"ENGLISHMAN" AND MR. TILLETT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10405, 1 April 1897, Page 3

"ENGLISHMAN" AND MR. TILLETT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your correspondent, " Englishman,'' I says the weak point in Mr. Tillett's address was that he did not mention by what means the abolition of capital was to be effected, and how the business of the world was to be carried on afterwards. Surely " Englishman" could not expect Mr. Tillett to go over the whole field of political economy in a shore address given at a "social." I have not had time to compare notes with Mr. Tillett, so am in the dark as to the proposed plans of the English Socialists, but from what I gathered from his address, it seetaed to be based on the principle of " loving thy neighbour as thyself," and " doing to others as we would they should do unto us." I believe that I can claim to be the first man in New Zealand to publicly advocate Socialism as a remedy for the present unjust conditions under which men and women live and die, and I have no doubt but Mr. 'lillett is aiming at the same ideal state, and is working on lines calculated to banish the ignorant selfishness so well pictured in your leader to-day, and substitute that generous self-sacrifice which will enable all men to feel a brotherly loving-kindness for their fellow-creatures. We contend that all men ore exactly what their environment and conditions of existence make them, and to change the people we must so change the conditions that it will be possible for all men and women t< live under conditions favourable to the dedevelopment of qualities that constitute good men and women. The plan of Socialists in this colony, so far as we have a plan, is to see that it is made possible for all the people to live and develop strong and healthy minds and bodies. We believe that people engaged in a competitive war for the means of a miserable existence will develop qualities calculated to turn men and women into animals of the lowest type, possessing reason without that lovingkindness so uecessarj to bring about the brotherhood of man. We believe that the whole human race are urged on by the fear of poverty and want _to a speed of racing like mad horses dying with exhaustion, and each is afraid to slacken his speed, looking at each other with feelings of hatred and envy, cultivating in their hearts, passions that eventually will destroy all feeling of love and sympathy for each other's welfare, unless the competitive system is abolished. We believe that reconciling the workers of the world to each other, and teaching that a bountiful Father has provided enough for all, we shall develop feelings of love and sympathy that will for ever make it impossible for hatred and mistrust to again prompt and rule the actions of men and women. We believe that the State should provide State farms as a "city of refuge" for all those who cannot find employment under our system of capitalism. When this is accomplished, we believe that under the altered conditions and environment our minds and desires will so change that we shall carry on the business of the world under a. of universal co-operation ; competition will be unknown, and the whole system of rent and interest forgotten, and its meaning unknown. This is the Socialistic ideal from my standpoint, and I have no doubt that Mr. Tillett is not far away in theory, but very much more practical and energetic at working than your humble correspondent.—l am, etc., March 31,1897. Robinson Crusoe.