BACK TO THE PRIMITIVE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1510, 9 March 1920, Page 5

BACK TO THE PRIMITIVE.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Judge Alden's address on Saturday night viewed as a contribution to progressive thought was a complete failure. As an exhibition of carefully rehearsed trick oratory and witticisms it certainly tickled the risible faculties of his audience. One can hear the same style of thing by listening to the Salvation Army any Saturday evening in the Square. I went to the meeting, however, expecting to hear something higher than this and must confess my extreme disappointment. Instead of using his undoubted powers of oratory to urge his audience to move forward to a higher and better state of society, he insisted that the remedy for the existing social evils was to go back to an earlier stage in the development of human society. This is purely a reactionary suggestion and is impossible, even if it were desirable. Man's rise from the mere brute has been achieved by the increasing substitution of reason for faith. The distinguishing feature between man and the animal is his powers of reason and would finally result in the dragging down of man to a state more nearly resembling that of the animal. It is common knowledge to students of sociology that viewed as a nation America is sociologically a long -way behind Britain and the large European nations. This fact possibly explains his suggestions being the reflex of America's more primitive position, as compared with the other more advanced nations, in the sociological world. In conclusion, whilst we must agree in denunciations of the present social evils, differences of opinion immediately arise when remedies are suggested. Judge Alden's suggested remedy is to go back. I would suggest going forward.—l am. etc., ROD ROSS.