Cook County Liberal Association.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 612, 25 May 1891, Page 3

Cook County Liberal Association.

Owing to pressure on our space on Saturday morning, we were unable to do more than make a passing reference to the subject of Mr Birrell’s address. Mr Birrell appears to have made a study of Socialism in all its phases, and on Friday night he gave a lucid explanation of its objects, and discussed its practicability- He began by referring to the tendency there was on the part of some people to confound Communism with Socialism. They were distinctly distinguishable, for on the one hand Communism recognised no private property, but had all things in common. Socialism recognised private property, but at the same time required the nationalization of land and capital. Jesus Christ was a Communist when he divided everything with the disciples; Paul was a Socialist when he said that those who did not work, should not eat. Communism was founded on love, Socialism • on justice. The two great features of Stat e Socialism were the nationalization of land and capital. There are also other features, but these form the principal. There were thus two sides to Socialism, the natural and the artificial. With regard to the natural, he would say little, beyond that the nationalization of land was founded upon eternal justice. The soil was the birthright of the people, and to the people it should belong. Turning to Capital, this was the artificial, be- ause it was the result of man’s labor. Capital could be defined by considering Adam Smith’s answer to the question “What is the wage of labor?” That it was the full recompense of produce of labor. But each worker might produce more than he could consume, and thence arose a surplus, and this surplus recompense of labor was capital. Attempts had been made by various persons to reconcile Labor and Capital, but such attempts though well meant were utterly futile. A reconciliation between Capital and Labor was imprisible, because to recognise Capital was to recognise theft, for the Capital belonged to the workers. State Socialism was the hope of the future. There were numerous pother schemes suggested, such as emigration and the like, to relieve the pressure. But while there were those who never worked at all, such remedies would only he temporary. The fewer the workers, the harder must be the work. It was suggested that under a new state of things there would still be indolent people, but if those who were too lazy to work when they could get it, liked to commit suicide by starving themselves, he Could only say the world would be well rid of them.' Socialism was only the evolution of civilization, and however far iff it might appear there would be sooner or later a nationalization of industries which would give to the worker a fair return for bis labor. Socialism would not burst upon the world suddenly, There would be no upheaval of society as many seemed to assume, It would progress quietly but none the less surely, like many of the reforms which a few years ago were deemed impracticable. The speaker remembered when it was considered a disgraceful thing to be a Radical, but a change had come about. And so with Socialism, one member after another would be returned to Parliament, while those outside would increase and in course of time people will Wonder wby it was ever opposed. There were already Socialistic forces at work. The 1 first, and most important of these was the Co-operative movement. This was at one 1 time jeered at, but now, in its distribution ' branch, had proved its practicability. The 1 productive branch had not yet had a sufficient trial. Then there were the Trades ' Unions, which necessity called into ex- 1 istence. These were doing a great work, and were a step towards Socialism. From 1 them spring what is visible to the world ' to-day—the world wide federation of labor.

Beferring to the recent Hew Zealand strike, when trade and commerce were disorganised,

fie bad often heard sympathy expressed with the men, but generally with the reservation that they had gone too far. He did not think they had done so, and while they bad right on their side, they could not go too far. Any evil results were owing to the present state of society, which Socialism hoped to reform. The speaker drew an exceedingly pleasant and interesting picture of life under the Socialistic regime, illus trating his ideas by a reference to the British Post Office, which he considered a Socialistic ideal. The speaker delivered an eloquent peroration, concluding with a quotation from the poet Burns, which was given with telling effect. The above is but a brief sketch of Mr Birrell’s address, and we would urge everyone who takes an interest in these ques-tijjf s to attend the Association’s meetings. This does not necessarily demand that a listener shall become a member, but when the aim of the Association is understood, we are sure only very bigoted persons will abstain from joining. At present there are over 10 members, increasing every meeting night, and already the first meeting place has become too small. Whinray’s Hall has been secured, and the meetings will be held there on Wedn sday evening at 730. The Executive court opposition views to those expressed by ■peakers, and Mr Birrell’s ideas will at next meeting be combatted by Mr Stafford, who is Strongly anti-Socialjstia.