THE BOLSHEVIK MENACE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160734, 21 August 1920, Page 2

THE BOLSHEVIK MENACE.

To the Editor. Sir, —Your articles of even date headed “The Bolshevik Menace” are worthy of note. Naturally holding the views I do, I cannot agree with all your deductions. Personally, I do not think there is any menace, only from the capitalistic viewpoint. It is indeed heartening to note the stand being taken by British and French Labour. There can be no doubt that Labour I a England has effectually prevented England from armed intervention in Poland. It was brutally admitted in the Press recently that the reason Franc© wanted to recognise and assist General Wrange! was because if Bolshevism was triumphant Frenchmen would lose the value of their Russian bonds. I certainly agree with you that the root cause of Bolshevism is dissatisfaction with the conditions of life; and, depend upon it. Sir, Bolshevism is coming this way. You state “that these people having been treated like dogs naturally acted like dogs.” I cannot accept that latter part of your statement in its entirety, a.lthough I am going to say this, that if I had seen my kith and kin brutally treated, and I got tho chance to. pay it back again, I shouldn’t bo too tender with my oppressor. Whether wo like it cr not, we are reaping exactly as we have sown. The cry of “wolf” had so often been raised by the plute Press, when there was no wolf, that the working classes have become rightly sceptical. For many years now Capital has boon international, whether in war time or out of it, and Labour is slowly but surely learning the same lesson. We s:eo right throughout the world an absolute class consciousness on the part of Die master class. A similar class consciousness is stealing over the working classes of tho world. If by some sudden miracle the eyes of the producing class wero opened "to the iniquities of the present system of capitalism, I venture to say unhesitatingly there would be trouble.

fir, 1 used to marvel at the stolidity of the Russian masses. To-day I marvel more at tho stolidity of' my fellow' humans. England alone has this fact to thank that she has been saved from the throes of blocdy revolution. You must admit the whole .system is wrong, and Labour is just beginning to realise that, like Atlas, it carries the wo-rld on its back. This country alone lias an enormous army of non-producers who toil not, neither do (hey spin, and many of these, individuals prate the parrot cry of more production. Let them get off the backs of us toilers, and ron.ue.r some useful service to the community. I notice, 100, it’s always the noor old toilers who arc the sinners. It’s rather a pity we’ve got any education, because you know, sir, it makes us so discontented I only wish everv producer would ask “what for,” and "then we’d get somewhere. Personally, I look to tho wives of the toilers to commence some agitation, and then we’ll move. When our wives ask “why this grind, grind and everlasting grind, when we’re performing our duty 'to the State, then things will move.” I regret to say I don’t think some humans have got into the ape stage yet. I notice many species of the male animal will fight to the end to protect its females, but many human males don’t exhibit the same regard for their females. It is only too trim “that a working man’s the, slave of another slave,” and ns toilers produce little slaves in order to perpetuate tho bad system. New Zealand is becoming typical of Goldsmith’s satire; “111 fares tho land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay.” In conclusion, sir, if you do me tho honour of publishing this letter as it is written, ;I daresay the usual anonymous epithets will be hurled at my head, but let them all come. With Lowell, I say; “He’s true to God, who’s true to man, Wherever wrong is done. To tire humblest and the weakest, ’neath the all beholding sun. That wrong is also done to us. And they are slaves most base, Whose love of right is for themselves, selves, * And not for all their race.” I am, etc., W. J. ROGERS. Wanganui, August 19th.