RAMSAY MACDONALD.

NZ Truth, Issue 72, 3 November 1906, Page 5

RAMSAY MACDONALD.

"A MAN OF BRAIN."

Shockingly, Shamefully Satirized.

Really Reprehensible Ridicule.

A Labor Leader Lampooned.

" Justice " on His " Southern Seas " Visit.

"I/was Attacked— as Most Great Men are."

Tne following amusing skit on British Labor Whip, J. Ramsay Macdonald, and his visit to- Australia, and other British colonies, appeared m London "Justice" of September, the 15th. It should be explained that although Mr Macdonald is Chairman of the Independent Labor Party, he is not ,the chairman of what is officially styled the Labor Party, which consists of the members of the Labor Party m the House of Commons, who were returned under the auspices of the Labor Representation Committee :— ■ . . .

"An 'AU. REVOIR.' . "To the Editor of 'Justice.' "Sir,— The following manuscript having come by some mysterious means to me, may I ask you to print it, that the owner may claim his efful slon -. E.H. ! "Au Revoir ! Will that do ? or [should I say 'So long 1 or 'Auf Wiejdersehen?' The first is best, I think, after all. If the rank and file don't understand, it can easily be explained. y I can explain anything to them. •AU REVOIR! "My Dear Mr Editor,— (Must say 'Mr,' some of, our fellows are such .sticklers for etiquette.) As it is equally necessary f Q r me to make a long Au Reyoir. In every army and m every party there are leaders m name and also those who do the real leading, including at times, a little driving, but flesh and blood have to be considered ; they wear out when one has to do all the work, m such arduous times as I have had to go through during the past two or three years.

"It is the brain work that tells, and no one but myself will ever know the enormous strain I put upon myself m preventing more Labor candidates being run at the last election, especially those who wanted to be known as Socialists.

"Mr Richard Bell may have guessed at it when he told the railway men at their conference at Bradford of

MY NUMEROUS VISITS

to the offices of the Liberal Whip. But even he could only guess. "When my opposition failed, I fell into line and gave public support ; as, for instance, when . Norwich was fought for the first' time. There, after opposing strongly, I went to help Roberts, though, as I explained to a meeting of I.L.P. members, 'it was risking my own seat, and jeopardising the harmony of my own constituency. 1 ' 'How a Socialist going to help another Socialist would make his own chances worse, mayrseem to some people to require explanation, but, suf-fice-it to say ? that, important as Socialism may be, it is still more important to '

GET MEN WITH BRAINS into Parliament. - The failing of Democracy has always been distrust of the men with big bra-ins, but let them remember that men of brains are not so be dictated to by the rank and file. "For a Socialist candidate to say he is a Socialist and fight for his principles, is to show he is a mere propagandist. What we need is the man who pushes aside the turbulent crowd, only very occasionally discussing its interests. 'All the time he is trying t o get home.' When going for a

PICNIC OP SOME MONTHS, it is with feelings of pride that the chairman of the I.L.P. looks back to January, remembering that many thoughtful people think one chairmanship should carry with it the other. But our trust 'must be m the future, while a knowledge of lands beyond the sea will be no disqualification for the leader of the coming time. "There are books and books, some good and some absurd, even though Hobsonian, But a book showing that Socialism . was a scientific creed and not a mere whim, was needed. I should have been, failing m my duty had I not supplied such a book. He who has half-a-crown may read. "True, , some of the criticisms of the little-minded may say that this book proves me no Socialist, but this is

MERE ASSASSINATION ; they may deny it, but it is still assassination. I know, for I am an expert; r

"Never since I joined it have I regarded the I.L.P. as being anywhere except m the forefront of the conflict between the old and new spirits. Indeed, how could it be otherwise since I joined ?

"The friends who, at the AttercliSe election, begged me to join the I.L.P. were equally wise when at' the Nottingham Conference they organised a strong canvass of the delegates to put me on the N.A.C.

"Now all this shows that the democracy require ' a strong and vigorous lead. The ordinary members of the party might have been a long while m finding out my worth and value. What might have happened if I had still

REMAINED A LIBERAL !'

"Some of the' places where I prevented a candidate being run might have sent representatives to Parliament m a spirit of otherwise than Parliamentary, when such had better not go there at all.

"For those of us who take to Parliament as a duck to water, it might be awkward if the waters were rough. It is much better (for us) when we can scarcely be distinguished from the other geese. "I must bake rest, and a first-class saloon to

THE SOUTHERN SEAS

will perhaps compensate me for the lack ol the inspiration of the platform.

"You. must make the best of Hardie, the Snowdens, the Glasters, «r the other small fry. "Later campaigns may be more effective, if I'm aot too busy. "I make no mention of Hyndman, Quelch, Irving, or Blatchford. .

"Indeed, why should I ? The only Socialist Party of any account is the one of which lam chairman. You will note I go away with notions ; I come back with ideas.

"I was attacked, as most great men are, by assassins, but foiled them, giving them the lie. • "

"It was with a thrill of pride I noticed our women, a t least, know how to follow a good example. "Mrs Hansen's letter giving THE LIE DIRECT

touched me dearly. "The fact that calling someone a liar proves, nothing doesn't matter. / "Some less discreet persons might have used such a word m Parliament, which would never do. "Parliament is Parliament, and don't you forget it. William Morris never had my experiences or, doubtless, he would have changed his opinion.

"Morris' lack of opportunity, and other things, are a sorrow which has cut me to the CKuick. " Tis true that I BACKED THE BRUNNER BILL. 'Tis true almost every other Socialist m the country thought I was wrong. But this only proves the Bill was easily misunderstood and easily attacked.

"But not that I misunderstood it, or, that I am to ?,e easily attacked. Let v the attacker expect no Christian conduct' from me until I've knocked him into the proverbial cocked hat. He shall be both damned and have enough.

"The Bill is done for, therefore, my name shall be withdrawn. I need not stand obstinately by a dead Bill, and

NO ONE BUT ASSASSINS

will ever . dream I could do wrong either about children, education, or anything else. !

"I was not wrong, but can honorably plead with my friends 'not guilty,' but I won't d Q it again. "Socialism marches m a pageant of banners and music. We are the 'instruments. Therefore, let us forget Socialism and drink to the 1.L.P., the 'Labor Leader,' the Labor Party, not forgetting, I hope, the

CHAIRMAN OP THE I.L.P. "Some day the Socialist movement of the world may also hide its Socialism under the name of Labor, when we who have done so much to bring this about m Britain may meet jour due reward. , ■ * ■'

"You toilers of the nation may receive hope and inspiration from the knowledge that some thinkers of the time are faring sumptuously every day ; further -, my wife is instructed to write regularly how we , are enjbyine: ourselves."