The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1890. COMMUNISM AND SOCIALISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2067, 3 July 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1890. COMMUNISM AND SOCIALISM.

A rsw years ago—we might have said months—to most people the words in the heading hereof were synonymous with irreligiousness, blasphemy, anarchy, robbery, and every conceivable wickedness. To-day the words have altogether a different meaning. It is not that the meaning has changed; it is that the people are beginning to understand their full import, and understanding this they see that even if the aims and objects of socialists are mere dreams, still they are prompted by humane and generous impulses. In thus enlightening the people in this colony the Lyttelton Times has led the van. Conformably with its customary devotion to the people, and inspired by the humane instincts which always direct its policy it has taken upon itself the task "of explaining the aims and objects of socialists in a senes of about fifteen brilliantly—written articles. These articles are now published m pamphlet form at the very low price of sixnence, and can be had at Mr B C. Dana’s chemist shop in Tensuka, and no doubt in every town in New Zealand, The articles have been written by Pharos, Who Pharos is we have not the slightest idea, bub if •- can say; he is one of the ipost delightful' liters we have ever come across. The style is clear, a aa delightfully simple, so that no one net. turn back to ascertain the meaning or what he has read. We have a horror of the long-winded sentences in which the meaning is obscured by highsounding verbosity. No such difficulties confront the reader of Pharos s pamphlet, for while the language is charmingly pure, the style is so clear, so simple, and so concise that no one can fail to understand the meapmg or what he is reading. Another feature of the pamphlet is the extraordinary amount of information which has been compressed into so small a space. It is simply an epitone of all that has been written on the subject by a thorough and pains-taking student, who evidently has had his heart in his work. Pharos begins with Plato’s “ republic,” takes a giimpse at More’s “ Utopia,;’ Campanella’s “ city of the sun,” winding up with Bellamy’s “ Looking Backwards.” Of all these he gives a brief but most comprehensive sketch, just enough to show one the leading ideas they contain and no more. It is worthy of note as an instance of the foresight of some of these writers that Sir Thomas More, who it will be remembered was beheaded by Henry YIIL, wrote about hatching eggs by equable and constant heat. This is done at the present time. Pharos next deals with efforts

put forth to establish communism amongst the Spartans and Cretans, the early Christiana, the Empire of the Incas, the Jesuits in South America, the Russian Mir, the Shakers, the Eappists, the Zoarites, and other sects who have tried experiments in establishing community of goods and perfect equality in the United States. The sketches be gives of these are most interesting, and after dealing with them in his own peculiarly graphic style he proceeds to deal with co-operation, socialism in Germany, and winds up with the progress the new faith is making in England. In all this he is perfectly impartial. He does not advocate socialism, he only explains it, but he gives so fair and so true a representation ot it that the reader is led to believe if not a socialist his sympathies are veering that way. We have read a little on the subject of socialism, we are acquainted with the hopes and aspirations of its advocates, and have not the slightest hesitation in recommending this as tha best guide to a study of the question which has yet been published. Any one therefore who desires to thoroughly understand the all-absorbing question of socialism should begin with this, as he cannot possibly get anything better. It is certainly a subject which all should make an effort to understand, as judging from present appearances it is likely to exercise great influence on public policy in the immediate future. “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” “ Knowledge is power,” and it is better for even those who do not believe in socialism to make an effort to understand it than shut themselves up in a “ fool’s paradise,” and regard it as a mere dream.