Lessons of History

Maoriland Worker, Volume I, Issue 8, 20 April 1911, Page 15

Lessons of History

(By J. Powell.) Dear "Worker," —Whilst meditating upon the prospects of the future for the rising democracy, and comparing the set-backs Trades Unionism must encounter in the future, one's mind reflects on those stalwarts who have died martyrs to the cause Avhich stands for the elevation of man, and the federation of the Avorld. Such were Dr. Kotuka and his brave comrades in the Far East, Avhere the torch of capitalism has kindled the martyr ifi're, which is slowly but surely lighting the dark track of Labour, and emancipating the Worker from the powers of monopoly and trusts. Shelly asks: — Whence thinkest thou kings and parasites arose, Whence that unnatural lines of drone* . who heap * Toil and unvanquißhable penury On those Avho build their palaces, Ajad brine their daily bread irom vice, black, loathsome vice. History shows us the rise and fall of civilisation, the apparent inability of any nation to save itself from collapse; the development of a high standard of culture to be folloAved at no great distance by a breakdown, sometimes sudden and violent, at others slow and gradual—while inuning through all there is the same line ox evolution, the same disintegration of an old order by the deadly views of commercialism, and the same failure to cope with the disease. What has capitalism done for the nations of antiquity ? Bred ruin and spread misery, made martyrs of those who opposed the expansion of capitalism. If we draw the comparison between the ancient and modern world, the parallels are ever indicative of the everlasting class struggles. The eternal laiiure of capitaiisic monopoly, when face to face with the efforts of a united people. When Europe Avas a small fragment of the peopled universe Rome a village on a pile-built swamp, and Greece m her babyhood, Britain not even a name, there was Babylon the Great with dominion over the west of Asia and the valley of the Euphrates. Situated betiveen India and Egypt she had established herself as a great military and commercial poAver, her forces manoeuvring and manipulating for the protection of the property of the rich, and the keeping of the poor in subjection. Her object AA r as extension of territory and the capturing of neAv markets where the rich could swell their exchequers by trafficing in slaves. She fed the forces of her domination upon the blood of the helpless, and her national conquests were built on blood and pillage. The Temple of Bel. the hanging gardens and the toAvers of Babel, Avere all constructed from the many tongued hordes of Syrians, Egyptians, Jews, and Greeks Avho formed her proletariat. Having no bond of union to defend their helpless position they Avere the slaves Avho filled the coffers of the rich. Dissension in the ranks of Labour in every iage has proved a great evil and strengthened the forts of capitalism. Incidents of the pagan past are worthy of rehearsing in these modern days when Ayage slaves still are subject to tyrannical oppressors. The AA'orship of wealth, was the cause of the extermination of Assyria, Carthage, and Rome. Mithridates, King of Pontus, had no difficulty in inciting the inhabitants of the rack-rented provinces of Asia to massacre 100,000 capitalists and their: families and hangers on. This was the fearful vengeance of the east for the blood money of the Italian speculators. Then you have in 1381 a great body of peasants under Wat Tyler marching upon London. It is well known how they met the youig King Richard 11. at Mile End and demanded of him the petition which shows the real meaning of the movement, "We will that you free us for ever, us and our lands, and that we be never named or held as villeins." "I grant it," said the King with regal diplomacy, and the peasants believed him. Soon they learned the folly of trusting in princes. After they had settled doAvn Richard broke faith and said:—"Villeins you were and villeins you are. In bondage you shall abide, and that not your old bondage but a Avorse." Innumerable instances prove very conspicuously the failure of disunity when brought in contact with the devilish forces of capitalism. The Avorkers of all lands must unite; they must learn that disloyalty to Labour's Cause is even more dangerous and treacherous than all the hordes of capitalism that confronts us. Trades Unionists must know that the great object of their unity is for collective good against individualist monopoly. Let us not pollute the honour of our noble cause by tainting ourselves with the tendency to crawl to the boss. My Aye see clearly that the future good depends upon what we do in the present.