THE TRUE AIM.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5165, 11 June 1891, Page 3

THE TRUE AIM.

The true aim of tho working class Bhould bo, not the plunder of tho capitalists, but tho reconquest of thoir social position, their readmießion into tho ariatocraoy of life. We know that it is offensive to the dovout Gladstonian, who thinks that tho parliamentary work dono by tho god of his idolatry has been productive of real social progress, to put tho O'aso m tbia way. But it is the true way aftor all. For the working class social progrofls has had little renl meaning m our time. That Mncaulny was able to boast that a working man had better food nnd hia wifo bettor clothes to day than tho lords and ladies of tho foudal poriod is not to tho purpose Tho Bocial gulf bolwcou tho land-worker nnd the mirldle or professional class has vastly widoned, and as tho employer has risen m tho social Bcnlo tho handicraftsman has gone down. It was not nltoeether thoatricnl plague that tomptetf Napoloon I. to cay hiß ideal was n state of society m whioh ovory artioan would bi) an artist. Why, that state of eooioty actually existed centuries ago m England, nnd but for tho obstructive iiocial prejudices of "tho classes " it oould bo made to oxißt ngain. How many, for example, roaliso tho fact that tho bishops, priests, and monks, who are popularly described as " architects " of our old cathedrals, wore only eorvilo clork« of works and timokoopors ; that the real architects and designers and docorators of thoso splendid Btructuroß woro the porsons wo should now onll "tho workmon," and that thoso workmen wore not only socially regarded bb tho equals, but, m cooes here their ability and orijinality were high, aa the superiors of tho lottorod aperarii ? No more advance m wngos, no mero exaction of shortor hours, ought thoroforo to Batisfy tho working olnosof Englaud so long aa thoy coaso to occupy t-ho position of honour which thoy held m inoGiioval times, when through thoir guilda thoy oontrollod oroative handicrafto, and whon a compotont artisan oould hopo for just recognition of hia dignity and worth at tho hands of a society gratoful for his Berviooß. The highest task boforo those who would guide the now Labour Commission, or who desiro to improve tho relations between employers and employed, ia that of discovering how to put tho latter m a social position which, quito apart from tho wenlth it tiocurOß, confers on thoßO who attain it tho frankest and moat ungrudging conco»sion of goimrnl honour nnd CBleom. Tho powor to attain this position m dormant within the lioarfc of Labour— indcod, if it bo not thoro it oiißts nowhoro. It io tlui duty of tho now Commission to toll us how it can bo quickonotl into waking life. — (London papor.)