At the Waterfront

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 48, 9 February 1912, Page 12

At the Waterfront

Liebknecht on the Erfurt

Programme. 4 A WORO TO WATERSIDERS. "Internationale," of Groynioutli, writes :— Speaking 01' the Socialist Party's plauorin, winch was formulated at the Erfurter ( uni'oroiicc— the platform which, by tno way, surged to victory throughout the length and breadth of the I'aiiirrlaiul during the recent Gorman elections—W'illß'lm Liubknecht said:— ''The most beautiful platform counts for n«jtliiuer. however, if a true, energetic spirit is not infused into it. Therefore, I bos of you, do 11 ut quarrel with the words. Do not expect it to be a perfect platform. That platform which in one moment, according to tho universal opinion of Us all; is the best, in the next hour will have found a critic who could make improvements in one or tho other formulation or sentence. "A platform has only one tiling to fulfil: Clearly and intelligently to state the object of our party, the evolutionary process of industrial society, to point, out the irresistibfoness with which it destroys itself and brings the moment nearer when capitalistic production will be replaced by production. Attend to it. that the new platform which we create here to-day leads the party on from victory to victory, until the final victory.' Put the right spirit into the new platform. Sustain it, mindful of tho lofty duties that arise for us out of tho greatness and growth of our party. Manfully and full of energy, go on. Put- your whole strength, your whole personality, into the. realisation of tin's platform, and see to it that the time be tho shortest possible till the day when the present- industrial society ends.''

And Liebknecht did not appeal in vain to the wickers of the German Empire. And it is now up to the workers on every waterfront in tho Dominion to read and re-read the platform <if the X.Z. Federation of Labor, and if they can unearth a more straightforward or manly exposition of work-ing-class desires and aims—well, let's have it by all means. In tho meantime, let us go ahead with the Fedoration platform, mid fight for it in S'-ason and out of season, for, as LiebKneeht says aga.in :— "The more power wo use in this agitation, tho mor& regardless we throw ourselves into the scales, so much the sooner will we attain our end, and so much the sooner the banner of Social Democracy will rise on the citadel of present society." Wharf workers of New Zealand! This stirring appeal is to you and for you in particular. Do not be content to rest on your oars because you have just gained a paltry few pence an hour —wrung grudgingly from the masterclass. Agitate and educate, for the" ignorant of your own class are the greatest obstacles on the onward march.