CLEARING THE GROUND 49
actually took his Socialism from Marx), and
added with the same vigorous emphasis :
" We are a cold-blooded, practical northern
people and in our opinion, if progress is to be
made, it must come as the result of something
more tangible than talking of a bloody re-
volution, in which nobody there believes and
which would do no good there if inaugurated
to-morrow."
This more tangible something had now taken
shape in his mind. It must be a break with the
Liberals, a Workers5 Party, separate and distinct,
with Socialism as its objective. When he put
forward this programme, Hardie was far ahead
of any other Labour champion in that age.
Not one of any note supported it. He was
forced to begin, therefore, by attacking the trade
union officials who sat contentedly in Parliament,
accepting gratefully the small measures passed
from time to time, usually in order to catch
workers' votes, and making no effort to obtain
for the masses more solid benefits. These men
seemed to Keir Hardie to be traitors to the trade
unionists by whom they were paid.
Describing the meeting of an international
conference in London, he contrasted the " fiery
zeal" of the foreign delegates, " which always
characterises earnest men who are fighting for a
principle," with the <c stolid (stupid some called
it), heavy, dullness and slowness to anger" of
DK