The Hastings Standard. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1908. ARE YOU A SOCIALIST?

Hastings Standard, Volume XII, Issue 5847, 11 May 1908, Page 2

The Hastings Standard. MONDAY, MAY 11, 1908. ARE YOU A SOCIALIST?

" Many people," said Mr Massey during his speech at Gisborne last week, "had a very hazy idea what Socialism meant," and he immediately rambled on in such a manner as would lead one to think that he himself was one of those so unfortunately placed. But the Leader of the Opposition is not so ill-informed of the meaning of the word Socialism as would appear by his utterances at Gisborne, and it is generally accepted that his ignorance is assumtd that he may throw dust in the eyes of the people. This he is attempting to do by taking up the scare word " Socialist " as an election dodge to influence votes in his direction. When he classifies the members of the present Ministry as Socialists he intends the term to apply that they belong to the "Red Rag" order, and that they are

willing to subordinate private rights *o the mob. In his heart of hearts Mr Massey knows better, and he would have done better to have endeavoured to enlighten his hearers, who had but " hazy ideas" what Socialism 'meant, instead of taking advantage of the fact that they were in a fog. But having accused ihe Ministry of being composed of Socialists it becomes necessary for all intelligent yoters to arrive at a clear definition of the word "Socialism" before November next, and when they have found its meaning they will see that Mr Massey is on* trying to hide from the electors the cruel policy of Individualism, with which he would override the country were he in power. Writing on Socialism, Individualism, and Science, Mr C. W. Saleeby says that society of today may be fairly divided into three groups: Men on the Make, Men on the Keep, and Men on the Know, and the problem before the social reformer

is how to harness these three essential elements of society so that they may serve the best interests of the people, and therefore the State. "There are," he says, "Socialist organisations, the members of which are 'on the make,' and there are Individualist organisations, the members of which are ' on the keep.' This is plainly the one and the same motive in both cases, and a perfectly natural one, but it greatly prejudices the discovery of Truth, who-demands to be loved for herself alone. In order to find her it is necessary to be neither 'on the make' nor 'on the keep,' but only 'on the know.'" The word " Socialism" and the word " Individualism " means different things to different people and when two are found discussing facts and principles it is Very probable that they are only merely arguing as to what think they the names ought to stand for. Society depends on two diametrically opposed forces —that which subordinates the individual to society, and that which subordinates societ} to the individual. For the want of better words we will call the former force " Red Socialism," the

latter " cruel Individualism," and the point where the two forces meet " golden unionism." "Red Socialism " because were that force all powerful, law would not exist but in its place robbery and bloodshed ; " Cruel Individualism" because of the contrast between the conditions of life between the rich and the poor, and "Golden Unionism," because of the blending of the two forces making a social r.triuUtre that would provide for the wellbeing of all classes of the community, the individuals of which would be governed by law neither having unlimited liberty nor unlimited slavery. Study of this subject will reveal to the people that instead of the presi nt Administration being composed of revolutionary Socialists its members are men who have every claim to be classed unionists of the two opposing forces of Socialism and Individualism, while Mr Massey and his followers belong to the old school of hide-bound Individualists whose aim is to conserve for individuals the things which rightly belong to society, and who have no discontent with the present imperfect state of man's affairs.