by Carolyn Jacob
A rhyming note sent by Keir Hardie to Tom Mackley in reply to some birthday congratulations, 15 August 1912:
Dear Comrade, if you flatter so,
You’ll make an old man vaunty:
I’m six and fifty years, ‘tis true
And much have had to daunt me.
But what of that? My life’s been blest,
With health and faith abiding;
I’ve never sought the rich man’s smile,
I’ve never shirked a hiding.
I’ve tried to do my duty to
My conscience and my neighbour,
Regardless of the gain or loss
Involved in the endeavour.
A happy home, a loving wife,
An I.L.P. fu’ healthy;
I wadna’ swap my lot in life
Wi’ any o’ the wealthy
At this time when we are still remembering the centenary of the end of a dreadful and pointless war we should note that the MP for Merthyr Tydfil, Keir Hardie was totally opposed to this conflict. He died in 1915 broken hearted because World War I had destroyed his great dream of brotherhood. His life is proof that faith, courage and belief can ‘move mountains’. Keir Hardie did not select Merthyr Tydfil, he said that ‘A Welsh speaking Welshman’ should fight Merthyr for the ILP. He believed all Celts were socialists by instinct. Merthyr Tydfil chose Keir Hardie. While Hardie fought an unsuccessful campaign to be elected in Preston, local supporters battled for him in Aberdare and Merthyr. It was possible then to stand in more than one constituency. The election results came out on different days, the newspapers announced that Keir Hardie had been defeated yet again and the next day his victory and election in Merthyr Tydfil was reported. He quickly adapted to Wales, learnt to sing the National Anthem in Welsh and campaigned for Welsh Disestablishment.
James Keir Hardie summarised Merthyr’s contribution to political life: ‘In the golden days to come, when poverty has been destroyed and freedom instituted, the Merthyr Boroughs will hold a warm place in the affections of the happy people as having been the pioneer constituency in heading the Revolution which led to setting up a new social order’.In the words of the Aberdare Leader, 30 October 1915, following the death of Keir Hardie.
‘Earth’s truest heroes are the men who stand Alone, undaunted in a righteous cause, Seeking no honours high or station grand, Heedless alike of blaming or applause; Careless of acclamation or reward’.
We should be proud that our MP, virtually alone in the Commons, spoke against World War 1. He stuck to his beliefs although he met a violent reaction. He would never have criticised those who gave their lives for their country but only those you sent them to their deaths. In the words of George Bernard Shaw after his death, his indomitable truth goes marching on
When he first became an M.P. they had no salary and he supported himself through lectures and writings. He believed it his duty to attend every sitting of the Commons and, if he was prevented by illness, he would send an apology to be put in the Merthyr Express for the electors.
‘It is reputed that a roofer shouted at Keir Hardie assuming he had come to work on the roof of the Commons. His reply was that he had only come to work on the Floor’.
James Keir Hardie was the first advocate of Socialism in the House of Commons and the first leader of an independent Labour group in that assembly. He wanted to eradicate poverty from the lives of the people and to make it possible for all men, women and children to have lives of worth and dignity. He campaigned for all to have good houses, good education and a better economic status. He was a lover of peace. and was elected for Merthyr Tydfil at the time of the Boer War, in the “Khaki” Election of 1900. He was as resolute in denouncing the war as he was in advocating Socialism. He was accused of being a Boer spy and of rejoicing at British defeats and other equally stupid things were said against him, but unpopularity did not silence him, nor modify the tone of his writing in the Labour Leader.
‘Keir Hardie is Labour’s greatest pioneer and its greatest hero. He became the first Labour MP, the founder of the ILP, first leader of the Labour party, pioneer editor of the Labour Leader, and a giant in the socialist movement worldwide. Miraculously, he created a new party, as ‘an uprising of the working class’.
Kenneth O Morgan, Keir Hardie, 2008
To be continued……..