Glimpses of Socialism.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume I, Issue 53, 22 September 1893, Page 2

Glimpses of Socialism.

What is the Character of it ?

A Brief Survey of its History.

[liv T.A.E.j (Continued.) To trace the growth of Socialism in history from the earliest down, to separate the pure from the impure—or what has operated to advance and check progress were a difficult task. Some of the records lmve been lost, some are prehistoric, while others are so obscure that to bring them into relief were Almost beyond the writers’ ait. The typical savage to my mind is running and brutal; ignorance predominates and he is governed by his fears (that is to say, he has little or no moral faculties). He knows little or nothing of right and wrong, any is sensible or feels pain only when he himself suffers. Ho lives a fearfully solitary dazed kind of existence, making innumerable blunders for which he suffers. He moves very little about, and is conscious of what is visible to his external senses only. He has no originality ; is great in imitation, and is an arrant thief—or rather a kleptomaniac—h picker-up of unconsidered trifles which have not been lost. This moral unconsciousness springs from his utter inability lo discriminate between the natural and the moral law—between personality and impersonality—belonging and unholonging—right and wrong. lie does not understand the meaning of property or proprietary rights. So strong or persistent is this trait or propensity of savage man that we find the custom existing, and its consequences applauded in all societies throughout the world. If we can credit history one of the most pa triotic actions and highest achievements tlml a Roman or Greek warrior could aspire to in the days of Julius (’icsar was to levy tribute, plunder and make war upon other richer and more peaceful people. The same might be said of Great Britain :in the days of Feudalism ; a very large proportion of the population subsisted by appropriation, buccaneering, and highway robbery. Even now under the British tlag for a governor, plenipotentiary, or other “ great ” magnate to annex or appropriate without compensation (except a few ribbons and beads) a territory worth millions, from the native inhabitants, is considered a highly commendable and meritorious action to be rewarded. Yet under the same Hag or law for a boy to appropriate a few nuts from an orchard he is “ rewarded ” by three months' imprisonment. This is only one of the directions in which inconsistencies—anomalies in public morality—exist. So apparently what is stealing in one person is a highly meritorious action in another. As (car, ignorance, appropriation and imitation represent the lowest ty. •*» of character in savage men, so uid moral consciousness represent the h:jpL-«Rt traits of character in civilised beings. Coifltequently we find the chief or greatest forces which have made for Socialism or progress are of this description, viz., Revolution of ideas in the form of government, the steam engine and printing press and other machinery, the division of labor, spread of education, the extension of the franchise, local self-government, the growth of national ism, the factory laws, Ac., the growtli and influence of public opinion, patriotism. These are direct gains peculiar to no country and stand out in relief bold enough.

The undercurrent, where public thought has not crystalized, is also making for Socialism, for Socialism is evolution or the purpose of creation. Only with this difference that it is a human—moral—conscious assisted evolution. Besides these institutions or reforms of ail original experimental character there are some, purely local or Australasian, the effect of which is being watched witli great interest throughout the civilised world, ».<■., with consternation and terror by the Illiberals and Conservatives, and with joy and hope by the true Liberals ami Progressives. But it has been said by superficial globetrotters that the colonies are Great Britain transplanted—that the prejudices of the older country have been transplanted with them. Now, while some of the English or Anglo-Saxon traits of character have been retained many been modified, some are in a state of transition, wiiile others are indigenous or almost peculiar to the country or countries. Amongst the former, or those modified is the love for gold or spirit of acquisitiveness which so characterises the British speaking people. This lias not been retained to anything like the same degree and Heaven forbid it ever should, for under its baneful influence men, women and children famish, and all that is bright and noble in humanity is crushed out of existence, while its possessors for-

get the grand object of life and lose the very art of living. So true it is that the Australasians are not nearly such timeservers and worshippers of the Golden Calf that the money-lenders of the old country (supposed generally to be pretty shrewd) are beginning to regard the Australasians as a race of spendthrifts. They, it appears, are not able to discriminate between the genius or character of the people and that of the rogues of nilerN who have in the past misgoverned them. That the waste profligacy and blight be gin at the top of the tree, ami where it is not checked insinuates itself right down to the parent stem through the branches into all the repositories of power, and muscles ol strength, honeycombing the whole structure of society. That this process has been going on, and consequent upon a blind reverence and copying of English precedents and other antiquated British institutions—to the constituents of the country, being entirely out of harmony with tlie spirit of the people. That tlie.se evils and moral cancers are being gradually eliminated and nipped in tin; bud by the new spirit of justice in l'arliament, by more equitable, righteous, laws and other institutions, and by the gradual evolution of a new constitution thoroughly in harmony with Democratic sentiments —the express wishes —and spirit of the people. All these things the moneylender and globetrotter forget when they charge the Australasians w ith being profit gales and having traunpliuitcd prejudices. Among the reforms or institutions peculiar to the countrv and tending in the direction of S ilisiii may be i.c utiom-d the eight hours’ principle and love for out dwr sports, two principle l '* . gain

to«*th«-r. Out door apart** are physical •duration and p«v« the way —lay the tub stratum or foundation of that healthy development which finally with hand and bnun will knock all the show* and mere *• »tuftoK ’ out of life. The thintt for duration is also a good sign of the tune*. It is a source of keen eniowuent amwiiuits to observe how at rung this desire is for mental cultivation how readily fair opportunities are eni braced for securing sound knowledge and enlightenment. Another trait of character distinctly obseivable in Australasians and one viewed with alarm m some directions t* what is called the spirit of ** irreverence.’* Mothers obaerxt* it in their children, employers in their employes. heads of households in their servants ; Jack considers himself as good as his master, servants dictate to their

** superiors." and children do not bow humbly or treat their parents with that deference or dec* »ruxn that the older parents had been used to or wont to #nforce. Now this •‘irreverence** means nothing more than this, that young Australasians decline to revere, bow or submit humbly to any one unless he has oc. y demonstration or other knowledge that to i persons deference is actually ilk, position and old hat i*re not sufficient for them, and if his officer, employer or parent treat him with inferiority or contempt he feels justified in treating them m like manner ; but the deference for character or real nobility is too deeply engr.uned in human nature ever to be banished bv any change of conditions. If officers. »iuplo\ers and parents wish lo be treated as superiors they must actually show their superiority in their own manner and conduct. As it is there is too much equably and independence of spirit for old w orld conditions to obtain in Australasia. There are also a numlH*r of other reforms or institutions to which I shall again revert. Throughout history, throughout society, throughout the world there has always been a struggle or war going on between selfishness and unselfish ness, intellect and brute force, knowledge and ignorance, right and wrrong, justice and injustice. Socialism and unaoriabsm. The outcome of this struggle has been law-*, institutions. s*M*ieties; and the records of history show in a manner not to be mistaken a gradual advance in all the-*e institutions from those tmsed upon inequality, injustice or the will of one man to those which are based upon equality, service, justice or the will of a!1 ; from a total distrust in the people to rule thnr own affairs to a thorough confidence in them, and the plaring of tneir own happinew., future destiny in their own h.u 1-; from impun .lark despotism to open. free. pure, generous IVinorracv. •To be continued.)