The Labor enquirer., 1886-07-31

it must be before long.
To some Socialists this NAV seem an
uninteresting question, since it concerns
only political change which may have
very little effect on the Social Revolu-
ton which the capitalist class are bring
ing on society. But it is really of great
interest to the Socialist movement for
many reasons. In the first place the
Irish home rule movement is step to-
wards that decentralization which will
make the advent of Socialism much
easier than what it would be if the
present political system was maintained.
In the next the political change IS nee
essary because of the class struggle-be-
tween landlord and peasant-which has
been going on for ages. Irish landlord
ism is doomed and home rule chiefly
means the arrangements for its burial.
Then again Ireland can have no real So
cialistic movement until there is greater
prosperity in its industries. At present
the landed interest is supreme. When
the land question is settled the stite or
the middle class will be in the ascend
ant, and movement against them will
soon begin. Then will come the time
for the Socialist movement to take hold
on the Irish people. Whenever their
national aspirations are satisfied the as
piration for Internationalism will take
root.
Another reason why we wish. the
home rule question settled is that at
present it keeps every other question in
the background. The people now can
discuss nothing else. Of course it is
very awkward for Socialists to find
themselves in agreement with any po-
litlcal party upon any question, but this
must be borne with for time. The
unemployed question loomed large on
the horizon for awhile, but it has been
lost in the home rule tempest. 1t will
come up again. Of course, no matter what
other question is being dealt with, but it
will be the better for US if peoples minds
are drawn towards it gradually.
Trade in England is getting worse.
The board of trade returns for the half
year show steady decline in both i'm
ports and exports. The newspapers are
irving to find some comfort i'll the fg-
ures, but the search is a difficult one
and the result poor indeed.
In former note l mentioned that the
Fabian society was arranging confer
ence of Socialists, radicals and social re-
formers of every kind. The object of
the conference was to 6nd a common
ground for these diverse parties to work
on for-well, it doesn't say what for.
The conference is now over and it
proved very entertaining one. Like
most conferences it talked and laughed
and squabbled ana then melted away;
having done nothing but look fussy and
important Mrs. Besant, now Social
ist, WAS presiding genius. ine radicals
maundered in their usual indefinite
manner about things IN general. Mr..
Bradlaugh made much ado about petty
stale scheme for forced cultivation of the
ground He got p or reception and, as
usual, turned his audience against him.
The best effect was made by our com.
rade William Morris, who strongly de-
nounced the palliative measures which
some Socialists Tor rather, Social DJmo-
crats) wish to carry by parliamentary
means Morris paper (on wings, Dem-
ocrats and Socialists') was thoroughly
Revolutionary in tone and was received
with general assent; large part of the
conference being yerv enthusiastic over
it. 1t is published in the Commonweal
and will, no doubt, be brought before
the readers of THE ENQUIRER.
The Socialist League held it's second
annual conference some weeks ago.
The years work reported was fairly sat
isfactory. The number of branches have
greatly increased and the propaganda
developed in proportion. A much
larger number of country delegates at
tended than b ad been present at the
first conference, and they brought an
encouraging report of the progress OF
Socialist ideas in the provinces The
conference was harmonious and as busi-
ness-like as most conferences. We had
the inevitable dispute on rule5; which,
however, was amicably settled. CJnfer-
encee generally are frauds aud never do
much good. This conference did great
deal of good in bringing together the
workers in the cause who see each other
only too seldom. The business done Is
not worth going over; but it is we'll worth
reporting that general spirit of hope
fitness prevailed and it was evident that
those who are actively pushing on the
movement have plenty of ground for en-
couragement In the future and reason
able measure Of satisfaction for the past
In concluding this letter an sure
may (unoHcialy) send greetings from
many SPECIALISTS here to our comrades in
America. The Chicago affair made a
great stir here. The first accounts in
the press were of the lying description
to which We are accustomed. But in
spite of these accounts found general
feeling of sympathy among the work
men of the TOWN. then lived in Leeds