THE ENEMIES OF JUSTICE

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14659, 7 May 1913, Page 8

THE ENEMIES OF JUSTICE

Sorao time ago, the pubKc.will remember, tho Labour-Socialist Party gave in thoir "Unity Bulletin" a very frank picturo of their idea of justice. "If," they snid, "arbitration has gained much "for Labour with tho employers and "land monopolists in control, what will " it do for Labour when Labour writes "tho law and names tho judges?" This statement dispelled from the minds of many peoplo ready to belicvo tho best of Labour-Socialism tho last hope that "Labour" in power would hot be wickedly unjust and entirely contemptuous, not only of tho rights and tho happiness of their political opponents, but also of tho principles of order and honesty upon which civilisation rests. In tho latest issuo of tho "Bulletin" somo attempt appears to bo mado to explain away this disastrous exposure of the designs of Labour-Socialism, and in tho course of the argument the following indictment of judges is set out:

—"No kindly consideration for tho per- " sonncl of the Court can blind one to " tho fact that it was the judges who " took tho lifo of Socrates and ordered " tlic crucifixion of Jesus. Nor can it " bo forgotten that Jesus was ordered " to crucifixion by a judge who yielded "to the demands of the religious mob, "' in which were, the very best people of. " tho city, who had been specially " gotien together by tho disgruntled " money-changers who had been driven " from tho temple. It has been tho " judges who have declared unlawful " every proposal lending to progress " throughout human history. It was " the judges who were tho agents of '• British tyranny until tho British com- " nson life made constitutional Govern- " ment a possibility." Vt'o are sorry to have to inllict upon our readers this blasphemous rubbish, which gains in odiousnesj by ruining from a party which bases its methods upon a denial of the cardinal principles of Christ's teaching. But there is a prnctical political side to the Labour-Socialists' hostility to the Courts of law to which

attention must be given

Tho historical fact is well-knovru to oven,- intelligent person—that for generations tho judges of British Courts have faithfully administered

British law, and hare contributed much, by laying bare tho basic principles of tho Statutes anci their effect upon life, to tho progress of social ideas. There is obviously, however, no occasion to do moro than mention that fact. For the Labour-Socialists aro less concerned with facts than with tho destruction of the established system of British justice. This they seek to do by imputing n- natural corruption to judges in general. "To hell " with agreements" is one of their principles; and now wo aro presented with another—"to hell with judges," or, rather, with just judges. No judgo will satisfy them unless ho is appointed by them, and appointed, not to interjprefc tho law fairly, but to pervert all law to tho purposes of his masters. Tho J old joke has been turned into deadly earnest. When the "Labour ,, man cx!claimed. "Call that arbitration? Why,

"lie's given it against us!" it was onco possible to smile. To-day wo aro faced with the fact that tho LabourSocialists do not merely Peek to framo tho laws to suit themselves, regardless of all .other interests, but wish also to pack tho Bench with vonal and dishonest servants of tho Socialist caucus. Of this spirit, wo can say, in tho words in which Burke condemned tho Socialists of tho French Revolution: — "It comes nearer to tho cold malignity "" of a wicked spirit than to tho frailty ; ' and passion of ;i man. It is like that ''of tho principle of evil himself, incorporeal, pure, unmixed, de~ " phlegmated, defecated evil." And j this is the party which is going to I arrange its war-plan next July, the [party which the "Liberal" Opposition 'Press is encouraging and fawning upon jfor alliance. Our "Liberal ,, friends I cannot urgo now that they do not know tho truo character of the "Labour" Party. Tho public which administered so sharp a rebuff to tho Socialists last week will not l>o much inclined, in view of this now light upon their principles, to regret its action.