DOUGLAS—AND AFTER.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19202, 12 March 1934, Page 9

DOUGLAS —AND AFTER.

(To the Editor). Sir, —When people have made up their minds to vindictively oppose a much-needed reform because that reform is unorthodox and condemned by established conservative opinion the full extent of their fury and rage is usually in direct ratio to the successes and gains of the reformers. This philosophic truth is exemplified by ; tiic spate of calumny, misrepresents- | tion and abuse which has followed the j triumphal visit of Major Douglas. It | has been so through history. Colum- j bus, Galileo, Newton, Harvey, Pasteur, Wilberforce, I.ord Shaftesbury, Henry Ford —all the great leaders in new , thought and new ideas were subjected to ridicule and ignominy by ttie orthodox and conservative practice of their day. But truth and progress have | ever thrived on adversity. Though j to-day it. looks big and impressive, the fantastic defence of modern banking i I obey issued by the Associated Banks j will, in the saner world of the future, be likened by historians to Ganule defying the tide, the onrushing tide of enlightened humanity clamouring for justice and freedom from financial oppression. “C.ontlscalion.” “wilful seizure of reserves,’’ shouts Sound Finance. “Financial control of the people, by the people, for the people,” reply the masses, masses who, before the Douglas do-bunking campaign, were ignorant and inarticulate so far as money was concerned. As Douglas is being traduced and bitterly opposed to-day by the monopolists and their pawns, so have the abolition of slavery, the prevention of child labour : in factories, universal suffrage, iron ships, aviation, vaccina I ion. electricity, and ail the great reforms and blessings of civilisation. II is expected 11 1 ; 1 1 last desperate •attempts will he made by Sound linance In preserve, the remnants of an anli(|iialed and out • worn economic system. Untorlunatelv for I hem) bill mercifully (for civilisation) they are 100 lal e. lor the edifice of private monopoly, coupled with political wire-pulling is crumbling beneath Iheir feel. Thousands previously ready In regard these Iluancial institutions as sacred, inviolable and “tabu” now Know them tor what they are. The tight is on. I.el us have courage and light cleanly, despite an enemy with a somewhat murky history. 1 am. etc., I’I.ATO. | Hamilton. March 9, 1911*.