MR SCORGIE AND SOCIALISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11484, 25 July 1899, Page 6

MR SCORGIE AND SOCIALISM.

TO THE EDITOE. SiK.j-Replying to his critics (not answering them), Mr Scorgie, by assuming a right to speak with authority, and consider his utterances beyond the pale of controversy, justifies my first notice of his statements—or rather misstatements—re socialism. However, as a body, the priesthood have always occupied a position of authority, to which, whilst sole custodians of advanced knowledge, they were entitled; but, through the general development of mind and extension of knowledge, being no longer able to monopolise its emoluments, they adopted trades union tactics, and sought (and are seeking), by a retention of religious superstitions and opposition to intellectual progress, to maintain their prestige, power, and profit, the latter being the main object of their existence (as history proves);—with whom the problem is not as Mr Scorgie puts it: ."To retain socialism and yet escape degeneration and extermination," but to obtain'socialism, and detain the priest, whose economic creed is the " good " .old Tory toast, "A long war and a short crop,"—the " essentials of progress." As, however, intellectual development and its consequent progress have continued despite such opposition, they are to-day proprietors of an "Old Curiosity Shop," and cry their wares ' guaranteed to last all time," regardless of the destructive inroads time has already made in the materials of which they are constructed. Nalhless, to this rule there. has been noble exceptions;, men who, by search after, grasp of, and adherence to truth, as opposed to religious' superstition, have earned the positions of authority they now occupy. Had Mr Scorgie conformed to that essential, he would not have fallen! into his present illogical position in relationship to the fundamentals of socialism. Is it too much to expect that a paid agent—under contract to teach truth—should have " inclination and time " to become sufficiently acquainted therewith to make ittruth—the basis of any discourse or criticism he may utter? As a. quibble, Mr Scorgie's letter is a masterpiece ;. as an explanation a failure; and the further Mr Scorgie proceeds the more he blunders—e.g., "the struggle for life" and "the struggle for the life of others are the principle's which underlie all development, and that Darwin blundered when he developed the one principle as the foundation of his theory and the explanation of all nature. Darwin did not blunder; the blunder is Mr Scorgie's (egregious), of ante-dating love, and then'confounding the principle with its relative applications. Again, "there could be no reproduction of plant, animal, and man, but for self-sacrifice; and the motive power the* impels all living creatures to make this sacrifice is love." That is to say, a jelly fish "loves," a serpent "loves," a shark "loves, a'liyasna " loves." When a hawk captures and devours a dove, is the dove self-sacrificing.' When "a, swallow swallows a worm, is the worm altruistic? Of course, after Mr bcorgie's announcement, to ask an explanation would be'absurd on my part, for Mr Scorgie has " neither inclination nor time so^ to do, oven wore an explanation possible. .tie! fie! Mr Scorgio, take another look through your Darwin and Drummond, and do not confound the relative application of either to the fundamental principle of life as a condition, or of love as a principle of action, subject to human life. ■' .!,.■,' Regarding socialism, Plato, Aristotle, Paine,. Bakunin, Proudhon, Gronlund, Karl Marx', Laesalle, Bellamy, Schopenhauer, Mill, and others are against Mr Scorgie, and, having mastered their subject, are entitled to speak ex cathedra. ■ A careful perusal of their writings should enable Mr Scorgie to distinguish between religious and economic laws, as related totalise and effect of individualistic and soqial, conditions, and to be somewhat logical in relationship thereto in the future. Bainon Logic is an excellent authority, and the' Rev. Robert Taylor a grand exemplification of-its application. . But I have neither time nor inclination to further discuss Mr Scorgie's blunders.—l am etc., July 22

R. Clark,