THE HUMAN ELEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 6

THE HUMAN ELEMENT

Sir,—ln to-day’s Daily Times your correspondent “G. R.,” of Cromwell, refers to the human element about eight times in his letter. He declares that “ Christianity, in dealing with the human element, recognises no system as a substitute. . . .” That is perfectly true. The difficulty with the human element is that man is a fallen creature because he has rebelled against God and sided with the devil! Judged by his letter, “ G. R.” gives us the impression that he thinks the teaching of Marx is much the same as Christianity and that Marx was really on the side of the Bible if he had only known it! Nothing could be farther from the truth. Your correspondent seems to have some respect for the seventh Earl of Shaftsbury. What was the secret of that great man’s love for the poor and the down-trodden? And what gave him the courage to. speak up for them in the House of Lords? The reply is that he was a genuine, bornagain Christian, and the love of God filled his heart and controlled his whole life. It is men of his stamp that have been the truly great reformers in England from time to time. It would do everyone good to read his life’s story. What a striking contrast his life presents to that of the deluded revolutionary Karl Marx! This wicked man was born in 1818. He went to Paris to study in his youth. But on account of his revolutionary propaganda he was soon expelled from France. It was after this that he organised the Communist League, his associate being Friedrich Engels. Marx issued his “ Communist Manifesto ” a year before the revolution of 1848. This is the celebrated document which Socialism and Communism have spread throughout the whole world. Its final paragraph begins thus: " Communists scorn 1o hide their views and aims. They openly declare that their purpose can only be achieved by the forcible overthrow of the whole extant social order. . . .” Who headed the Communistic Society in Berlin during the revolution of 1848? It was Marx. What was it responsible for? Many murders. No wonder that he was arrested, found guilty, and condemned to death, but, unfortunately, he escaped to England. Much more might be written about him did space permit.—l am, etc., Maran-atha.

Sir,—Correspondents have been haying their little say on the subject of Socialism, and in their own wise way have been telling us what should be done. Yet I suppose that what they do not know about Socialism would fill a very large book. I quote from the Scottish poet, who makes it very clear in one line of his compositions: “When self the wavering balance shakes it’s rarely right adjusted.” “ Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” Selfishness in mankind is the source of all social troubles. —I am, etc., J. J. T, Feb. 10.