A MALIGN INFLUENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1925, Page 11

A MALIGN INFLUENCE.

(To the Editor.) _ Sir, —It was with positive horror that one read recently that Communists have attained to a measure of actual power in Canada. It was entirely characteristic that the first gesture they made should be towards disintegration and destruction. They claim that they are aiming at the separation of the Dominions from each other and from the Mother Country. This is significant, looked at in the lighU.ot their known achievements, up to date. The first move in their campaign is al'Whys a breaking up, and a scattering, and therefore a diminution in power, in the object of their attack. 1 have not been in this country long enough to have discovered to what extent, if any, their activities flourish here; though indeed some sections of the community are preparing a rich soil for them, should they elect to sow a crop of their poisonous seeds here. (These flourish best in an atmosphere of industrial discontent, which can be produced with such truly pitiable ease.) But 1 have seen and learned something of their movements in the older countries, and know that their methods are so insidious that often, as perhaps in Canada, they reach their objective with little or no opposition, because of the skill of their tactics. And once they have established themselves in a position it were well nigh hopeless to expect them to be dislodged. The secret of their power is education, if one may degrade the word to such a use. Their watchwords are patience and perseverance, and indeed their methods are a model which could be copied with the greatest profit by lawabiding bodies and societies. Nor do they by any means neglect psychology, the study of the human mind. They -pour forth a ceaseless stream of propaganda literature, though the reading of such specimens of much of it as I have seen make a loyal citizen actually feel physically ill, the blatant wickedness and traitorism of it are so venomous. In Great Britain it was found, after the event, of course, as in most of their achievements, that they had established “Socialist Sunday schools” in many centres. In these schools, Sunday after Sunday, with or without the knowledge of parents, the children were taught to deride and despise, categorically, their native country, their king, and the religion, the*rery God of their forefathers. It was a horrible shock to a loyal citizen to read extracts from their text books, which were subsequently published in the newspapers, the language itself being brutal and cynical to a degree, as for example; “What is a patriot? A patriot is a fool. . .” etc. “What is God? There is no God . .” etc. The whole thing was too revolting to be retained in the memory. These schools were exposed by the Hon. Gideon Murray, M.P., and others, and the matter was brought up in the House of Commons.

The Communists teach disintegration, disloyalty, treachery, destruction of law and order. Never have 1 come across a coherent statement of their ultimate intention. With what will they replace the civilisation they seek to destroy, how remedy the horrible welter of chaos they consciously seek to bring about? They and their sympathisers in Great Britain to say, “Look at Russia, how she has thrown off the yoke!” And we could only say, “Yes; look atr Russia. Where is she; what is she now?” “Oh, but,” they said, “you never get the truth about Russia. You are only allowed to read Press lies.” But indeed it was the other way about, and those people lived on the cooked reports which were poured, in a generous stream, from an inspired source. Others, from time to time, were able to secure fragments of the raw truth, raw, often dripping with blood. It were only fair to admit , that Communion was founded on an ideal. At the same time, that ideal was only practicable to a very limited extent, and in probably only one country, Russia. In that vast land, communities, scattered over its surface, are in many cases (where they still exist, in the new Freedom) so isolated that it is impossible to trade with the outside world, and therefore money ceases to have the significance which world commerce gives it. The people live by way of “exchange labour, the little community is ruled by the patriarch and elders. All is self-contained. And this presumably was the inspiration for Communism, which, step bv reached its present form. “Down with Capital, down with the State, down with the employer.” Do they see, or not, that it must inevitably follow, “Down with the worker and with prosperity?” During the wu and ever since in-

deed, they and others of their kidney tried unceasingly to undermine the loyalty of shipping, munition and industrial workers. They were a paragon of energy and organisation, and held meetings, indoors and out of doors, in season and out of season, during which they created and fomented discontent and disloyalty. Their organisation was a thing to marvel at, and papers came into the hands of one patriotic body which showed the boldness of their campaign and the extraordinary ability which ordered it. Some of the schemes were later followed out, though without the triumphant climax which had been confidently planned—the big railway strike some five years ago, the coal strike about the same time, and others of less pretentions among the public services. The spirit of the loyal Britisher, and the silent, unadvertteed activity of the secret services, broke the back of each attempt before all could be co-ordinated as planned, and robbed the robbers of their booty. Nevertheless, this strange destructive power continues to exist, animated by a perfect malignity which seems to recognise nothing fine or noble, and spares nothing that makes for law and order. And one who has had but a glimpse of its underground activities would warn all loyal citizens to guard their loyalty, their patriotism, their industrial integrity with ceaseless vigilance, lest this foe should creep in, even here, in God’s own country.—l am, etc., CONSTITUTIONAL.