EDITORIALS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 27

EDITORIALS.

TttogE who have noted the progress of social developcffonts in' Europe during the current decade not have been taken by surprise by the startling uprise of the masses in England, of which we.are now advised by cable message. For ydars Europe has boon a suppressed volcano.. JtPdft'es of pr digious power and activity, and of piouonuced socialistic type, have been smouldering with intermittent upheavals that have been . .barely re strained and suppressed by the strong hand of despotism. From Eastern Russia rigfat through Europe to the West these fotces hate been at work,- are at work, and Clears* Erilperors, KiDgs and Magnates, backed by overpowering physical force, are sitting on safety valves to ;keep the struggling giant imprisoned, to compel his submission to things as they are. These extreme conditions do not apply to England, but what does is the struggle for greater latitude, for more freedom, for participation in a larger degree in the sensuousuess of existence* which is gaining force every year. The disciples of the cause s'eep not. They are ever at work undermining alf the advanced outworks of the position they are resolved to occupy. They are found not only in the streets but in Ibp senate, in the pulpit, in the artist s studio, m the scientific laboratory. Wnerever man thinks and aspires there are they. Eor there are many grades of socialism., It is a grievous blunder to imagine that socialism is only allied with the ruffianly or repulsive. In its ranks are tj be found the deepest thinkers; the most benevolent minds, priestly brains, the higher order of femiuiue intelligence. Socialism is a most comprehensive term that is not a quarter understood by its own votaries - that is,. the more prominent and unreasoning of them. But, of a truth, its higher order is wrapped in a cloak ot pitying compassion; its heart is full of the woes of its suffering fellow-creatures. Such is higher grade socialism, and the lower order must in time take tone from it. And we may observe that socialism all over Europe, and the United Kingdom is in. close touch always. Unhappily reforms are, as a rule, attended by greater or less disturbance Modern j evolutions have ever been painful and discordant. The most repulsive factors are in. the forefront of the movement side by side with their handmaid, force. To strike and coerce is the blind instinct that inspires them Such promptings produce easy effect in the masses, and until the fist rush of emotion is exhausted, the wisdom, the policy, the forbearance, that does in the end prevail, has no chance of influencing. To pull down and trample under foot is the instinct of the populace. This brutal, this degrading force is apparent already in the labour upheaval that is convulsing England. Burning down and burning to death are indeed horrible and unexpected incidents in'this early stage of the movement, and disclose the lengths to which men impelled.by fury are prepared to go. And a comparatively general determination among a certain class not to pay rent is another significant and most sinister incident. There seems to be widespread organisation galvanised into activity with terrible suddenness. How to deal with the uprising will test, to the uttermost, the sagacity, the resource of British statesmen. Any attempt to crush, it by force, beyond mere controlling in the interests of order, would result in nothing but the direst disaster; would probably fan Europe into a flame of insurrection, and throw civilisation back a century. We doubt not that those at the head of affairs in England will correctly gauge the situation, and perceive that the time has arrived for another readjustment of society ; for the taking of another step toward reducing the extremes of wealth and poverty that so disturb the world. Wot a Utopian view of the position with illusory ideas of universal equality, resting on a dead level of sameness, but with commonsense consideration to. the fire dealing with the subject on business lines. Eor it is because our race is so essen-' tially business-like that" it is strong to meet and control social emergencies when they arise. There is in fact nothing else for it responsibilities cannot be shuffled off, but must be resolutely accepted.

SOCIAXiISjVf.

Whenever serious labour emergencies arise in England? ft threat is always held out oil the part of propriety to withdraw itself and go elsewhere. Trade also tail's of shifting its quarters and so on. This is silly Vapouring in an extremity. There is Pc? retreat open. Would wealth retreat id the Continent ? Socialism of a type infinity’ll worse than that of Englaud is there in force',’ suppressed, perhaps, but waiting its opportunity, Wfiiioh must come. And the same argument applies to trade and commerce. Manufacturing and shipping companies would find themselves out of the fryingpan into the Hire.-' Jfo T not only would they be threatened by the worst form of socialism, but by governing military despotisms, always feftdv for war ; living in a perpetual condition of insecurity. Sooner or later' the, outbreak would come, and those who trusted to foreign strongholds would go to the Wall iff the end. The only way to safety in’ England now is for England to be faithful to? itself; to recognise the true position of affairs, and to adopt a conciliatory policy. Tne very poor are resolved to resist their seeming fate, and the very rich had better help them. The prejudices of caste and capital must be prepared to give way a lit tie- And if when the turmoil subsides the direr forms of poverty are found to have disappeared from the land, while excess of luxury has been judiciowsly restrained, a Te Jjeuiti of rejoicing may be sent skvward for such a happy delivery from the travail of national tribulation. As w.e remarked in our article the other day upon the alteration of the franchise to “ one man one vote,” the safety of the State lies in educating the people up to their responsibilities. And so in England where the people really hold the reins of power. The country cannot afford to toleratq the persistent brutalising of a portion of its people by extreme poverty. That is a social phase that must be obliterated sooner or later.