On June 12th, 1904, a few members of the working class, recognising the need for a Socialist party as distinct from those organisations then in existence and claiming to represent Socialism in this country, met together and formed the Socialist Party of Great Britain and gave the grand old men of the pseudo Socialist movement, those who had ‘*borne the heat and burden of the day,” an opportunity of exercising their powers of prophecy. After weighty consideration they decided that the Party would not live six months.
But, like most of their most learned utterances, they were wrong, and now, after eleven years of strenuous exertion, in the midst of the most frightful upheaval that capitalist society has seen, the Party stands forth as the only organization in this country that has consistently placed the Socialist position before the working class.
This is, indeed, an event that calls for some recognition, and were it not for the fact that our opponents—the master class—have smothered our ordinary political meetings, we should endeavour to utilise the date for a number of meetings at which those toilers who are with us in the fight for Socialism could celebrate the event and announce their determination to proceed with the task undertaken in 1904.
Unfortunately this is denied us, but while yet the columns of the “Socialist Standard” are open to us our readers may be assured that the interests of International Socialism and the international working class will be put forward unflinchingly.
In order that the event may not be forgotten, those members who are able to do so will meet together and spend a day in the country on Sunday, June 13th. All who wish to join us should get into touch immediately with the local Secretary or the Committee at 193, Grays Inn Road.
It is in such times as this that we realize more forcibly than ever how wide is the gulf between ourselves and the “orthodox,” and how necessary association is to nerve us for the fight that is before us.
The Committee.