WORDS OF WISDOM.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 257, 6 November 1878, Page 6

WORDS OF WISDOM.

The disease of discontent that at present passes under the name of Socialism is found in every land from Kussia to the United States ; but nothing can be ho foolish as to attempt to suppress it by refusing expression to. the moans and cries of its victims. ■ It is like the measles — fatal if driven in ; comparatively harmless if permitted to come out freely. It is natural enough that labour should be discontented in most countries just bow. It is poorly paid j it is often not employed at all ; it suffers ; it soes there is no lack of wealth, no scarcity of production. On the contrary, there is a plethora of money and a superabundance of production of every kind. But the working men are badly off, and they become still more so. They are convinced that this state of things is wroug, and they demand it shall be set right in some way or other. To attempt to repress their utterances would be the height of folly. The breaking up of the Tomkins square meeting by the police a few years ago was an extremely pernicious and un\vis3 measure ; so was the police interference in the Rosael demonstration. Ttiey did mischief by making heroes out of a few men who otherwise would never have been heard of, and by souring the minds of the workmen against the authorities. Let there be no attempt ia this laud to crush out free speech. Let every one be free to talk and urge his opinions or proclaim his wrongs. This will always prove the safety valve of much discontent : that which remaiua, if it leads to lawless acts, can be dealt with a8 the acfca tfegarve.-^Y^i Yqj-Jq Grophm