New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-06-09
The social Question in Frnnce.

The following article from the National # Paris
shows how entirely public opinion in France is ia
favor Of Social Reform. In fact nobody there pre-
suTnes to deny it, and the only dispute is as 20
the mode and degree in which such reform shan
be attempted The tales are our own.
There would be mere juggling la the revolution. II
pas % end m a simpe change Of D0coi form. and H.
the executive power being modified cUggthip2 sh0aia
rhadH IN as j0rmer social p0sOH But there would be-
also juggling, IT, by fraud by violence, any one OF
social scots which expose their doctrines before the
country should seize on the Government and cudcayor
10 subject France 10 doctrines which not showing auy
Satisfactory proof of their efficiency have the apqr0
baton Of the people These two cases would lead 60
perturbation and ruin IN the hrst the difficult
Ties which nave produced the ia Of The system of the
middle class would revive and would the tan OF
the republican burgess class a. they caused the tan oil
the mOnarchia burgess class IN the second doctrines
III elaboraed ana M accopted would all 20 pieces
like an edhce without foundation and would leave
society encountered with their wreck We have su %.
Gent Of haidcmOlshed ruins scattered our soil
without embarrassing with the runs Of theories
However. IL would be- crccedHgy unjust not a. rsc0g
aiie The seTU,oe oich he oc,qi al present. renjer
They not only mark out the social object of last
revolution, which d apparent % the eyes OF whatever
person Is not blinded by pTciudcc- but stil more.
they give boldly solution OF the problem and By that
decided course they fOrcbly call discussion on the
capital point OF the situation Without doubt their
luton, at least such is conviction is erroneous
but II they had not given 10 Ia certain form, IL
they had confined themselves 10 merely declaring thar
"a
of expression which has had some credit under tho
deiunct monarchy that something ought 10 Doe done
nothing would be- done The putting forward q sou.
ton, as false you please hes called forth argument
on both sides, reused the most md iereuf minds /
cause.-the gravity and profound nature of the que lions
which were agitaed oil the events which were Ia pre-
paraiOn, of the social mutetons which were being
combined for future less aud less distant. 90 De
measured 10y the eye in comparing the cOcnl sccts
with the political economists, who until the accession
of socialism had the privilege of discussing question:
q Lee hU flI r.l.c
Is between them, and how much 10 o. ia favor of the
socialist The political economists have studied tine
laws which govern society, and after having shown .
more frequently IN than well, what were these laws .
they arrived at this theory that was necessary 10
abandon society 70 iiseli and that man could not do
anything 10 modify In bis favor these social laws ON
the contrary the socialists have maintained thar these
taos are essHdiiy mod Fable b. human intelligence and
iHreHii0a, thus pdcig heWsoirts far real aud
philosophical grOpHd For il true that the social
phenomena, being the most com cN i'm an nature are
those IN which man Is most concerned; but in their
luton, although more inspired by sentiment or by
metaphysical remni-cences than by science and reality
the socialists have not taken into account the funds
mental conditions OF human nature and the condition.
not less impeIOus which regulate civil ociety such as
modern times have made It, 50 there is error on both
sides, but The error OF the political economists Is
Erare oHd more disastrous for dpenscs nations with
thinking of social questions that OF the socialist.
compromises only the consequence. and not merely
leaves the principle intact But sin more makes the
capital importance OF 10 appear torccdy evident %
the public. IL may be said that political eOa0r s M
SOC idttst sgNcm ~ fae Constitutional rfgt4 lu fact
mas perfectly accommodated itself IN ENGLAND and I
France 10 that system. II leaves the middle classes
Tue enjoyment OF the social advantage and iu add.
uon discharge len conscience fdN re]rs by prOvns
10 their great satisfaction that 20 attempt 90 interfere in
the regulation OF the social destnics is a utOpian
scheme, and that they must be allowed 20 go ON o.
they are going Let any one say II that is not the
p,seuce IN hnshsh and II the sleep OF the governing
classes Is there IN the least troubled by the misery OF
Ireland and the lower population Let any one saw IL
our middle classes, urder the restoration and I'M uo
OF Jny under the quasi legitimacy, have not allowed
themselves % ia into the same qucsccnt stale and ID
they have employed the respite gwen By the revou.
tons To any grand and generous attempt OF amchorn.
tons No. all rcmsned satisfied and tranqu until the
Thunderstorm OF Feb. p, which ed every one
and began 20 restore aud things 20 their places
Thus socialism has gained all the ground which political
economy has lost particularly because IL has pcne.
trated INTO the minds OF many mca among the work.
ing classes and has not remained Ike It's rival in the
narrow and inactive circle of oticrod men IL has
therefore heneeforward obtained solid basis since IL
has popular one Tao fetare certainly be'oags o. e.
bur ON condition that shah abandon the errors which
dishgure L. Its progress at least as we think viii De-
rapid when shall understand that II il be true thar
with civilization the social sentiment becomes de. [
Veoped 1t Il also true that the individual sentiment In
srcSscs IN strength and that never the individual
~ history proves free 40 present as also never
was fraternity between men extended when 20 shan
understand that IL Is impossible change human ma
are and that the social secret consists n creating
new conditions (Which is imprsctcahe) bgt in pro
longing and sysiematxing the conditions which have
been created by the natural influence of the social
sa,ea when in short II shall understand that the
form "hieh " purs0es Is much less the affair of DO
hticei regulation which win always fail than the AFFAIR
OF education and usages which wiz settle without cor
rs lar as that may be possible 20 humanl;v The social
questions actually pending. On the whole the social
principle Is excellent te rsritlbs pr3l5a -
direct Consequence ~ great rcroin5us and II l. m
that account that il has adhcrcnts among The ~
lng population
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