The Henson Journals

[233]

Friday, September 11th, 1925.

It is not as a rule wise to offer physical violence to 'blacklegs'; but there is nothing wrong about it, except in the eyes of the law and the middle–class. The only argument against it, and also against militancy of other sorts, is that they do not pay.

v. Cole. "The world of Labour". P. 379.

This is a characteristic sentence from Cole's writing, & gives the measure of his competence as a moralist. This moral issue, which is raised by the latest development of "Labour" deserves far more attention than it has hitherto received. Trade union congresses generally include in their programme a sermon, & there is always found some well–known dignitary ready to preach it: but these sermons never touch on the gross conflict between the new morality of the "Class–War", & the Gospel of Christ. There is "sob–stuff" in abundance, but the moral witness is to seek.

Last Wednesday I slipped in the dining room on the floor which the maids had polished not wisely but too well, and I have not been able to do anything since. Meanwhile, the days slip by, & my autumn engagements will find me quite unprepared.

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