Arthur Desmond: A Radical Demagogue

ARTHUR DESMOND A RADICAL DEMAGOGUE

Arthur Desmond (1859-1929), a young local Napier, a common worker, a cattle-drover, came from nowhere as ‘a representative of the small settler and the working man’ when he stood for parliament in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand in 1884. Mr. Desmond caused quite a big stir in the political establishment as an unknown candidate with his strong and radical views. He lost to Captain Russel, and came last at a third place with 190 votes against Capt.Russel’s 564, and Mr. Sutton’s 381.

This compilation will not try to say or explain anything other than what has already been reported by the press between 1884-1885. What it will do is give you Arthur Desmond’s first ever speeches, commentary, correspondence, and articles filled with critique and praise. Poetry, and Politics-Love, and War, well, maybe not soo much love.

Later, we have learned that Arthur Desmond lived a life under many different names, one of the most notorius was Ragnar Redbeard, under which he wrote the infamous, and supressed book Might is Right, published in 1896. Another, and much less widely known nom de plume he used for a brief period was Keo Kaha, a Maori signature which means Strong Point.

Enjoy this little scrapbook, a time-piece of the political radical Arthur Desmond. From cattle-drover to Radical Demagogue.

A compilation of articles related to Arthur Desmond’s first political steps in the 1884 Hawke’s Bay election, New Zealand. By Robert Carmonius.

Published by © 2021 Ragnar Redbeard, Archive & Publisher.

@realragnarredbeard