"MR HORNSBY'S SOCIALISM."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8504, 6 August 1907, Page 5

"MR HORNSBY'S SOCIALISM."

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Mr Hornsby's reply to my first letter is now before me. The opening sentence is intended to convey to your readers that I have no knowledge of sociology; it may, therefore, be advisable to state that I have read "tons" of the Socialistic literature, if such trash can be sj called, and this, of course, includes the Fabian Essays, which are doubtless the rade mecum of Mr Hornsby.. While willing to write against. Socialism, I do not intend to be drawn-, into a theological discussion. All sensible, altruistic people avoid the "odium theologicum." Mr Hornsby, in his address to the House, asserted that the founder of the Christian religion was the first Socialist. There never was a greater mistake made, for He was credited with saying: "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's." thereby clearly making a great and wide distinction between earthly and spiritual things. But his followers misinterpreting his sayings, some time after his death formed themselves into a Socialistic or Communistic Society, and we know the result was utter failure and collapse; and so, in like manner, have the thousand and one attempts to establish Socialistic communities in all parts of the world from the year 100 A.D. to 1907 proved failures, resulting in loss of means and great hardships to those honest and industrious but foolish people who joined such societies at the instigation of either fanatics or unprincipled scoundrels. The collapse of "Cosmo" Lane's Socialistic settlement in Paraguay and the lamentable fiasco of the so-called Christian Socialistic community of Zion City (Dowie's) ought to be sufficient warning to all thoughtful, intelligent people to eschew all Socialism and Socialists. Mr Hornsby is a supporter in the House of the "Eight Devils of Socialism," as designated by the Hon. Dr. Findlay, and as such is he responsible to a certain extent for the progress already made in this country toward the final goal of Socialism. Our freehold lands have been taken over by the State and turned into leasehold to the tune of over a million acres and costing over four millions of money, which has been borrowed in England, thereby making the Government agents for the moneylenders at Home, and of necessity slave-drivers over their tenants. Then the State, with Mr Hornsby's support, has taken a still further step towards complete Socialism by acquiring coal mires and starting peddling coal by the sack! And, further, the said Government have, by their laws, widened the avenues for divorce, tending towards the goal openly advocated by Socialists —the abolition of marriage. The newlyelected M.P. for Colne Valley, Yorkshire, declares he was returned with that as one of his planks. Mr Hornsby may call himself a "Christian" Socialist, out the fact is clear that he has supported the SociaMstic legislation of the Government, and the ultimate p >al of such legislation means that th • great bulk of the people would become slaver, tied hand and foot by regulations and ever the crack of the whip of those who managed to get on the top. But there is another aspect of the case. No statesman had anything to do with "Christian" this or that. We have Jews, Mohammedans, Parsees, Agnostics, and a host of others in the colony, and I submit all legislation should be such as will not interfere with the religious scruples of any of our citizens. Lastly, Socialism is always Socialism whether dubbed "Christian" or not, in the same way as robbery is robbery, although the thief may style it exchange of ownership. —I am, etc., GEORGE WILKS. East Tamaki. Auckland.