JNF-The-Working-Class-Struggle-of-Half-a-Century

Whenever one talks of being a SOCIALIST, some people looked
on with curiosity, others with dread, others with fear. And again other
parties confuse the Socialist with the Communist. Now here is the difference.
The Socialist seeks to hold and administer the Government of
his country, constitutionally, and according to the law of the land. The
Communist seeks to hold and control the Government of his country
regardless of to law of the land.
The method of the Socialists is evolution by constitutional
methods: the methods of the Communist are revolution and force. The
fundamentals, therefore, are as far apart as two poles.
Strong Union
The only thing that can help you here is a strong, well-managed Labour
Union. Some of us are unwilling to join a union, for we say to ourselves,
‘I don’t want to associate with the barefooted man.’ Well, the
sooner we realise that we all are workers, whether with our brain, the
better it will be for these Islands.
This doctrine of Organised Labour that I am preaching is not
of my own making; it has been taught me by the British Labour Party.
Mr. MacDonald (British Prime Minister) told me: ‘Organise all the
barefooted men in your Island, but teach them to work constitutionally,
by teaching them that violence never did help anybody, never did convince
anybody, and generally recoils on its own head.’
Now most of these Islands are sugar growing countries. This is
one. But as it stands, you are the biggest partner and drawing the
smallest benefits. As a people, you have little influence; wealth you
have less; but you have what no one can take from you - weight of numbers,
and therefore I want you to organise and co-operate under your
leaders, and form a Labour Union in this Island.”
Before I close let me leave you three words that I left the people
of Dominica:- “AGITATE, EDUCATE, CONFEDERATE.” You have a
perfect right to agitate constitutionally; to educate is another privilege
which is yours; and I want you to get down to the issue and use every
effort at your command to see that your children get the best education
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