‘Significant impact’ of Burns is now felt all around world

HIS January 25 is the 200th

birthday of Scotland’s Bard, immortal Robbie Burns.

Few lands or peoples there will be who will not, in one form or another, pay tribute to the genius of a ploughman poet; One who wrote their joys and sorrows, their hardships and struggles, their dreams and hopes, and their final tri- umph of universal brother- hood, socialism and peace, with the golden words of im- perishable poetry and song.

One year ago at its annual Burns banquet, the Burns Lae bor Association of Vancouver forwarded “a sma’ request” to Prime Minister John Diefen- baker. In a letter dated Jan- uary 25, 1958 the association suggested to the prime mini- ster that it would be a fine tribute to the Bicentenary of

. Robert Burns were the govern.

ment to strike off a five-cent postal stamp marking that his- toric event.

The replies received ran true to Tory form. Diefenbaker “noted your most interesting suggestion,” period.

Postmaster-General William Hamilton (no relation of the Bard’s friend and champion, Gavin Hamilton, owner of Mossgiel farm) replied that with so many Canadian states- men, celebrities and what not presented as candidates for the honor of being engraved on Canadian postage, he must tender his “regrets that I am obliged to give an unfavor-

-able reply to your request.”

To soften the blow he added that he had “much respect for the significant impact of

, Robert Burns.”

Over in Tory-ridden Britain, Prime Minister Harold Mac-

YOUR LAST CHANCE

for tickets to the

BURNS

200th Anniversary Banquet and Concert

January 24 — 7 p.m.

Lions Gate Hall 2611 West 4th Avenue

Tickets, $1.50 each, at © People’s Co-op Book- © People’s Co-op Book- store, 307 W. Pender ® Pacific Tribune Rm. 6, 426 Main St. 1 @ Marine Workers 339 West Pender

millan sent similar formal “re. grets” in refusing a like re- quest by the Burns Federation of Scotland.

On rare occasions and quite accidentally, the political spokesmen for the class Burns hated and despised with every fibre of his poverty-starved body, as he heaped scorn upon their bigotry and sham with the searing words of his genius, come close to stating a fundamental truth.

“The significant impact of Robert Burns”. . . Yes, Mr. Postmaster-General, that “im- pact” goes far beyond the dis- torted caricature of “culture” extracted from the works of Robbie Burns to soothe ailing bourgeois stomachs. Nor has the force of this “impact” less- ened down through the years by repeated efforts of Tory “gentry” to keep much of Burns’ works out of print — away from the common peo- ple to whom his short 37 years of poverty-stricken life was dedicated.

On this 200th anniversary of Scotland’s (and the world’s) immortal poet, his “impact” finds its true expression in the rise of a new socialist world; in the far-flung colonial strug- gles for freedom, independ- ence, racial equality and hu- man dignity. It shouts from millions of throats across con- tinents and seas, the triumph of a universal determination for peace; to dedicate the toil of man’s hand and brain to human happiness and life, in- stead of “brinkmanship,” para- sitical exploitation and nu- clear death._

It is most readily seen in the mighty victory of social- ism in the Soviet Union; in the first man-made planet orbiting the sun. Challenging, inspiring, reassuring that Burns’ Tree of Liberty has taken deep roots in the hearts and hands of his fellowmen. And new forests in the mak-

ing: “Wi’ plenty o’ sic trees, I trow, The warld wad live in peace, man; The sword wad help to mak’ a plough, The din 0’ war wad cease, man. Like brethern in a common cause, We’d on each other smile, man; And equal rights and equal laws, Wad gladden every Isle, man.”

