Produced by Col Choat
The Workingman's Paradise: An Australian Labour Novelby 'John Miller' (William Lane) (1861-1917)
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IN TWO PARTS.PART I. THE WOMAN TEMPTED HIM.PART II. HE KNEW HIMSELF NAKED.
First published 1892
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PREFACE
The naming and writing of THE WORKINGMAN'S PARADISE were both donehurriedly, although delay has since arisen in its publishing. Thescene is laid in Sydney because it was not thought desirable, forvarious reasons, to aggravate by a local plot, the soreness existingin Queensland.
While characters, incidents and speakings had necessarily to be adaptedto the thread of plot upon which they are strung, and are not put forwardas actual photographs or phonographs, yet many will recognise enough inthis book to understand how, throughout, shreds and patches of realityhave been pieced together. The first part is laid during the summer of1888-89 and covers two days; the second at the commencement of theQueensland bush strike excitement in 1891, covering a somewhat shortertime. The intention of the plot, at first, was to adapt the old legendof Paradise and the fall of man from innocence to the much-prated-of"workingman's paradise"—Australia. Ned was to be Adam, Nellie to be Eve,Geisner to be the eternal Rebel inciting world-wide agitation, the Strattonhome to be presented in contrast with the slum-life as a reason forchallenging the tyranny which makes Australia what it really is; and so on.This plot got very considerably mixed and there was no opportunity toproperly re-arrange it. After reading the MSS. one friend wrote advisingan additional chapter making Ned, immediately upon his being sentenced for"conspiracy" under George IV., 6, hear that Nellie has died of a brokenheart. My wife, on the contrary, wants Ned and Nellie to come to anunderstanding and live happily ever after in the good old-fashioned style.This being left in abeyance, readers can take their choice until the matteris finally settled in another book.
Whatever the failings of this book are it may nevertheless serve thedouble purpose for which t was written: (1) to assist the fund beingraised for Ned's mates now in prison in Queensland and (2) to explainunionism a little to those outside it and Socialism a little to allwho care to read or hear, whether unionists or not. These friends ofours in prison will need all we can do for them when they are released,be that soon or late; and there are too few, even in the ranks ofunionism, who really understand Socialism.
To understand Socialism is to endeavour to lead a better life, to regretthe vileness of our present ways, to seek ill for none, to desire truthand purity and honesty, to despise this selfish civilisation and tocomprehend what living might be. Understanding Socialism will not makepeople at once what men and women should be but it will fill them withhatred for the unfitting surroundings that damn us all and with passionatelove for the ideals that are lifting us upwards and with an earnestendeavour to be themselves somewhat as they feel Humanity is strugglingto be.
All that any religion has been to the highest thoughts of any peopleSocialism is, and more, to those who conceive it aright. Without blindingus to our own weaknesses and wickednesses, without offering to us anysophistry or cajoling us with any fallacy, it enthrones love above theuniverse, gives us Hope for all who are downtrodden and restores to usFaith in the eternal fitness of things. Socialism is indeed areligion—demanding deeds as well as words. Not until professingsocialists understand this will the world at l