WORDS OF WISDOM.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2997, 23 September 1878, Page 4

WORDS OF WISDOM.

The disease of discontent that at present passes under the name of Socialism ie found in every land from Kussia to the United States; but nothing can be so foolish as to attempt to suppress it by refusing expression to the moans and cries of its victims. It is like the mea-, sles —fatal if driven in ; compHratively harmless if permitted to come out freely. It isnatural enough that labor should be discontented in most countries just now.. It is poorly ipaid;; it is often not employed; at all; it suffers'; 'it sees 1 there is no lack of wealth, no scarcity of production. On the cpotriiryi £h,er£ is a'pJethoratOflrnQney and • a superab'itnjElance of production of j every kind. But the working men are | badly'off,'ah!d fear'they rnay,become still more so. They are convinced that-.this state of things is wrong, arid they demand i it shall be set right in'some way or other > To attempt to repress their, utterances would be the height of-folly".-' The break-; ing up of the Tomkins's square meeting by the; police a; feiiv iyearsj ago^was -an extremely perhicious and unwise measure; so was the police interference in the Eossel demonstration. They did mischief by making heroes out of a few men who otherwise would not have been heard of, and. by •spuringjthejinihds ,of the ;workmen against the authorities. Let there be'no attempt in this land to crush out free speech.. Let every one be free to talk arid urge his opinions or proclaim his, wrongs. This will always prove' the safety valve of much discontent; that which remains, if -it leads to.lawless acts, can be dealt with as the acts deserve.— N.Y. Graphic.