Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1886. BLIND GUIDES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7625, 24 December 1886, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1886. BLIND GUIDES.

Tiikue is no greater enemy to any cause than ho who lies in support of it. Tho lying may be wilful, or may bo mere hyperbole horn of ignorance, but in cither wise tho result is tho same in the Ion" run. This fact ought to bo borne in mind by advocates of any system, for no matter how good a given end may ho, if the means are questionable tho end is mado more di/licult of attainment. Just now it is popular to lie in favor of what is called " the cause of tho people," but that too often means tho cause of unscrupulous adventurers. This is nothing short of a calamity, for it is certain that there is a cause of the people, and that its advocacy by wise, just, and truthful means is of the highest importance The age is tho most momentous one in the history of the world. It is characterised by great mental activity, business energy which takes the form of tho most extreme competition, am by ttu abnormal pursuit after wealtli and luxury. In the feverish excitement consequent, the work'ors of Euglaud iind themsolves compelled tp

straggle hard to keep up the rate of progress which for tliem commenced with the repeal of the corn laws and the adoption of Freetrade. But two apparently opposite results have grown out of that progress. On the one hand, the bulk of the people have found their way to greater comfort and a larger share of the produce of their labor, but on the other they find that the new desires created by tho improved order of things are very difficult to satisfy. Capital has increased manyfold, and competes for labor, but the latter has also' become more . plentiful, and competes for capital. The latter, however, as must always be the case, has a greater capacity for both resistance and aggression, because it can light to dreadful purpose by simply remaining idle, whereas in the case of labor inactivity is suicide. In the competition for capital among those who have only strength- or skill to ofl'er in exchange, the race is to the swift and the battle to the strong. Laggards and weaklings drop to the rear and remain there, the social and economic laws being quite as harsh and as inexorable as those of nature. " Unto him that hath shall be given" appears to be the keynote of human destiny, and is so apparent, indeed, that all languages have a proverb which equals our English one— " Nothing succeeds like success." Social reformers recognise the force of this, but they urge that as man has mastered the laws of nature to a great exteat, aud has bent them to serve his own pnrposes by simply noting (to state an apparent paradox) that they are unchangeable,' so may economic laws.be utilised. This is, no doubt, true. Every man may be taught how to be more successful and how to " have," whatever his station in life, and the tendency of- modern legislation has been in the direction of seeing that this knowledge is imparted. The best proof of this assertion is the establishment of late years of systems of mental and technical education, which, although in their inception almost forced upon the people, are now gladly availed of, The result is progress — slow, perhaps, but sure, and something for the age to be proud of. Perhaps the rate of inarching could be accelerated. We think that it could, and so do many ardent reformers in all parts of the world. Unfortunately for the cause of that acceleration, there is in existence a class of men who believe, or who aii'ect to believe, that various schemes of revolution would benefit the world if put into practice. The crude Socialistic doctrines of the last century are being revived, and men are being openly taught that the poor should rob the rich. How long under this system there would be any persons rich enough to rob is not shown, nor is the uncomfortable calamity of a choice between barbarism and military government referred to. Sir Demagogus does not trouble about these things, but talks arrant nonsense because it pays, and because he is either not wise enough or not conscientious enough to measure the future harm that may result from his mischievous efforts. And it is extraordinary to note how widely-spread this gospel of robbery has become, and how many there are who lie in the most deliberate fashion in support of that gospel. Even in New Zealand, arid eveu in a professedly leading paper like the Wellington Post, untrue statements of the most incendiary tendency find currency. That this is so let the following short extract from Monday's issue of that journal testify :—

It is evident that tho contrast between wealth and povorty is every day becoming more intensified at Home, Tho rich aro becoming richer, tho poor pooror, moro hopolcss, and more dospcrato. The lato attempted demonstration has drawn forcible attention to the torriblo destitution which oxists, and the danger arising troni despair on tho part of vast numbers of mon who havo no prospect but starvation and death. It is ovidont that nearly tho same condition of affairs oxists in London as existed in Paris prior to tho revolution, and which led to it. Tho parallel is every dny growing moro exact, aud if tho same causes arc permitted to continuo to operate, it is but reasonable to assume that something liko tho samo result will follow. Human nnturo is much tho same all tho world ovor in regarding self-prcsorvation as its first law,' and when tho starving artisans and laborers sco no hopo boforo thorn, nothing but a miserable death for thomsolvos, their wives and children, they aro not likoly to stand on much ceremony m trying to participate, at least to the oxtont of the moans of livolihood, in the possessions of tholr rioh noighbors.

The extract, which is from an article on the recent procession of Socialists in London, is lull of untruths. It is not evident that the contrast spoken of is becoming more intensified, and it is not true that the poor are becoming poorer and tho rich richer. On the contrary, the condition of the working classes of Great Britain to-day is so infinitely superior to that of forty years ago, or even of twenty years ago, that _ only persons who remember what things used to be can adequately realise the heneficial changes that havo taken placo. , All classes, from the agricultural laborer upwards, have participated in the great social, mechanical, and sanitary advances that have been made, but the greatest share lias fallen to' the lot of the laboring classes. Compared with their prototypes of forty years ago, the laborers and mechanics of Britain are to-day living in comparative luxury. They are better paid, better clad, better housQ-i, better educated, and better provided for in every wayi When persons who came to the colonies thirty years ago now go home for a trip, what strikes them with the greatest force is the improved condition of the working classes. That this improvement could advantageously go on, and that it will go on, every impartial person will admit. Further, it may be said that 999 out of every thousand persons hope for and are willing to assist to the utmost of their power in bringing about further improvements, but their efforts and good wishes are largely neutralised by the falsehoods and unreasonable claims of revolutionary adventurers. What, for instance, can be more discouraging to reformers, who are acquainted with tho history of their own times, then to read sentiments similar to those we have extracted from the Post ? What sane man can believe that at this time " The same condition of affairs exists in London as existed in Paris prior to the revolution," and who can be aught but disgusted with the plain suggestion that tho poor "should not stand on much ceremony in trying to participate, at least to the extent of the means of livelihood, in the possessions of their richer neighbors ? " It is bad enough when such promptings come from the ignorant, but writers who are entrusted with tho task of educating the public through the Press nmst nptnlead lack of knowledge. A great responsibility rests upon these men, and we earnestly protest against such an abuse of powers and opportunities that should bo used for the good of mankind. The cause of true reform and of real social progress is dear to the heart of every honest man, but the efforts of writers such as we refer to can only arouse exasperation and disgust, and can only tend to stop the progress which is professedly advocated, The future welfare of mankind largely depends upon the Press, butif those who look to it for light and leading are misled by revolutionary will-o'-the-wisps, the result must be social chaos and a return to barbarism tempered with force. "If the blind lead tho blind they shall both fall into the ditch."