The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-07

Eranrs -SoeiaIism

in France be declared impracucable it is socialism that
will make it so, and when say that socialism makes
any other government, durable institution npossi.
Bile, you start at this apparent contradiction and require
explanation You ask, what is this socialism which
controls the destiny OF France and you even doubt il
can be Happily. institutions and the almost H.
mi,able undeveloped OF our country pre-
cludc the necessity OF making ourselves acquainted
with the subject for The purpose OF applying il here.
Not SO in France, nor in any of the dense pop
ulaed countries of the Old World There real, or
an apparent. necessity would to demand that
something should be done TO amelorale the social
condition OF the suffering and toling millions What
that something is and how it is 10 be done-the most
difficult OF all quesons-is the source OF socialism,
with all Its muliifaTious sects and theories But,
though we need not study the matter for any practical
purpose among ourselves, except the few enthusiast
communities who go into the wilderness to illustrate and
enjoy their schemes, We must feel deeply interested in the
great questions which upheayng society in the
populated and highly civilized nations of the world
Our sympathies. relationship intercourse,
love OF knowledge and above ALL the uncertainty of the
presen, and future late OF hundred millions of human
beings, comprising the nobest and greatest nations
OF mankind which, have no hesitation in saying hangs
upon the solution OF this queslionall induce the
ious inquiry, What is socialism l will endeavor to
show what il Isl and do the readily because the
term is hackneyed abou, by newspaper correspondents
and writers who do no, understand il. and who mslead
their readers
have in my former letters adverted to socialism, for
il has been such important element in all the great
movements of modern times that 10 disregard il would
ovnce great ignorance of the causes OF events History
details events they succeed each other but the phi
osophy Of history searches for motives aud The operation
of ideas in causation. 1t remains TO investigate and
define socialism.
Socialism is fraternity Liberty and equality are the
foundation OF democratic republic; but liberty, equality
and fraternity the republic democratic and social and
though at present it exist blu. name the idea had power
enough the public mind at the Inauguration OF the
new government in France to become the motto OF The
evoluton-t stamped itself the national flag, it scaled
the government buildings, and il headed the proclamation
of the republic to the nations OF the world II is the of
spring of philosophy and humanity, and necessity has
matured it. 1t is old the world and philoso-
piers of all ages, from Plato to those OF our own
me, have endeavored to apply it TO the actual state
Of society. But it was Christianity that developed
in all its excellence this principle of fraternity or
cialism The Saviour and his imnksiiate successors
the apostles, practsed among themselves and the dis
ciples in its fullest extent. The first Christian church
carried it to communism; for every one sold his
possessions, and laid the price at the apostles feet and
said he no longer had any individual property. They
had all things in common" And are informed that
man, for abusing this divine principle by sefshness
and deception. struck dead. The language OF the
Gospel, and the writings OF the apostles, breathe il in
every sentence. "Whoso hath this worlds goods, and
seeh his brother have need and shutteh up his bowels
of compassion from him, how dweeth the love of God
in him " As the church declined from her original pu-
ry the fa,enal feeling decayed has not altogether
been lost in the church and there has been, through all
her history frequent attempts in its pristine
beauty The religious institutions Of the monks and
nuns, and, indeed, many Of the forms OF the Catholic
church. have mboied il. But what shall say OF
modern fashionable Christianity Where is the fra,er
nityi know that. by sort of pious sophsm they talk
now a-days of spiritual aaecon-a in the inner
aud God knows there is in the outer man The
Christian brother of such may die OF starvation, and,
in the agony OF his hunger, send his soul 10 hell By
cursing his hearless fsowcreaures, and by accusing
his Make for placing him in beautiful world OF abund-
ance within his sight and reach bat out OF his power 10
taste "Ah it is this world he should about il
is in the other where he should look for happiness :"
But the poor man loses the other by the aggavaons and
demoralizng misery Of this Yes practical fraternity is
beyond the skieswhere II is no, needed-where there
is no sehshness to destroy but here, in this selfish,
hard hearted world, which requires not only the moral
but the divine agency OF such principle, know it
only in theory. And, oh shame 10 the Christian world
that they have suffered deiss and athess-the enemies
of God-to bear his ark They had practically aband.
oned the nobest principle OF the religion OF Christ, and
He removed their candleslick out OF its place God suf
fered it to shine in the temple OF reason for the world
could not be without light The Rousseaus, the Con-
docets, the Holbachs-ay, even the kobesperres and
the Heberts-these unsanctihed and some monstrous.
priests OF the goddess OF Reason stole the light from
Zion while her watchmen slept God makes the wick
edness OF men serve his glorious purposes.
Not only religion. but philosophy, (snd, indeed, what
is Christianity but the purest and highes. philosophy
enoins this principle OF fraternity socialism Do you
not read in historydo you not in the great world,
and in the world around youeven in your own families
between brothers and sisters, and father and childan
active sehshness which makes the heart calous to
generosity and reason' need not point to the conse-
ages or the terrible which have destroyed hundreds
of millions, and ingued the creates, nations, or the
fearful amount OF human labor and life j, took TO raise
the mighty pyramids but will come 10 present times
and every day life Look al reland-a country which
Nature has lavishedher bounes rich and prolific soil,
temperate and humid atmosphere, giving TO the people
health, and to the earth verdure fresh and vgor-
ous than can be found in any other part OF the world
coast ndented everywhere with convenient bays and
pacous harbors for fishing and navigation, and geo.
graphical position unsurpassed for everything
combining to make the Emerald Ise beautiful, useful
and desirable and yet, what is the fate of Ireland What
have class interests and class egsaton done for her
The farmer tolls from early morning till late ngh,-he
and his family the year round-to raise the beautiful grain
and TO rear the cattle and pigs but not for himself he
and his children may not touch such Injuries the pro-
duct OF his native SOIL and Of the sweat OF his brow
demands his enormous rent while the poor culivaor him
self and his infants scken and die diseased potatoes
Or will you look at the squalid misery in the pur.
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