THE RUSSIAN BOLSHEVIKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1919, Page 7

THE RUSSIAN BOLSHEVIKS.

VIEWS OF MR. ERASER, M.P. In the course of a speech at the Labor meeting in the Empress Theatre, Wellington, on Sunday, Mr. P. Eraser, M.P., had something to say in support of the Russian Bolsheviks—sentiments which show where he and his precious ilk stand, and should make sensible and patriotic people think pretty hard. Mr. Eraser said that nearly five years ago the workers of the world had been plunged, without (heir consent, into a war', and had been required to set about killing one another in quarrels that were not their own. The workers of Russia had been the first of the international groups of workers to see what was going on, nnd their successful blow at despotism was the first beam of light in the darkness of war. They struck for freedom, and, in spite of misrepresentation, the workers of Russia were consolidating their revolution. The overthrow of Tsardom, said Mr. Eraser, had been a comparatively easy ' task. But autocracy had to be transformed into a proper democracy, and many people had felt that this was a task far surpassing the powers of the working people of Russia. ,' "But fls weeks and months have gone by our confidence has grown and said Mr. Eraser. "When (hoy, tell us . to-day that the revolution hf'Russia is near collapse we refuse to believe it. I We knew that when a proper democracy | arose in Europe it would have the united j armed opposition of all the forces of 1 autocracy and militarism in every part < of the world. But, in spite of all, we j see the people of Russia consolidating their revolution. They have set themselves to the task of reorganising in- I dustry, of producing vastly more wealth than they ever produced before. They , have aimed at a far higher morulily i than the world hns ever seen before. j "When they tell us vile stories about , the subjection of Russian womanhood, i we know that these things are uot true. . . . The Socialism of this country stands j forlhe Socialism of every country. We i are not satisfied to applaud the deeds of our brothers. We are determined our- t. selves to fight aanlnst the forces of privPese arid monopoly, and to fight ' until capitalism is * thing of the j>Mt,"