New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-02-13
lntrigue- and Disuniou- In France-Land and
Taxation-Letter from Hugh Doherty.

lntrtgues and Dtsuniou- In Francc-Iand and
TaxRtion-Letter from Hugh Doherty.
Paris Correspoudence Of The Tribune.
PASS rhlreisy. Jan - 1854
Political Intrigue sums mp the present state o.
France The Catholics intrigue. the Ltberg' Re
pubhcsns intrigue Legitimists. Oresnists. I'm
perislists intrigue. The Socialists are the excep
tion 70 the rule All parties are against them
They could not Il they were inclined, intrigue. JUS;
nov unless it were in the IRISH fashion OF Paddy who
was too cunning 10 conspire with any one bat him
self
Tne general conspiracy has stwo-od character
Al shades OF Order band themselves together
against Socialism on the one hand, while they an
demine each other in their secret po,tings. Ms
poeon IS working hard 10 win the suffrage Of the
Army Caysiguac and the party Of the NGii0aG.
are pursuing their old msneuvers in the same ii
rectlon The Army seems to be the isvori;e wes
pom oil lmperialists and Rational Republicans
The Priesthood are the strength Of Catholics and
Legitimists Orleanists work chiefly with the
Bankers and material interests of every hue SO
ciaism spreads Of ITSELF without intrigue or help
ike ERE IN q isrmyard All parties Throw wet
blankets on the parts which blaze. bat every now
and then the Games break out with torcs where
soey were not suppressed There is a din OF noisy
ordinations from all quarters on the modes OF
quenching the Conhagraton. Put down Universal
Suffrage, says one party keep out Instruction, say
another bring back the lnquisition, says thirn
and do It openly no, says fourth, not openly d.
the thing. but mask your batteries Don't use tn
words JesuH and Hgpi.Hi0n.' What's in a
name Persecution and oppression would smell
just as sweet under any other name Mean
while subieriuges invented to cripple the right
Of voters who have not strictly attended 70 a dozen
or more useless formalites OF declaration, rem
scnpton. Sc The Jesuit journals openly declare
tina, the Roman Catholic Church will for even
claim the erc'usire right d g0rerRWg amt direct
ing human conscences and human thought -
The Catechlsm, says the leading political les
uit. Montalembert " IS the only real antdotc for
socialism" There - host OF doctrines IN the
field OF controversy, wsging war against each
other In all possible directions The views OF mad
Conservatives are not worth criticising. Those OF
radical Reiormers are not much better in some IN
stances bat they misead the public mind in
France
The most prominent Of these in the general dis
cussions of the press are those OF Proudhon m The
IOi4 da Pcupis those Of Girardiu, Ia the PyeSc
Proudhon seems 70 have adopted those Of Girariin,
but the chief editor OF the P,ese does not explicitly
admit the doctrines Of Proudhon | will, therefore
discuss them separately
Having already touched upon the theories OF
proudhon with regard Ia credit aud exchange.
usury and interest VIII here advert to the views
Of Girardin. on what he terms d" Le Soci0h'me e
FimDot' Socialism aud Taxation
H. commences By distinguishing two sorts Of 20
ciaism-a good and bad sort Of Socialism Ia the
frst he naturally ranges his own views Of reform
anI more especially his theory Of uniform tax Oh
property, with the abolition Of indirect taxation on
income and the produce Of labor ia the second, he
classes pretty nearly all the Social theories when
go beyond h,s own IDEAS Of reform, and more espe
caliy the doctrine OF ndvsibihty and state posses
sion Of the land he IL an sa-'cith monopoly reform
~. and not an ont ,cith -moaopoiy reyolutiouist
Heisa practical man in the old sense Of the
word-not in the new thought OF writing a.
hun on the question, but the fear Of giving umbrage
t. the Government Of France, by meddling viii.
political controversy n the present state Of public
feeling induced me o. be silent | will give you a
sketch OF the main features OF my suppressed let.
ter 10 Girardin'
Your definition OF the word Socialism, cORstd
cred ~ rs god and m rs bad aceePtatloH, involves
an error which may serve 70 perpet1ate bsd feel
ngs n society Such IS not your wish
To enlighten the pubic mind BY discussion is
the principal object and utility OF the Press II
IT, .frr A.ar.f
discussion would be useless. 80 far then, as dis
cassion IS concerned there can be nothing pcto,7.
tue or false-gOod or bad. The duty 0s the Press
y sot % excite angry feelings by Affirming posi-
tiyely TINS or thar 10 be good or bad bat 70 Grgsf
conuuyerted points Of truth and error-goodness or
badness-6tness or anhtness. That whichyou deem
bad Socialism deem good that which you deem
false seems 20 me true.
cannot admit that any theory Of Socialism u
eihsr good OF bad as a subject VI controversy Ihe
only thing which detestsbe IN the theory or prs
tice Is violence and violence Is not ess Odious ~
support Of good than IN the service Of bad
one CsndOr and mildless Indispensable ia
controversy not .ess in the support OF Truth than t
the defense Of error When civil war is loTerDg
over cities and societies. prejudice should be DIS
armed as much as possible, and not excited BY No
rGyy0Hfed cenunciatIOns.
The state possession OF the land appears y you
a dangerous theory, and you denOQnce Il "itbou'
hesitation, as a bad doctYine. fOu 90 Dot COME
scend o. refute t by argument. Had you gwen z
the benefit Of discussion yOu might then pro
nDunce Il good or bad principle according % the
nature Of your arguments ami their conclusions
your readers would have had y0tv reasons for coz
ienning il. Had y0u stated that you deemed SOM
usor1es ii Socialism nOt worth the tune and labo'
Of discussion, there could be little harm IN such
statement, because mental syy0rs are not mora
evils. mourning toe responsibility VI social penceu
sion Ia times Of ciyli and religious liberation.
believe yo1r THEORY Of taxation b. be bad in tbs
doctrinsl sense Of the word that IS - say. unprO
gressiye and erroneous ! vii not denO0nce Il .
the prejadices Of the laDoring people. IL is my
tsty 70 discuss Il, when venture ~ denouncc IL.
believe the doctrine Of the unity and state
possession Of the land, TO BE- a good and pfogres
sive doctrine the best II Dot the only means Of
putting down tie revolution by conciiAfilg property
and labor property in the fruits Of industry mean
not IN the Monopoly Of land aud water, AR sAo
ligs.f, the common elements Of hfe and the insIien
able instruments q universal labor deem J. Ioy
dsty 70 esehew al violence IN the discussion 10
views. and al fansticism in proponndlSg n 49,.
pretend 70 yOnch ior the Infa'1Oa.J "a - -.
IDEAS bat all may vooeh Cor the sineeri'y u ueI
CONVICTIONS with a willingness 10 DC en- n'ehr"'
~ errur That is all witch % required Nf sie al,
vaneernent Of the pubic mind, b. controversy sn''
discussion Ia discussing your plan q YAK On
| capital. DO not oonfrUSerT me PTsAetpS yo1 ~