A KING OF MEN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2719, 14 December 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A KING OF MEN.

In an address to the dock labourers in Hyde Park the unity of classes as displayed during tho strike was effectively dwelt on by Mr John Burns; and whilst the strikers were exhorted to cast aside bad habits, to improvo their homes, to behave to their wives and children, and generally to raise themselves from their " piggish condition," ho was equally pointed in his appeal to the so-called upper f.lnsßes to recognise the common humanity of every citizen, and to give their leas fortunately situated com: try - men ft "leg up" in the battle which they were fighting towards better things and higher ideals. The drones of society came in for scathing denunciation, Mr Burns'scornful references to tho "mincing masher " being warmly appreciated by bis audience, the majority of whom would perhaps have been just as well pleased had Mr Bums been a little less impartial in his jetting forth of their special faults The strikers he thought, should recognise tho generous sympathy manifested on their behalf by the middle and upper classes, whilst the latter should ba for ever proud of fellow citizens who had displayed such unparalleled discipline and self-restraint during a period of unequalled excitement and suffering, during which, although 100,000 men had been turned looso upon the streets, not even an apple stall had boon overturned, and not even a single druukon man—as the polieo testified—had been seen in the rauks of ono of their innumerable processions. On the whole it way well bo doubted if for good sound doctrine and manly eloquence there was an equally improving discourso delivpred last Sunday from a single English pulpit of any creed. No wonder that there is a great enthusiasm for John Burns on the part of every working man anxious for his own and his class's clcvntion. Tho whole tone of his address was as much opposed to anything like iconoelasm as it was possible to conceive. It was levelling up, not levelling down, I hat was recommended with all the energy and eloquence of the speaker. The educational privileges of the upper classes were dwelt, on, not with a view to their diminution, but with a view to their being also participated in and miido a subject of legitimate

ambition by tiii.il' poorer brethren. The rich were not asked to uoiuu down J'row their high pedestal, but were simply enjoined nut to block thu path of progress to thu less lucky masses. Mr Burns is a loader of a very high typo, and a thoroughly estimable and honebt man.—Correspondent of the Age.