Dawn Fraser: Echoes From Labor's War

Away, False Teachings of My Youth

At the McLachlan trial in Halifax, the crown prosecutor said that it did not matter whether the statements published by the accused were true or not, that sometimes it was against the law to tell the truth. Right there perished all hope of justice. How are we to know which truths are against the law? A conscientious witness might well hesitate to tell the truth. Some truths are against the law. What truths? With truth goes justice, and the hope of justice. The oath is: "Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and no-thing but the truth?" How can one tell the whole truth when some truths are against the law? Search me!

"Speak the truth and speak it ever; cost it what it will."
—Extract from elementary schoolbook.

Away, false teachings of my youth,
It's now a crime to speak the truth;
This man of law has so decreed
That it's a base and foul deed
Well meriting the dungeon cell
For anyone to boldly tell.
Yes it's a crime for me or you
To state a thing we know is true.

Thank God, I'm getting old and grey,
I'd hoped to never see the day
This tortured world would recognize
This modern champion of lies.
What would our poor old mothers say?
Which one of us forgets the day
She urged upon our tender youth
To love, uphold and speak the truth?

The quality of guilt depends
Now, truth about the rich man's friends,
Or any of the tribe that rules,
Or even truth about their tools—
A bold exposure of their acts,
A fearless statement of the facts,
May summon up a gallows grim
Or hang the prison chains on him.

So, let us warn the nation's youth
That it's a crime to speak the truth;
They made the law to fit the case,
To lead McLachlan to disgrace.
So crucify him on a cross
Because he dared to sass the Boss,
Because he had the guts to tell
The company to go to hell.

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