THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1892. SOCIALISM IN MELBOURNE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2326, 8 March 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1892. SOCIALISM IN MELBOURNE.

An incident of unusual significance took place in Melbourne recently. On Sunday, the 7th of February last, a meeting of the unemployed was held on the banks of the Yarra, at which an immense number of people attended. Arrangements were made for Dr. Bevan, an Independent clergyman, well known for his large-hearted sympathies with the poor, and several others to speak, but when they arrived on the spot they found the red flag of Socialism floating in the breeze. Dr. Bevan, judging from his own utterances,is favorably disposed towards Socialism, but he said he must decline to speak unless the flag was taken down. He came to speak to the unemployed, not to Socialists, and declined to take any part in a meeting held under a flag which only represented a section of the community. A show of hands was taken, but the great majority voted against taking down the flag. Dr. Bevan warned them that if they persisted in the line of action they had taken they would do serious harm to the cause they had at heart, but he was met with cries of "No, no !" that he was not.sincere— that he wished to pose as a Socialist while showing no sympathy with them. After resenting this in strong language, he left the meeting. Dr. Bevan, it appears to us, took a very mistaken course. He ought to have remained, and warned the meeting that such displays could only injure their own cause and retard their own progress. At the present time in Victoria the burning political question is the one-man-one-vote question. In the general election which is to be held shortly the great struggle will turn on that point. The working classes in showing their hands and proclaiming their belief in Socialism must do a great deal of harm in alienating sympathy from the advocates of the one-man-one-vote system, Not only that, but it will also harden up the rank's of their opponents. They will say, " Here is Socialism upon up; we must combine to put it down by strong measures," and they will brand every candidate who favors labor as a « Socialist." Here in New Zealand, where there never has been any Socialistic display, where the doctrine has never been discussed on any public platform, and where there is no grounds whatever for the accusation, we find the present Government branded as Socialists simply because they have chosen to shift a larger share of the burdens of taxation on to the shoulders of wealth. Now when such an accusation is made against the friends of labor in this colony, where there never lias been any grounds for it, what will be said in Victoria, where the flag of the Socialist is unfurled? Simply that every candidate favoring labor will at the approaching election be stigmatised as a Socialist, and will in consequence be heavily handicapped. This is the way those who made the Socialistic display at the Yarra meeting will do an infinite amount of harm to their own cause. There is still a great deal of prejudice against Socialism. It is confounded with. Anarchy, Nihilism, Communism, and so on, and consequently many who are desirous of forwarding the interests of! labor and of a more equal distribution of wealth will disassociate themselves from those who fight under the red flag. Dr. Bevan did will to show his disapproval of such foolish tactics, but he would have done better had he remained and pointed out to the people the folly of their actions. The Rev. Mr Ruddock, who was present, ascended the platform, and spoke to the people. He explained that the flag tvpified the "Brotherhood of man," and there was no need to be afraid of it. It did not represent bloodshed and violence; no such thoughts were associated with it. It is to be hoped the rev. gentleman is right. Real, genuine has no thoughts of resorting J *« desire is to bring to violence—x.J 1+ ' ve means—

about changes by legist— 18 but the misfortune is that popularly regarded as irreligious, anarchical, communistic, nihilistic, and everything else that is bad, and consequently there is a strong prejudice against it. But the chief point to which we desire to direct attention is the fact that Socialism has been introduced intg( the colonies, and the

question is: What has caused it to take root here ? The answer is simple : the grasping greed and avarice of wealth. The wealthy classes thought they were doing grand work when a short time ago they combined together to crush labor, but the result is Socialism, We warned them then of the folly of their line of action, and we again warn them that to offer resistance to the aspirations of labor is the best way to promote not only Socialism but Anarchy. The conditions in these colonies are different from those existing in the older countries, where there are standing armies which can put down any outbreak at once. We have no standing armies in the colonies, and if men are driven to take up arms they can easily make themselves masters of the situation. Under these circumstances it is our opinion that a broad, humane, liberal policy is the one we shonld adopt. Resistance will develope Socialism; liberal treatment will kill it. Let the land be opened up for settlement; let wealth meet labor in a friendly spirit, and let it be recognised that everyone who Avishes to Avork has a right to employment and good remuneration for his labor. If this is done Ave need hot fear Socialism — it cannot prosper under such circumstances —but if, on the contrary, the demands of hungry men are met Avith arrogance and callous-heartedness it is possible that Anarchy may be the result.