The Waikato Independent Incorporating "The Cambridge Gazette.” TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1922. THE COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN

Waikato Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2576, 25 July 1922, Page 4

The Waikato Independent Incorporating "The Cambridge Gazette.” TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1922. THE COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN

Regarding a leading article we published a few days ago with respect to the menace of the Communist Sunday schools, wc have heard comments to the effect that we painted the position far blacker than it really was, and that, even if such dreadful things were done as reported, such a condition of affairs only existed in such countries as Eed Russia. Unfortunately abundant evidence available amply justifies the statements made in the article referred to, and it may be stated that there arc already quite a number of Sunday schools in this fair land, not only in the four principal cities, but also in the larger provincial towns, where the most pernicious and blasphemous doctrines arc being taught the children. In Saturday’s issue of the New Zealand Herald there appears an article contributed by that journal’s London correspondent, written under date July 9th, that fully bears out the comments made by the “Newsletter,” which we quoted from extensively in our previous article. In a leaflet, issued by the National Political League (says the Herald correspondent), attention is directed to the grave danger threatening British boys and girls—indeed, threatening the youth of the entire British Empire. It is pointed out how the Communist Party have been allowed to organise a deliberate movement to exploit. British childrin to such an extent that the movement is fast becoming a real danger to the democratic institutions of the country. From Soviet Russia children groups arc already being directed in over 40 countries. These groups arc growing in numbers and in influence. “It is well,” the Communist asserts, “in their tender years to wean children from the religion, morals, and hypocrisy of the master class” . . . . “We of the proletarian schools are pushing ahead and would like to see the whole Socialist Sunday school movement take on a revolutionary character”; and “We will no longer abstain from planting into the souls of our children the seeds of the revolutionary conception of life.” ..... “Where there exist no Communist, children’s groups we shall create them, and where there ’ are Socialist children’s groups wc shall penetrate them and revolutionise them from within.” The National Political League is organising over the whole country a move to put an end to the menace and save British children. The Hon. Gideon Murray, M.P., and certain other members, including Major Boyd Carpenter, Mr J. C. Could, Captain E. C. Losebv, and Colonel W. Ashley, are taking strong action in Parliament to obtain legislation, and have the backing of a keen public opinion. In these schools, which have sprung up during- the last three years, a deliberate training is given in order to rouse proletarian class consciousness of the worst kind. Blasphemous doctrines, sedition and class hatred are instilled into the minds of the children, who are definitely taught that red revolution is their only goal. Religion is treated with derision and scorn. The Union Jack is for them a symbol of oppression and slavery. As pointed out, the danger signal lies not only in the number of these proletarian children’s groups- —they can now be counted in hundreds —but in the fact that the children are intended to act as missioners in. the home, the playground, ana the day school. Very many of them arc purposely drawn from homes other than those of communists, for they ■must educate their parents. Their influence over their play and school companions is even stronger, and so the poison spreads. Everything is made at*

tractive. Revolutionary games, acting, and stories play a large part. A most

sinister aspect of the teaching against religion is the absence of decency and restraint on the moral side. Crude and irresponsible treatment of sex is noticeable. In Russia, such deliberate removal from the children of rostra:nt in practice and expression has led to deplorable moral and physical results. The proletarian school children are drafted into the “Young Communist International,” centred at Moscow to unite the youth of the world, and this is organically connected with the Red Trade Union International that now numbers over 15,000,000 workers, and also with the Communist International, “a mighty force that reaches round the world” —both under the Third Moscow International. To revolutionise on the ono hand trade unions, on the other children’s groups in every nation, is its chief work. At Moscow last June there assembled 150 young delegates, representing 40 countries and over a million members, aild there Trotzky directed that special attention must be paid to the children in the colonies and in the native races of the Near Last —a direct attack on the British Empire. Are we going to sit quietly by while such teachings as these are instilled into our children? Surely not! It Is quite time that every man and woman who values the Christian religion,,and all it stands f or — a ii w ho have any respect for all that a true Britisher holds dear —truth, liberty, honour, justice and loyalty — should use his or her influence to counteract this insidious evil that is being foisted upon us, and that, sooner or later, will assuredly cause untold misery and harm if allowed to go on unchecked. ’ - ' *