New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-20
which is Democracy ?

60eo - MT because it bears that name,
~ S.4 becense it falfllS all the demands which
1 w. rsasop can make on the Republican
aystem-that is to say, it promise: the
fee gelfgovernmens OF Man, the free, I'M
limited development Of all bis capacities,
and the destruction all authority, whether
the Same be called Representation, strong
Government, or Capita" & strong Gov
ernment is what the Abe'pd-Zsitung most
fears in the sphere Of politics, as leading to
corruption and SO absorbing and destroying
the popular sovereignty. Having defined
his own position, the writer goes on to put
the following problem to The Tribune:
You belong to the Wing, and at the
slme time are Socialist. To us and to inaa
Vulnerable natives this appears to be con-
tradiction. How do you explain it? How
reconcile theae sharp antagonisms in one
and the same person? II we would have
your sound and excellent ideas with regard
to European matters applied to America
Also you will perhaps answer: Yes, Far
mer, but that is quite another thing but
nevertheless we are unable to comprehend
how your Political can be combined with
your Social theory. For we hold the prln-
ciples Of Democracy, which are the same IN
Europe and America, to be the indispensa-
bic conditions of Socialism, and it is hard
for us to understand that logic which adopts
a principle without caring for its coase-
ouences. 1t almost seems to us as if you
Thought the time yet distant when the anti
governmental consequences Of your premises
can be set up,-as if you held strong
Government to be recenoilable with civil
freedom-as if you regarded Government
as indispensable to the happiness of man
kind. We cannot understand such COM
bination, therefore have the goodness to en-
tighten us 10 short tell u.s. How you re-
concile the Wing and the Socialist IN one
person ?"
-suchi is the A5end-Zeitun9'S perplexity;
we will endeayor to dissibate it;
We understand by Socialism, in its wide,
general sense, that system or philosophy
which regards the interest and well-being Of
each individual as the legitimate objects of
qeneraz solicitude--which esteem8 it the du-
ty of Society, through its most stable and ef-
fcient agencies, whereof Government is the
chief, to promote and secure the general
welfare to the extent Of its ability. Of
course, our Socialism would naturally lead
us to side with the do-somet6inS rather than
the do-notding party. What THE Zeituag
mistakes for Democracy is the extreme of
Individualism, the direct opposite Of So
cialism.
Let US not be misunderstood. Neither Of
the great parties which divide this country
is in purpose or feeling Socialist. A great
majority Of the members Of each regard So
cieism LAS they understand it) with aver
sion il not adherence. Yet the invincible
tendencies Of an age of Humanity, Intelli-
gence and Progress is toward Socialism, and
is evinced in politics as elsewhere Canals,
Railroads and other Public Works construct
ed by the State are essentially Socialist;
hence the Social Democracy Of France have
strenuously contended for the purchase or
construction of all Railroads by the State
which is precisely opposite to the instinct Of
the Democracy, 50 called, Of this country;
Common Schools are Socialist; so are the
Water-Works of a City like this; 80 would
be a truly National Bank The passage Of
o General Manufacturing Law in this and
other States was great facility to and step
toward Socialism, and it was resisted here
with yehemence and bitterness by what is
termed the Radical Democracy. Corpora
lions, and all facilities to their creation or
action, are regarded with jealousy and aver
sion by our party Democracy, while they
are all manifestations Of Socialism-imp er-
feet and often ons.sided, but nevertheless
steps toward Social reconstruction which
they clearly foreshadow.
The Abend-Zeitumg coolly assumes the
identity of Socialism with the anti-Govcrn
ment hypothesis, than which nothing could
we'll be more contrary to history and rea-
son. Land Limitation, Protection to Home
Industry, Public Provision for the Poor, for
Education, &c. are all ct war with the gen.
JUS of partisan Democracy, however any one
or more of them may be illogically accepted,
under the pressure of circumstances, by in
dividuals attached 70 this Democracy. The
word Republican, literally construed, would
very fairly express the distinctive character
of the Wing party as contrasted with its
great antagonist, But The Eating knows
little of the party except through the inter-
osted columns of its adversaries. Yet if it
rnSarstands by Sonialism the nAnatinn Of