New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-05-20
France and Socialism.

France and S0cIaiism'
very brief explanation, we think, VIII serve 10
di.pel some Of the illusions and Commissions winch
certain journals in this country-some Oh them
through ignorance, but moro through calculating
kuavery-are sedulously difusing and maintainine
with regard TO Socialism in France and the SOCIAL
aspect Of the late Revolution. We shall attempt
it:
The late Revolution in France was the work
almost exclusively OF the Laboring class especial!
40 caled-the Workmen for Hire in Paris and it,
vicinity at the several trades and vacations where
in strength and skill are requisite. These are
probably 100000 in number, receiving oitener uI
der than over rs cents day. while living in city
where Rent, Food, Fuel--in short, most of the
necessares Of lfe--are dearer than in New-York.
This class in Paris as almost everywhere has I'M
dergone much privation and suffering, and had
found a steady determined, unsparins adversary
in Louis Philippe who, in his assiduous efforts to
conciliate the Bo,pge0ise or Middle cass-tthat is
the Traders, Master Mechanics, &c.l-has sided
against the Laborers in every struggle made by
them 10 improve their condition. For this they
hated him most cordially, and seized the first fan
SO much the man, nor even the monarch as the
enemy of their class, and they poured out their
blood less for the Republic as an abstraction than
for moderation Of their own condition What
they sought in the Republic is not a Federal
League of Provinces, nor a nice balance OF Legis-
lative, Judicial and Executive Powers, nor re-
duciion OF the National Expenditures, either or all
OF these as final results, but more constant Employ
ment, greater Independence. more Bread, better
Clothes, and a reasonable chance to live comfort
ably when unable longer to work, without beggary
or dependence Such, in general terms, was the
idea and the demand of the Laborers of PARIS
such is now the idea, to great extent, of the La
borers OF France Such, roughly expressed is
French Democracy. French Socialism. We know
no influential party, no considerable number in
France who oppose it. Lamartine and Dupont de
rEure assent to it as heartily as Ledru Rollin and
Louis Blanc.
But the moment we pass from the generic idea
to considerations of practice and detail the widest
divcrsites are manifested. AT the one extreme
is the absolute Communism Of CADET, BlRnqui, &c.
at the other is the Assocatonism (nicknamed
Fouriersm from its earliest advocate) of Consid-
rant and Briancourt Between these, but quite
distinct from either, is the Organization OF Labor
scarcely perfected and dimly Swallowed forth
Louis Blanc, Albert X Co. who propose that the
Nation shall provide vast workshops, purchase
materials, prosecute various branches Of mauuiac-
ture, and furnish employment 10 all who require it,
In accordance with this idea, the Government
now provides employment at low rate for al
who apply Tor it. This is a noble idea; its fruit.
are seen in sensible dminution Of crime in Pari,
since the Revolution; but il is neither Fourierism
nor Communism nor does any section of the Pro-
visional Government profess to be either Fourier
list on the one hand or Communist on the other
We hold, indeed, that Louis Blanc and his Lux
emoarsh Committee have adopted one Of the ra
cal errors oil Communism in deciding that all Lo-
TOR shall be paid alike regardless of the relativ,
skill aud efficiency of The laborers respectively
and that this error VIII prevent the prosperous az
profitable working OF the system which embrace,
il; but Louis Blanc is no Communist. thonub he
has admitted one Communist principle. Still far.
Their is he from being Foarierist Though he hol1
some views in common with Foarierists-thst
providing labor for all who seek il among theml IN,
same ~cetoo va loNtiiS ttiuatN
in direct and deadly hostility to the related inculca
tions OF Fourierism, which dictates the diviso
OF products or their proceeds among all who hav,
contributed TO produce them in proportion to IN,
actual value Of their contribution, whether Of La
Dor. Talent or Capital. Association is not oul
the natural but the strongest antagonist Of IN.
Wild Communism Of CADET, who would place IN,
industrious and the idle. the awkward and IN,
skillul on one common level. And the Fourie
lists, so far from sympathizing with Ledra Roll.
in ais Jacobnic Terrorism. with CADET in hi
Conn anism, or with Louis Blanc in his mistak .,
reduction OF all wages 10 a uniform level. hav,
uniformly and iorcihly resisted all these variou
errors. All the questions which the government, tn
Press, and the Clubs are beginning to discuss $
earnestly but often 50 specifically, they have tho
roughly investigated aud considered years az,
and they are not now likely TO be blown about b
every wind OF doctrine for they PROFOUND IA
crude, disjonted speculstions, but rest in pre-
found and comprehensive system, based on virgo
rous and penetrating analysis of Nature and IN
laws therein exhibited. They may be tempoTari
ly conioanded with Jacobns. Terrorists or commu
nists but they very far from any or all Of these
and the calumnies which now asssil them viii We
return to plague the inventors