Newer Aspects of Syndicalism.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 70, 12 July 1912, Page 14

Newer Aspects of Syndicalism.

LACAROELLE ON SOREL.

(To tho Editor of "Tho British Weekly.")

Sir, —Will you permit a student of international Syndicalism to mako a few comments on your leading article of last week? You aro right in claiming Georges Sorol as the philosopher of the movement, but a sentence should havo been added on his erratio conduct since 1910. Ho and Edouard Berth havo allied themselves with tho neoroyalists <§? "L'Action Francaise," who have drawn the conclusion that tho Syndicalist agitation leads logically to a restoration of tho monarchy in .France. Well may Prof. Lagardello describe this alliance aa "la confusion la plus invraisomblable," and as a " coalition do coleres." " lam sorry," ho says, in the preface to his newest book (''Le Socialisme ouvrior," 1911), " that irreparable dissensions mako it impossible for mc to insist on the eminent part played by Georges Sorol " in tho development or tho now Syndicalism. Like many a "lost leader," Sorel has withdrawn from tho practical consequences of his own teaching. The revolutionary workmen of the Paris back-streets may apply to him the words of Browning:

"We shall march prospering—not through his presenco; Songs may inspirit vs —not from his lyre; Deeds will bo done, while ho boasts his quiescenco, Still bidding crouch whom tho rest bado aspiro."

On tho larger question of policy, I doubt whether you realise the true grandeur of the ideals of Syndicalism. They are summed up by Lagardelle in one phrase: "la lento renovation dv monde par la souveraineto dv travail" (" the slow renovation of the world by tlie sovereignty of work "). Is not this the best ideal that tho average worker can pud before himself? When thc so-called "Syndicalist" movement lifted up its head from its don, tho Socialist rank and file believed in tlie creative force of tho State, and in tho magic virtue of Parliamentary institutions. But, as Lagardelle says, "events camo to our aid. Traditional Socialism began to deeomnoso with an alarming rapidity. . . . Thero was confusion everywhere. ... I do not think thoro has been any sadder period than these,,opening years of tho twentieth century." . "Thoy wore tryjng'years," he goe? on, "for young men who had pinned their' faifcti to Socialism.'lnstead

of tho conquortng, heroic, ronovating movement which they had expected, thoy saw only a poor little parliamentary party, making politics a trade, and ashamed of its abdications."

The Socialist thought of ten years ago is rightly described by Lagardelle a3 'an intellectual desert," whore " dead dogmas oollidod like withered branches in tho wind." There were meetings for " the judging of error," such as wo know in tho procedure of tho Close Brethren. Excommunications wero pronounced on independent thinkers.

"Never," says Lagardelle, "did wo sco a gleam of now light. The days wero always grey, with never a clear sunrising. Not that there wero no lucid minds among the leaders, but they wero all afflicted with the malady which is common to churches and parties; the dread of truth. Thoy.dared not faco tho light, acknowledge that their principles wero bankrupt, modify their point of view, and change their tactics."

Tho intellectual leaders of latter-day Syndicalism began as theoretic Socialists. "Lo sociaiismo ctait notre croyance," says Lagardelle. He claims that Marx, whilo a fatalist as regards tho governing and wealthy classes, was no fatalist in his message to tho workers. He wished them to work out their own salvation, and the Syndicalists of today beliove that thoy derive from Marx their fundamental doctrine that tho trade union, and not the State, should be tho centre of gravity in Socialistic action.

The decisivo moment in French Syndicalism—though wo may trace the origins to 1888 or earlier—came at tho Congress of Bourgos in 1904, when tho workers of France set themselves resolutely against government by thc socalled "friends of tho people."

At tho Amiens Congress of 1906 tho theory and practice of Syndicalism was clearly defined. It may bo summed up in one sentence: Socialism ceases to bo a doctrine or a party, and becomes a practice.—Yours faithfully, April 2, 1912. H.C.O. [In view of the recent, reproduction in our columns of the instructive artjclo of which tho foregoing treats, this letter will be found exceedingly interesting.—Ed. M.W.]