THE HUMAN ELEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25459, 14 February 1944, Page 4

THE HUMAN ELEMENT

Sir,—Karl Marx once lived In London on £1 a week. Sir Robertson Nicol. editor of the British Weekly, described him as a man with a burning sense of the injustice of things, and he was no partisan. I am inclined to this explanation of his character rather than the view that he was a consummate hypocrite. He mav, of course, have developed a class hatred which is unchristian. The year 1848 is known in history as the revolution year. There were revolutions all over Europe. On. the whole they are supposed to be traceable to the reactionary settlement of the Congress of Vienna. At least it is admitted there were many causes The revolution in Prussia was due to a desire to have the powers of the Diet extended and so make it more than an advisory body. The writer on political economv, Frederick List, is quoted as having influenced the future of German policy. Marx is ignored. List believed in State protection. The King, Frederick William, was an absolute ruler, and held firmlv to the supposed Bible teaching of the Divine right of kings. He said, ‘ No scrap of paper should ever be allowed to come between God Almighty and his people.” The bloodshed began when his troops forced the people away from the vicinity of the palace. Then Berlin rioted, but not until then. He was persuaded to withdraw his troops from the city, and the riots ceased. On the balcony of the palace, along with the Queen, he did homage to the dead bodies of the '"rioters. They died in the cause of democracy. I respectfully submit this as a more balanced view.—l am, etc., G. R. Cromwell, February 12.

[We regret that we,cannot afford space for further discussion of this subject.—Ed. O.D.T.]