Party Organisation.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 51, 1 March 1912, Page 12

Party Organisation.

Debs on the Equal Importance of the Econom'c and Political Fields.

There are many tactical differences among Socialists, and there are many other differences among them as te the most effective moans of reaching tho goal of Socialism, but these are all secondary to the great revolutionary issue itself of overthrowing capitalism, abolishing wagje-slavery land establishing a true democracy instead of tho false ono that now exists in name only. Upon that aim and end they are all agreed, and such differences as now divide tlicin arc perhaps necessary as the only means of developing a sound and scientific propaganda for the revolutionary movement." Among the questions which divide Socialists is that of organisation, there being a wide diversity of opinion as to the kind of organisation that is needed and the means that should be employed to bring it about. Ono thing is certain, and that is that tho Industrial Commonwealth which Socialism proposes to establish is tho very perfection of organisation, and we can never hope to have that commonwealth without thorough and scientific preparatory organisation. And what is of equ.il importance is that such organisation shall cover both the economic and political fields, and that without both the movement is but half organised and can no moro fulfill its mission than a one-legged man could hopo te be a prize-winner in a foot race. The Socialist Tarty is but the poli-

tical expression of Iho Soeiali.-,' rovolutionary movenient, which must havo its complement in economic union of the workers <>n the industrial liold. Liohkneeht, the in-compromising revolutionary warrior in the G-rman struggle, declared in emphatic t"rms that a majority of votes alone would never ''revolutionise society and the state ;" that oven if the Socialists elected a majority of tho members of the Reichstag, tlio military could l; drivn them out of tho templo" if they did not have the economic power of tinunited and trained workers to back up their victory at tlio polls. In this connection Liebknecbt said : "Let us participate in the elections ns vigorously as ever, but only as a means of propaganda, 'i-'d let us not fail to emphasise that tho ballot-box can never ho the cradle of the Socialist State." Liohkneeht waa sound to the core, because ho was clear of insight and for tho further reason that his sturdy character spurned all compromise. He realised the absolute necessity of both economic and political organisation as the only means of emancipation. The industrial unity of the workers in the true revolutionary sense can be accomplished only when they organise within ono industrial union, in control of the workers themselves, and then they will be in position to back up the' Socialist Party when it wrests 1 hepolitical power from tho capitalist class.