Comments: Common and Caustic.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 22, 4 August 1911, Page 9

Comments: Common and Caustic.

By "CASSIUS CASfUS." The slave is a, slaA-e be he never so fat. The Trades and Labor Executive of New Zealand are not in favor of Socialism, but they Avill go bald-headed for Public Ownership! Wo appeal to them to give over splitting hairs. We admit they are adepts at that particular kind of amusement, but it is one of Avhich groAvn men soon weary. The under-man, the bottom dog, is a greater menace to the successful organisation of a class-conscious Avorkers' party than titled knave or baroneted thimble-rigger. Are you listening, Sir J. G., Bart., and the other Sir J. G. ? Hall Cairie says: "Socialism is Christianity in a hurry." .That is as it may be, but Christianity has malingered so much by the way that, 1 if the destination is the same, it has to get a hustle on it it means to catch the train. Actions speak louder than Avords. Do you want to do something for the Cause? Then send along for as many copies of our Special "Anti-Conscrip-tion" Edition as you can afford to pay for, and get as many as you" can of your friends to follow your example. The Cause is worth it. The number will be worth it. We expect it of you. ( "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver." A London paper says Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., is a "model statesman." That's true. A "model" is a diminutive imitation of the real thing. • Another Cockney scribe says that "the colonial delegates AA'ere drawn from two classes—fools and cloaviis." Was it for this that the people of. Noav Zealand spent a thousand pounds on Sir Josie's trip? v What a pity the scribe did not think it worth his while'to allocate the two classes. That would have shown' at a glance Avhere- Noav Zealand was. As it is, one doesn't mind venturing the opinion that the Dominion's only baronet and his henchman, Sir J. G. Findlay, were "not'included among the fools. No; the foo?s Avill lie those Avho A r ote to put them back in poAver next November. Under Socialism every child shall possess the inalienable birthright of an equal opportunity- to deA r elop a name and fame that shall live when your Dukes of Westminster and Norfolk, your Rockefellers, and Carnegies, if remembered at all, 'twill be as warning"., examples of all that a MAN ought NOT to be. In proposing the toast of "Literature" at'a banquet, a Scots sheriff named Jameson, said: "There Avas, of course, one class of people, avlio, if they succeeded in carrying out theirideas, A\ould put an end to all literature." Of course, this namesake of the gallant Raider did not stop to shoAv how the people he referred to Avere going to accomplish such an end-all. His not to reason why, His but to yap and lie, Yap on and blunder! He meant, he said, his friends "the Socialists, the Social Democrats, the Fabian Society, and other assemblages of lunatics going about the country under different names, trying to do what the Creator had not seen fit to do—to change human nature and bring about the impossible." But who is this Scots sheriff that he should take it upon himself to say what is or is not impossible? The same- argument Avas used ninety years ago by the Tory "GlasgoAv Cotirier" against Stephenson's locomotive. This man, Stephenson the "Courier" declared, was trying to do Avhat the Creator had not seen fit to do. The Creator had provided horses, asses (and plenty of them), etc., "to carry men faster than he could travel on foot, and to draAv heavy burdens" Avhich he and'a score of his companions Avould be mad to tackle! HoAA'ever, Stephenson" Avas not satisfied Avith the animals the Creator had "provided." He fancied he could make one stronger of muscle, longer of wind, and fleeter of foot than any he had seen. Doubtless he Avas laughed at by the Sheriff Jamesons, Jacksons, and other superior persons. But he succeeded in doing "that Avhich the Creator had not seen fit to do," and even Sheriff Jameson • Avill admit the AA-orld has been the better for it. SomehoAV, it strikes one that on the occasion in question Sheriff Jameson had himself succeeded in doing "that Avhich the' Creator had-not seen fit to do." That is, he had succeeded in making an ass of himself! "If these people had their way," he assured his hearers, "there would be nobody in the Avorld at all except persons engaged in preparing some material benefit to mankind." Which, according to this tAventieth century Chrisitan, would be a dire calamity.

Think! There would.be no Exploiters, no Fleecers, no Interest-mongers, no Rent-mongers, no Profit-mongers, no Company Promoters, no LaAvyers! All Avould be like brethren, living together in unity and amity! What a silly old world that would: be, to be sure? No need of a sheriff in a Avorld like that. Ah! There's the rub! Selfinterest again. Sheriff Jameson know he'll lose his job Avhen the good time comes and "all shall be better than well." Besides, he might be expected to turn his hand to something useful, and that, granting he has the ability, one opines is hot altogether to his taste. "But," he continued to rave, "for the literary man who merely worked Avith his brain, and , not with, his hands, there would be no place in tho Socialist State at all!" When you are done laughing you can proceed. "Assemblages of lunatics?" You Avould think so, with the maddest amongst them entrusted to.propose-the toast of "Literature!" And Sheriff Jameson, is a Scot. Magnificent as is the literary heritage Scotland has given to the world, how much richer it might have been nad it not been for that very commercialism which Sheriff" Jameson thinks so highly of ? That commercialism that stunted the ambitions and did to death in early manhood her Burnses, Grays, Glens, Taunah'ills, Thomsons, Gil Allans, Hoggs and Grants. And Sheriff Jameson is a Scot. One such is ton ■much. Jf there A\ere two there is one exile avlio would turn his back to . tho north star ,tak' the heather frae 'tween his taes, scart aff his skin an* turn Red Indian.