Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-26
PRACTICAL SOCIALISM.
raOm THI wv roAK "IxraIss

49, ak3 PRACTICAL SOCIALISM. 1lTofgrl7
ssy, raom THE sEw roRK "ExrREss' rsty
When man sets up for a philosopher" or .
g reformer,' we like TO see him practice what he
breaches for how knavish soever may be the
doctrine, the professor in that case is entitled al
least 70 themerit Of sincerity. We ehaye no respect
Tor your demagogue, who is always calling upon
other people 70 give his isns and his ologies prac
tical disqualification, but who. is always careful
never % leopard his own neck, or his own personal
liberty, by following his own advice. II was Proud
hon, we believe, who first proclaimed to the world
the great truth that all property is robbery !" bu
we were never informed that that gentleman ever
undertook to work practically upon that comforta
bic conviction. Extremely careful himself not ia
descend to the picking and stealing part Of the com
munist creed, whereof he is the great exponent
nevertheless he has many followers in France who
miss no opportunity admirably to act out the prin
cipie An amusing case in point we are cognizan
OF IN one OF our foreign papers, received by the
last steamer. A servant robbed his master of tif
teen hundred frances and deposited in the chest he
took the treasure from letter. which, for its pithy
ana sententlous exposition of the Social" creed
is not often rvaled in the literature Of the blouses
The fellow writes as if he were sincere, and NO
doubt ne is.a However much we may condemn his
Socialism, therefore, as we said before, we enter
tain for him an infinitely higher respect than for
your Louis Blancs and your Cadets, who run off to
England and America whenever a practical enforce
ment Of their doctrines is kelyto invite visit from
the police. Here is the letter that was found in the
chest in lieu of the francs: .s,4s..s4
My Dear Master. Since came into the world rather
since have begun 10 reason, am convinced that all NOT
equal for ALL Men have abused what God has made equal
ios all By what strange coincidence Is il that you have
@ the avors o fortune What nave YOU dom. more hsn
have, and great number Of wreches Of whom am one
Have you larger dose Of intelligence Nos deny il.
For moment the wind Of liberty and Of fraternity had blown
on Frances every thing about become equal for all
but no savages have stopped it's pogesshings are the
same Wretchedness always for the proietaue When
entered your service bowed my head-I was hungry
lowered my dignity as freeman. became your valet |!
But still cherished in my heart the thought Of freeing
self day from that sevitude from that abusive slavery
from that Profting Of man by Shame me, shame to
you'll hope you viii understand the logic Of my reasoning
and that you will agree with in adopting the following
that he who possesses too much is the
debtor Of him who has not enough. Now know that YOU
havesupeduy and therefore profit BY your absence take
the fifteen hundred francs Of your secetaire and 70 take
myself off can establish myself with it. and gain an honest
livelihood in trade, You understand WELL Many peo.
pie may think this is theft but the principles Of reason de-
clare that Il legal do you no injury, you possess too
much Now listen and bear in mind day will come when
the rich shall want the poor That day not far distant
nave nnuence IN certain quareramongst those who will
before long be the conqueos On the day Of settlement they
will be kind 10 their brother. My word with them Is SAFE
guard. But ifyou annoy BY complaints which will be
listened to- because you rich, shall point you ot my
brothers, and sooner laer-vengeance IT, on the con-
ary you consider yourself having only conferred an obi.
CATION on me, will have nothing fear whatever may
happen Health and Fraternity DRL-."
" The fellow states his case like a counsellor, and
we may be permitted to express the hope we de-
youtly indulge. that when " that day, which is not
far distant" comes along, the /" conquerors" will
not neglect to do honor to one who not only for
wards Socialism with his pen, but with his fingers
Meanwhile, however, the gentleman has been ar
rested and capped into prison to await his trial for
theft. portion only Of the stolen francs was found
on his person the rest he had disposed Of, as isl
supposed, in forwarding the happy doctrines Of
which he had shown himself so jealous disciple.
The chances are now that the light6ngered philo-
sopher will be sent to prison, where he will have
excellent opportunities for meditation upon that
I. good time coming" when the world will be
brought to acknowledge Uncomfortable truth !. that
be who possesses too much is the debtor Of him
who has not enough"
II