A RED NIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19812, 2 December 1919, Page 7

A RED NIGHT.

AUSTRALIAN BOLSHEVIKS . CELEBRATE. “GOOD REVOLUTION.” ( (Sydney Sun.”) ■Some say that the Russian revolution was a. political one, others say 4 otherwise, but it does not matter a damn what it was, it, was a good revolution. We want such a revolution here, —A speaker at the Bolshevik anniversary celebration in Sydney on November 6. ( The celebration of the second anni- 1 versary of the second Russian revolution, hold at the A.S.P. Ha-I], Liverpool Street, Sydney, on November (5, was - The. speeches wore “red” aud the interior of the i building was a mass of big and little red liags, and the proceedings were opened bv the singing of “ The Bed Flag.” The gathering, which was attended by monitors of several Socialist bodies, ,i the Social Democratic League, the Russian Association, and the New South Wales L a tour Council (which body postponed its weekly gathering in order that its. members who so desired might be present), was enthusiastic, and the blood red speeches were enthusiastically applauded. HELP THE ADVANCING WAVE OP FREEDOM. Had one dropped from the clones into tho hall and listened to the speeches made aud believed in thorn bo would not remain long in Australia. Ho would book his passage to a more congenial climo. “The conditions in Australia are no better than they are in Russia. We are a down-trodden people. The revolution in Russia is not a local product; it is the only action that can ho taken by the world’s proletariat against the social injustice that exists to-day in all countries. Their defeat- ts our defeat, their victory our victory, and we must do our best to help tho' advancing wave of freedom, or by apathy aid the forces of reaction and see tho workers of the world plunged into a darker despotism than existed before the war.” Such was tho tone of the gathering. Truly, ft was a red, rod night. After the chairman, Mr Reardon, ( general secretary of tho A.S.P.. had addressed tho gathering a lengthy address on the conditions in Russia, and the causes of (lie revolution was delivered by a speaker who spoke with it distinctly foreign tongue. " Tho Russian people came to know,” be said. “ that tho Czar was not their father, because-•'of his behaviour. They thought it was not good for him to continue in power. They stamped out the ‘guts’ of the Czar. (Cheers and laughter.) A central body was formed through which the workers were instructed. The Czar was quiet for a, time. Then, ho again became , oppressive and thought to smash the approaching revolution. Then the bloodshed commenced. _ Long live the R-us--1 sian Soviet.” (Tremendous cheers.) WHY THEY WERE THERE. There was much, cheering when Mr Garden, the secretary of the New South Wales Labour Council, announced : “ M e are here to-night because we recognise ihe good work that has been done in Russia, and wo know that their victory is our victory, their defeat is our defeat. If they fail in Russia we "ill fail here. Got: out in every public place and toll the people about Russia Ue have been told that the people in Australia are the freest in the world, but you are a lot of bonobeads if you believe that. (Groat cheers.) Kerensky at one time was said to bo the sai tour ol Russia, lie told the soldiers to go back into the trenches and fight, but, before be knew whore be was, tho houses of the landlords were being burned and the workers were out to take possession of the land. (Great cheers.) The cry went out; ‘ The fight is for the workers. 1 The workers went out and commandeered the workshops. That is what wc want, bore. How long is it before you are goin'g to take control here.-' Again 1 ask, .how long? Do not depend upon anyone, hut depend upon yourselves. Von are- the norkois and .you alone lia.ve the power. I know there are some who hold up Iheir hands in holy horror and say. 'What are these people up to now'?’ Me are up to what is ours, The.ro is nothing wrong with that. I can tell yon how you are going to do it, and that is on the job.’ Do what is necessary on the job and then victory will he yours. Do not wait for the people to be educated; if you do von will be. waiting for over. “ There arc many things 1 would like to say, • he added, “hut to-day I got u Jcltci Miiich finid, ‘Do not) sny Anything to-mgnt, because you are being close]v watched. If you do you will be doported. We produce all, and theretore we demand all, and we shall have all. In the next speech, which was delive red by Mrs Westbrook the. nodienco was informed that “ tho cruellest Government on the face of the earth is the British Government.” It had placed the chains upon the workers in older to build up big houses tor capitalism. They were that night celebrating a. glorious event-, but were thev going to leave it to the Russians only? To tho glorious women of Russia slie would like to pay her respects; for the women, of Russia went out and looted tho shops. (Cheers.) HOPES OF FAMINE. After pausing for breath, the speaker declared tnat as soon as a. man opt into Parliament he became a, parasite • upon the back of the worker. “ You' are asking for 17s fid per week more in wages, but if you get it 1 hope that tho cost ol living will go up and hip, and thou You might erv for broad' This may bring about a revolution, ami by that revolution you iiui.y sen- bow foolish you have been in the past. The speaker described what she termed a “glorious sight- ’ when prisoners m Russia were liberated. “'What a glorious sight it, would be.” she exclaimed, •• to march to-night to the gaols and liberate the- political prisoners. It is no use talking hot air and passing useless resolutions. What is v.anted is, action. The workers must take the matter into their own hands. . i)top-work meetings once a. week ; a few ■ strikes, aud keep them up until these. ■ politicall prisoners aro set free. Make I Australia a place w(u*r<- it would be t safe to bring little children into the world To-day it, is a, hell." : “ THE GUNS ARE READY NOW.” The sound of machine guns was 1 heard in the speech of ~ Comrade I Thomas. _ There was a big organisation : ready to fight the workers in Australia, and. lie declared, “ the gnus a re. ready now.” He. himself was not in favour - of blundering up a blind alleyway to 5 hud machine guns at the other end. The working class would have to learn that, bare hands arc no protection s against machine guns, but when they ■ were organised and had the force they would bo able, to do to others what > others intended doing to them. - Prefacing his remarks with “ Fellow • Bolsheviks,” Mr Arthur Rne. said lie was prepared to take certain political action, direct action, or underground action, so long as it. would help them to win. The ideal of every'worker should be to abolish Parliament, as it existed to-day. They had no occasion to go to Russia to find out that tryanny existed, because it existed in Australia. Ho hoped tho day was not far distant when the word* Russian Revolution would cease to exist, and s it would be known as the world-wide s involution, It did not follow, however, ,i that the methods hen* need be the l same a-; in Ru-V-;, for be did mil be- . lieve in bloodshed.