The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-11
~ ~ NoutA>sx Prss1
ReIlss Of Scraps and unslogs.
No. 0S.
MONOPOLY AND SOCIALISM.

a. MANU- hct"een THESE t"o 6utnko"sesNa' Pit"-
ciples. The tendency Of the social and political
systems in all civilized nations, for centuries
past, has been towards monopoly or concen-
tralion of wealth. and consequently OF pc ser,
in the hands of small minority, TO the almost
entire exclusion of all others. The peo-
pie of France believed that all the evils under
which they suffered We're the direct off pring Of
their political system, and that by changing the
government they would be relieved from them
as a matter Of course. Bat in old nations and
governments, the removal of the original cause
Of the disease seldom, if ever, effects a cure.
The constitution is worn out, and the very
powers of nature have failed. In fact, there is
no foundation for new edifce. These long
and obstinate political evils are like weeds that
have already scattered their seeds everywhere,
and it cut down, or even pulled up by the roots,
it is only to give place to a young and more
vigorous crop.
The French people have in the course oftwo
generations past, tried every species of govern
meni, from despotic anarchy to imperial despot.
ism. Yet, during all these violent changes al
most the only measure which in any considera-
Bile degree effected their social position, was
division of the lands of the church and nobility
among them. They got rid Of none of their
burdens; on the contrary, the necessities, or
extravagance of the government only increased
them, and new debts were contracted calling
for new drafts on the LAHORE of the people. The
old system had entailed on them load which
no new system could remove; and necessity
imposed on every succeeding administration the
alternative of national burdens or national bank
rupcy.
The experience of the French people has
therefore taught them that mere changes in the
names and forms of government produce little
change in their social position, and that whether
under despotic chief, or universal suif,rages,
they still remain in the same position as to
public burlhens or public benefits. They see
that owing to the nature of their present social
organization, which has grown up under sys-
tenn OF government extinct in itself, but not in
its consequences, they are necessarily and inc
vitality doomed to labor for scanty subsistence
from generation to generation; and that, while
every other class of men but the Iaborers may
put what value on their commodities they please,
they alone are compelled to take what they
get for the only thing they have to dispose of,
purchaser can live longer without their labor
than they can live without aboring.
Hence the banner OF the last revolution which
banished Louis Philippe from his throne and
his country, was inscribed with Liberty, Equal
ity, and fraternity" This lat word wa, highly
significant. IL meant a social as we'll as politi-
cal convention, and struck much deeper into the
vitals of society than a mere change from
monarchy to republic. In short, it Swallowed
forth change far more radical than that of
names, and forms of government 1t menaced
an attack Oh that monopoly not only of political
Power, but of property, which had been built
up end sustained by a system of government
and social organization, which placed almost in.
superable obstacles in the way of all accumula-
ton Of properly by the mere Efforts of labor
without Il 9 aid of capital Its object was to
remove these obstacles, which the articles of
legislation had placed in the way of industry,
economy, and enterprise, and restore that nalu-
raj state Of things which affords them fair OPP
purlunity to acquire an equal share of their
benefits. The people of France, without doubt,
wished to establish state of social organlza-
ton similar to that Of The United States, where
ARTIFICIAL obstacles in the path onward to com
petencv and having Jailed to do this by bloody
revolution, they sought by means of social
changes to bring it about peaceaby without
against each other.
| The design, is in my opinion, visionary, absurd
and mpracticabIe but do not think those who
first propounded these principles of socialism
were influenced by any other motive than q
wish to administer to the general welfare OF
their fellow creatures nor do deem it just to
class their followers among the enemies of the
human race. Sill have no doubt, that if this
| struggle pelWeel luoHOpoly anu SOciaism Il
ever brought to an issue, it will bring with it 9
series of revolutions that will consume the
world. Since the time Of Jean Jacques Kous
sean, the question of the relative happiness o.
men in state of nature and state of civiliza
ton, has been mere philosophical detraction
/ Now it has become a great practical q estion
and on its decision it depends whether mankine
shall return to state of nature, by the sam,
slow and gradual process, through which they
attained their present state of civilization
Though the world never goes backwards, it il
perpetually moving in circle, and those wht
travel around it, at length reach the spot whence
they departed.
Socialism, is still rumbling in the bowels o
Europe The volcano is not extinct though it
I eruptions have ceased for the present. 1t ha
been thrown, but like the felled giant, it will,
fear, rise invigorated from its fall. 1t addresse:
IL At. ,,,l Df %,