Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-09-13
IN AUSTRALIA.

Sunday Meetings of the Socialist League.
surplus Labor Everywhere-SociaIism
the only Solution-"Looking Back
ward" and Moving Forward.
SYDNEY, Aug IA large audience
gathered at the Socialist League lecture
hall, George street, on Sunday evening
to listen to lecture by Mr.. w. Fl.
MNamara, entitled "The Capitalistic
Inferno and the Unemployed Problem.'
Mr.. r. Baynham occupied the chair. In
the course Of his remarks the lecturer
referred to the large amount of distress
prevailing in Sidney and Melbourne, and
to the unemployed agitatons in both of
these cities. The fact that there were
thousands of men willing to work out of
employment in New South Wales and
Victoria showed that no mere fiscal adj
Justment could abolish extreme poverty
or settle the unemployed problem. The
destltutlon in some parts of Sidney was
positively appalling, and hundreds of
men, women and children were starv.
ing. The lecturer spoke at length, and
said it was cheering sign to notice how
well the workers of Australia were
uniting and consolidating their ranks
with the view of bringing about one gi-
gantic federation of labor.
On the previous Sunday the hall was
filled with an appreciative audience
assembled to hear discourse by Mr., A.
&, Gewen, entitled Socialism, the only
solution OF the labor problem" Mr..
Mitchell occupied the chair. The lee.
turer, in the course of his remarks. re.
ferred to Herbert Spencers assertions
that "all Socialism involves slavery. and
that Socialism was the coming slavery"
According to Mr.. Spencer's definition of
slave we could not be going into sla-
very, for we were already in a state of
serfdom. The masses of the people-the
workers-were economically subject ia
those who controlled all the great means
and instruments Of production. Mr..
lewen then proceeded to clearly define
Socialism. 1t was not a chimera, but
vital reform based on equity and JUS
tlce, and possessing clear and definite
aims; nor were they who advocated So
calism to be cassed as dreamers or fad
dists. The solution of the labor problem
was the all absorbing riddle of the age,
and Socialism only could solve it. There
was marked difference between the
old trades unions and the new. The lat
ter was fast becoming socialistic, as
shown by the notices on Queensland
labor paper, whilst the former recop-
nized only the petty difference between
master and man. A Socialist was one
who desired to Immediately and ulti-
mately destroy the social miseries that
now contract mems powers. The lee
turer then referred to an hrtice on So
ciallsm which had appeared in the
HTdid, and watch tried to show that
the tendency of the age was not toward
Socialism, but to collectlvism. Collec.
tivism and Socialism were synonymous
terms. He said that Salisbury and
others who are now trying to pose as
Socialists should be regarded with sus-
piclon. Workers the world over should
unite in their efforts to get the full
fruits of their labor. Men only got now
about one-third of what they earned,
theIr employers pocketlng the rest. Karl
Marx and other economists clearly
proved this. A firm in London employ
ing 5000 pers ms had cleared e15O,O00
profits, which sum really belonged to
those who had created 1.-THE workers.
Mr.. Yewen concluded very DO xerful
address by urging those who had the
welfare of themselves and the commun-
ity at heart to study the literature of
Socialism, and ascertain for themselves
the truth and justice of its doctrines.
The Brisbane Worker in the columns
of which Looking Backward" is being
published has established reading
room at its office, with library COM
posed of economic works, among which
are to be found those of Marx, Gronlund
and other socialist writers. Workingmen
visiting Brisbane can have letters ad-
dressed care of Worker Office, and will
find pen, ink and paper for writing in
the reading room during the day. ANY
extra expenses will be met by voluntary
contributions, frequenters of the room
being expected to drop penny week
into the collection-box when they have
it to spare.