New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-21
-vopr DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 81. 1852

Nspoleon as the only bulwark left against
the sscendancy of Socialism The Priests
in the several parishes or communes vie
with the Mayors in drumming up the pea
SAINTS to form in procession, march to the
polls and deposit their votes { ON } for the
Usurper. The Catholic journals here and
everywhere openly exuls over the success
Of the forsworn villain in crushing the
Constitution he had taken solemn oath to
uphold. and in destroying the Republic
whereof he had been chosen chief guardian
ard defender. When the day of reckoning
shall come. let these facts be duly con-
sidered
And now a word as to Socialism.
Who of the millions so savagely and con-
stantlv denouncing it dare say what 1t is !
Reader can you say Shall we tell you J
Socialism IS the faith that the lal0s and
usages regulating the social relations Of
mankind mav be so modified as TO enlarge
the opportunities and improve the cIrcno-
stances Of the classes nOr relatively dsstI-
tute and sufermg.-He who holds this
faith is Socialist, no matter what he may
believe or disbelieve apart from this. lie
who disbelieves it, and regards the I'M
mense aggregate of wrong. misery. prlya-
ton, suffering everywhere prevailing as
necessary, irremediable consequence of Dl-
vine wrath and Human depravity, Is an
Anti-Soriaiis., and has a perfect right to
war upon Socialism True, he has no right
to misrepresent it and defame It's advocates,
hut or that point he will do as he sees fit.
- But are not Socialists necessarily
Communists. Atheists, Libertines and Prof
ligates We answer, just as much so as
red-haired or gray-eyed persons are-no
more. A Socialist may be a Communist;
he nay be an Infdel he may be an immo-
raj, Iicentious man but his Socialism does
not involve nor imply anything of the sort.
If Religion, or any religious organic alton,
is made an engine Of attack Oh Socialism,
it is according to the well understood laws
of war that Socialists should be impeled 70
fire on the cover behind which their adyer-
salies are sheltered. That there is de-
cided tendency toward hostile demonstra-
tons between Socialism and certain
Churches is obvious but we contend that
the fault is not with the Socialists, who
have been wantonly attacked, and are only
standing on the defensive.
- But would it not be better, suggests
a timid friend, TO abandon and disavow the
terms Socialist and Socialism, and use
instead others less obnoxious or better
understood l'-Ah, friend your rose-wa-
ter lavation will never heal 50 deep wound
as this The party who really believe that
God made the few to think and lead while
the many toll and obey are not to be con-
ciiiated by any name which does not repu
date the essential thing. This party have
no faith in the practically universal benig-
nifty of God-n the possibility of universal
opportunity and competence for Man They
believe that the world must continue hud-
die Of palaces and novels, nabobs and beg
gars, grog-shops and aims houses, to the end
of time. They will be onciliated, if ever,
lot by softer terms on our side, but by
larger and humaner faith, broader and
deeper love, on their own. Our warfare
concerns not name but vital, potential
thiDg-namely, Human Equality and Broth
erhood Until we can convince them that
bad men would have been better if better
trained and situated, and that good men
would have been bad if reared among
thieves and.vagrants, we shall be hardly
more obnoxious as Socialists than under
my other de 10 ma finn