WHAT IS SOCIALISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13673, 14 February 1908, Page 7

WHAT IS SOCIALISM.

Sir, I your kind jK*i'nii*»ioo to o?f?t some comment on fjic letter which appeared v in your i««t» of January 20 headed "Sod*!ism' and Atheism " by ({. Wjjfcii. Ate we to conclude that G.W. places. jxt'*n precisely on the mim moral level «d wi>l' horses? This {». what he s>aj-!t by implies, tion. though ho lacks the courage to put H in the form of a direct categorical statement. C..W. tads that, the law of romp?' tition, or '"the survival of the fittest," re-, oeives full expression in the case of wild horses and wild gf»9#e», and hence' dftttt'tfthe 'amazing and unwarranted deduction that the present competitive «j'»tem of life among human being* is right, proper, moral, and ultimate. God, lift', and civiHsatkw-—' in m far a* throw term# are synonymous— havo said their last wort! to in», and hence here bejjinneth the reign of undiluted pew simisni. ... ...... ' J--, :, j'

But let me attempt to UH't-tG.W. oaliU* own ground*. He informs m that oven among wild horses a primitive ■■form of cvgrthmhuk« operation (a* opposed to competition} is to be found. Well, G.W. had his ■chance 'her* and li*> did not lake it. Ho might have shown that it was wrong; for these wild horse* to co-operate for '-mutual-self-defence. because no such iwrctieal proceeding' had ■ over shown itself among grasses. Suppose, however, that G.W. fails to-•show n*t that these wild horses wore not unite right in so answering the highest instinct within them, and tho odds arc .< against G.W, here, then-" in the same way it hi simple work lot mo to show that human being* are, after mti, , j only true to their best selves if (hey seek ! to develop and extend " the co-operative, 'just i net" within them (G.W. allows V m much) to tho point of realising all that so- -. cialism offers to us. In other word*, According to G.W.'s statement, evolution has developed "the co-operative instinct. Jit the animal world—wild hone*— its mitt* montary tlages. Why then should not woUnion have developed these &am« "cooperative instincts" to a more advanced stage in human beings? That question I ask G.W. to answer. :''Meanwhile'.my'an-.' swer is that, the co-operative instinct is mo»t obviously more highly developed in human beings than in wild horses. A little proof of this truth is as follow The " cooperative instinct" among the human livings in New Zealand is go developed that, so far M (4,W. (and nil other citizens) are concerned) 900,000 odd people (known for convenience as the State) are willing to' educate* him and hid children (State i«h»oht), to insure his life and property (State life and. fire in. ranee), to advise how .best to run his farm (Stato Department of Agriculture), to help him to stock hi« farm (Advances to Settlers Officio), to carry his produce to the nearest' port for transportation oversea (State rail-/ ways), to provide him with fuel for domestic ; and manufacturing purposes (State coal ■' mines), and to grant him a small pension when old age cornea upon him (State old ago pensions). Ho much for, tins " co-operative instinct" among New Zealanders. ". ... I note Unit (J.W. makes this statement n*" " co-operation:" %l feel fully persuaded that co-operation among workers for many of our industries is the true and the ultimate (solution of the struggle between cap|» tal and labour." Here, J believe, G.W. ■reasons bettor, Uia-ii ho '.know*- (or else noconsciously 'and' unintentionally 'surrenders his position (if opposition to socialism). o«tt U.W. inform me how many "worker*", there are in Now Zealand, using the term' "worker" in its usual rest rioted souse? My opinion is that tho "workers" of Now- Zen-' land and their wives constitute the majority of our community. .-1 ask G.W., suppose some day in the future tho workers of Now Zealand express their intention, through the. ballot-box, of taking over some of tint industries of the Dominion, and after paying tho present; owners a fair compensation thV Government/begins run these industries, in the interests of the people, what would' : ho your attitude to such a step, G.W.? .If you are consistent -with' your , aliovo.dec!tion of faith in cooperation as the one..:) panacea for tho struggles between, capital, and labour, you could only do one th'lig-r namely, support the workers in their actionof taking over these industries for tho benefit of -tho whole community. If you di<[ this you would .bo a (socialist whether you decided to wear tho label or not. This in so, since, tho. one ultimate logical '■,outcome of voluntary co-operation as wo know it today is State socialism. From'an economic viewpoint cooperation is a worthy compromise between- a soulless individualistic system and tho sublime ethical'ideal represent* i ed by true socialism. But compromisesj in their very nature, can never be filial i»i«l permanent.'"' : ' / > " % I cannot refrain from the remark that G.W,*» ■. style is more entertaining than convincing. !, For instance, he says: "1 repeat that? tnio socialists aro atheists." G.W., assertion it not, proof. What do you mean by making such blatant, insane, unproved « assertion as the alxjve? When, moreover, our friend : informs us as to Mr. Victor Grayson's, M.P., alleged views as to sex relations under socialism, he is, I regret to say, once more on thin ice as to-his tacts; In this instance, however, 1 don't think G.W. is entirely morally blameworthy. He gives us this information about Mr, Grayson because he knows no -better, I imagine. G.V?., 1. take --- it, does not know that this charge again*' Mr. Grayson originated through his words lx.-ing misreportod and misconstrued -by certain English newspaper*!. Again, what, does G.W. mean by the "nationalisation of children - /" I don't possibly he does. However, 1 hazard a guess at-his meaning' here, and ask hint if ho has considered to what extent under the present state of .things the State makes itself responsible for the children, i.e., "nationalises" thorn? The State to-day keeps a register of all children borii within its borders; it; vaccinates the child, protects him from ill-treatment, ' educate* him, and in tho event of death due registra- ' tion must bo made. -What does socialism ■• ask for tho child? It asks that he shall be ■ : provided with a wholesome environment, be provided with suitable recreation, Ihj . provided with tho rational necessaries of life; in a word, it would seek to give the "child , the best chance, to live bis best life for his own sake and that of his fellows. , What i* there immoral about this, G.W.? If, however, ho would insinuate that, under. socialism the State would desire, or have power, to break and violate the sacred filial tie between child and parent, then, for, this impossible idea, G.W. can only quote himself as bin authority for this statement, which in this ease is no authority at all. - ; Finally, there are two fundamental principles underlying human life generally, a»r ; they are: (1) "Each man for himself and the devil take the hindmost "—-hence the competitive system of life to-day, which »* tho prostitution of this individualistic principle. (2) "As ye would that men should do unto you, even "so do ye unto them "--this is it which at once lies within all morality and behind all true religion, by whatever name known. The fact, moreover, that, so far, and in varying degree, this principle is now pregent in human life is evidenced in that while man is like the brute beast, yet he is also unlike the brute boast. It is thw «n----likencfs of man to the brute beast—tall it what you willthat sooner-or later will make for and evolve that system ~. of life .. ■ which for convenience to-day we are pleased :; to label socialism." Hutm-uss;'*' *