated' by fear and force; with its theological myths, its lies, its flunkeys, its soldiers, to support it. This would ho a complete crusher of individuality and freedom; every present shopkeeper or farmer would 'beeoinc only eog.s in a great machine for profit-making for the Trusts. Nice individualism, is it not? Socialism will, 110 doubt, be imperfect. But the alternative is a thousand times worse. The old shibboleths will not do. AVe have to face facts. May we claim. .Air France for individualism? 1 juu optimistic as to the people's choice, but Air Bate's storms are nothing to the "social storms in store for tho next twenty ywirs.--! am. etc..

H LEGER Weraroa. April Bth. 1f)13