RAMSAY MACDONALD.

NZ Truth, Issue 73, 10 November 1906, Page 5

RAMSAY MACDONALD.

"A MAN OF BRAIN."

Shockingly, Shamefully Satirized.

Really Reprehensible Ridicule.

A Labor Leader Lampooned.

'"Jbstice" on His •' Southern Seas" Visit.

"I was Attacked— as Most Great Men are*"

Tiie following amusing stitfoh^Sl^ ■tish Labor Whip, J. Ramsay Mac-' donaM, and his visit to Australia, -and other British colonies, appeared m London "Justice" of September, the 15th: It should be explained that 1 although Mr Macdonald is Chairman of the Independent Labor Party, he is not the chairman of what is officially sty.led the Labor Party, which consists of the members of the Labor Party m the House of Commons, who were returned under the auspices of the Labor Representation Committee ;—

"An 'AU REVOIR.* "To the Editor of 'Justice/

"Sir, —The following manuscript having come by some mysterious means to me, may I ask you to print it, that the owner may claim his effusion. E.H. "Au Revoir ! Will that do? or should I, say *Sb long' or 'Auf Wiederseheh ?' The first is best, I think, -after all. If the rank and file don't • understand,, it can easily be explained. I can explain anything to them. AU REVOIR 1

"My Dear Mr Editor,— (Must say 'Mr,' some of our fellows are such sticklers for etiquette.) As it is equally necessary for me to make a long Au Revoir. In every army and ; m every party there are leaders m name and also those 7 who do the real leading, including at times a little driving, but flesh and blood have to be considered ; they wear out when - one has to do all the' work, m such .arduous, times as I have had to go through during the. past two or three year 5 ....... "Ii is the brain work that, tells, and no one but myself will ever know the enormous strain I put upon myself m preventing more Labor candidates being run at the last election, especially those who wanted to be known as Socialists. "Mr Richard Bell may have guessed at it when he told the railway men at their conference at Bradford* of

MY NUMEROUS VISITS to the offices of the Liberal Whip. But even he could only guess. ''When my opposition failed, I fell mto line and gave public support ■•' as for instance, when Norwich was fought for the first time. There, after opposing strongly, I went to help Roberts, though, as I explained to a meeting of I.L.P. members, 'it was risking my own seat and jeopardising the harmony of my own constituency.' 'How. a Socialist going to help another Socialist would make his own chances worse, mity- seem to some people to require - explanation, but, suffice it. to say, that, important. as Socialism may be,- it is still more important to

GET MEN WITH BRAINS into Parliament. The failing of Democracy has always been distrust of the men with big brains, but let them remember that men of brains are not so^ be dictated to by the rank and file . For a Socialist candidate to say he is a Socialist and fight for his principles, is to show he is a mere propagandist. What we need is the man who pushes aside the turbulent crowd, only very occasionally discussing its interests^ 'All the time he is trying t 0 get home.' When gotog for a

PICNIC OF SOME MONTHS, l . it is with feelings of pride that the chairman of the I.L.P. looks back to January, remembering that many thoughtful people think one chairmanship should carry with it the other. But our trust must be m the future, while a knowledge of lands beyond the sea will be no disqualification for the leader of the coming time. "There are books and books, some good and, some absurd, even though .Hobsonian. But a book showing that Socialism was a scientific creed and not a mere whim, was needed. I should have been failing m my duty had I not supplier! such a book., He who has half-a-crown may read. "True., some of the . criticisms of the little-minded may, say that this book proves me no Socialist, but this is

MERE ASSASSINATION ; they may deny it, but it is still assassination. I know, for I am an expert. "Never since I joined it have I regarded the I.L.P. as being anywhere except m the forefront of the conflict between the old and new spirits. Indeed, how could it be otherwise since 1 joined ?

"The friends who, at the Attercliffe election, begged me to join the I.L.P. were equally wise when at the Nottingham Conference they organised a strong canvass of the delegates to put me on the N.A.C.

"Now all this shows that the democracy require a strong; and vigorous lead. The ordinary members of the party might have been a long while m rinding out my worth and value. What might have happened if I had still '

REMAINED A LIBERAL ! "Some of the places where I prevented a candidate being run might have sent representatives to Parliament m a spirit of otherwise than Parliamentary, when such had better not jro there at all.

"For those of us who take to Parliament as a duck to water, it might be awkward ii the waters were rough. It is much be i, tor (for us) when we can scarcely be distinguished tram the other geese. "I must take rest, and a first-class saloon to

THE SOUTHERN SEAS will perhaps compensate me for the lack 0/ the inspiration of '.he platform.

"You must make the best of Hardie, the Snowdens, the Glasiers, or the other small fry. "Later campaigns may be more effective, if I'm Mot too busy. "I make no mention of Hyndman, Quelch, Irving, or Blatchford. "Indeed, why should I ? The only Socialist Party of any account is the one of which I am. chairman. You will note I go away* with notions ; I come back with ideas. "I was attacked, as most great men are, by assassins, but foiled them, giving them the lie. "It was with a thrill of pride I noticed our women, at least, Know how to follow a good example. "Mrs Hansen's letter giving THE LIE DIRECT touched dearly. calling someone a liar 'proves nothing doesn't matter. "Some less discreet persons might have used sWh a word m Parliament, which would never do.

"Parliament is Parliament, and don't you forget it. William Morris never had my experiences or, doubtless, he would have changed his opinion.

"Morris' lack of opportunity, and other things, are a sorrow which has cut me to the quick. " 'Tis true that I

BACKED THE BRUNNER BILL. 'Tis true almost every other Socialist m the country thought I was wrong. But this only proves the Bill was easily misunderstood and easily, attacked. : .

"But not that I misunderstood it t or that I am to be easily attacked. Let the attacker expect no Christian conduct from me until I've knocked him into the proverbial cocked hat. He shall be both damned and have enough.

"The Bill is done for, therefore my name shall be withdrawn. I need not stand obstinately by, a dead Bill, and

NO ONE BUT ASSASSINS will ever dream I could do wrong either about children, education, or anything else. ' "I was not wrong, but' can honorably plead with my friends 'not guilty,' hufc I won't do it again. "Socialism marches m a pageant of banners and music. We are the instruments. Therefore, let us forget Socialism and drink to the 1.L.P., the 'Labor Leader,' the Labor Party, not forgetting, I hope, the CHAIRMAN OF THE I.L.P,

"Some day the Socialist movement of the world may also hide its Socialism und«r the name of Labor, when we who have done so much to bring this about m Britain may meet bur due reward.

"You toilers of the nation may receive hope and inspiration from the 'knowledge that some thinkers of the time are faring sumpstuously every day;, further, my wife is instructed 1 to write regularly how we are enjoyting ourselves.".