Question Box.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 10, 12 May 1911, Page 4

Question Box.

(W? purpose petting aside a. corner of our epace for the answering of questions relating to Socialism and Industrial Unionism —and, indeed, for all matters which, come within the purview of this paper. "Whosoever will, may oomc")

Atheism, Free Love, Violence. Why is it that leading Socialists and Industrialisrts throughout the Dominion are anti-religious, upholders of free love, and advocates of violence? —A Baptist anxious to do the rigrht thins. A Socialist does not advocate Atheism, or Rationalism, or Buddhism, or Spiritualism, or .Eddyism. (As an individual he may or he may not, just as you may or may not, but as a Socialist lie knows i. n - has nothing to do with the case.) A Socialist does not advocate free love- (As an individual he occasionally does, or he often does not, but as a Socialist he knows it has nothing to do with the case.) A Socialist does not advocate violence. (As an individual ho is usually against it, or sometimes is misguided so by tho chronic example of his rulers as for a moment to imutai-e them in some parts of the world, but as a Socialist he knows it has nothing to do with the case.) A Socialist does not advocat© despoiling the rich. (As individuals both they and you and he do or do not, but :is a Socialist he, knows that these things have nothing to d.o with the case.) So, please, of your kindness and fairness, don't denounce the Socialist for doing all sorts of terrible things (even if you secretly do them yourself) until you first inouire what Socialism is.

Socialism and Coloured Aliens. The "Wellington "Evening Post' , haa almost persuaded mc tiiao the natural enemies oi tlis white race are the Japa. Wii-at is the attiniue of Socialism to-wards backward races, savage and barbaric peoples who are to—aay outside the civilised world? —Jim Jones. We answer in the words of Bax's "New Uatecliism of Socialism." Tho position ot Socialism towards these races is one of absolute non-iufcerfer-ence. Wβ hold that they should be left entirely alone to develop themselves in the natural order of things : which they must inevitably do or die cut. This is the attitude or Socialism towards theseraces, not only rrom considerations of justice, or on abstract ethical grounds, but also for Socialistic economic reasons, as the expaiiK.ua ox capitalism .beynnd its present limits moans the buttressing of tiie present system of society and the extension of its lease of life. If or this reason all the Socialist parties of the world have by instinct thrown the whole force ot their opposition against colonial expansion of any form or shape. ~ ,