While our bourgeois apolog- ists for reaction mumble their “regrets” (in polite language, of course) anent the 200th birthday of Scotland’s plough- man Bard, and while they la-

bor early and late to prop up an expiring social order and, seek to retard the onward march of progress by every known trick and conspiracy, the “impact” of Robbie Burns breaks through their schem- ing like a soaring sputnik. His vision of a time when

“Man to man, th’ world ower,

wad Brothers be an a’ That” is rapidly approaching full real- ity. :

The witch-hunters of Burns’ day tried desperately to brow- beat and starve him into sil- ence. Today, millions of toil- ing people, inspired by his genius and his devotion to

human wellbeing, shout back.

his challenge with an “impact” of the strength of centuries behind it,— “Today ’t is theirs — to- morrow, we Shall don the Cap of Liber-

tie.” TOM McEWEN

‘Is there, for “honest poverty’ ~

This is the music Earl Robinson, outstanding American — folk music composer, wrote for Robert Burns’ famous poem, A Man’s a Man for A’ That. The music was first published

in 1953. . :

OPEN FORUM

No doubt about future

GEORGE HARDY, London, England: In 1959 I enter my 75th year, so on celebrating our successes in 1958 I cannot do better than send a message to all who produce, distribute and read the Pacific Tribune, taken from Shakespeare: “I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remem- bering my good friends.”

How great it is to witness the magnificent advance, and still be able to contribute one’s bit towards knocking the props from the shaky capital- ist edifice. (I must be off as soon as I finish this letter to sell tickets for a pensioners’ rally). ;

Think of the glorious pres- ent in relation to the situation a score of years ago, when the anti - Comintern axis “threat. ened destruction” of the only socialist state, backed by every imperialist institution and re- actionary government. The marauding Japanese trundling across China, bringing death and destruction to an almost defenseless population. But there were those who refused to sit back and accept defeat.

Today, fifteen hundred mil- lion people have broken away from imperialist oppression. Two-thirds of them have en- tered the socialist camp, under Communist party leadership. The rest of them are either living within independent states, or, like so many Afri- can, Asian and Arab peoples, are notifying the imperialists

to get out of their rich and fertile lands, or be thrown OUtS sc.

Canada cannot.but benefit

ultimately from these great

and astounding advances to- wards national independence and socialism, These leaps forward towards the main- tenance of peace and_ soc- jialist construction (as we see

so plainly in China) should -

sweep aside all doubts as to the rapid advance towards a socialist world in 1959. Doubt- ers have not a leg to’ stand on. The logic of events is plain for all to see who are not politically and totally blind.

It is in this light the lumber- jacks, transport workers, long- shoremen, unemployed, young and old must evaluate your paper, the Pacific Tribune.

Prize for hit-tune?

P. Solovyov-Sedoy, V, the Soviet com- poser, who wrote the hit. tune Moscow Evenings— it was the sensation of. the World Youth Festi- ~ » val—has been included in a list of some“ 100 names put forward as candidates for this year’s Lenin prizes.

Thousands or possibly even millions of records of the slow, catchy tune have been pressed, and it has been played on countless Moscow Radio broadcasts,

January 16,

‘ It is my Christmas gift (a

1959 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 4

You are to be congratulateq for the magnificent role it plays in the front line of strug. gle for a better life, for pea and socialism in B.C. The fu- ture of Canada, like in Britain, belongs to the people. |

My very best. wishes for 1959 to you, Tom McEwen, and to your staff. Continue to nail all the lies they tell about China (and particularly about the communes and Mao Tse- tung), and the distortions about the Soviet Union’s peace- ful proposals. In the long ru the people will decide for or against peaceful co-existence in 1959. How glorious it is te live and enjoy the feeling one gets from marching millions towards freedom, independence and socialism.

Best investment

MRS. A. L. HONEY, Salmon Arm, B.C.: Enclosed find a donation of $2 for the paper.

little late, of course) to an old friend, Frank Coleman. Sup- port for “his paper” pleases him more than anything else. And I feel that any money I can invest in the PT gives the greatest return — not only benefits me but everybody in the province. Invest is hardly the word to use — “spend” is more in keeping with the small amount I can spare.

Many good wishes for the success of the Pacific Tribune in the coming year, also for the health and welfare of all who are responsible for its successful future.