New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-09
FRENCH SOCIALISM.

From TIE n. T. Epas9ei'i Of Fsb. 7'
In referring lately TO a series of discourses now in
progress in this City on Socialism, we desired espc
sially e commend this frank and manly treatment Of
great subject which has been generally ignored in the
pulpit and by the religious press but which sooner or
later must force its way to public attention. 1t is not
70 be denied that most Of the good people of this
country have horror of the very name of Socialism,
which forbds q calm investigation. To their eyes it
looms up as hldeous monster that only exist by
preyng society. II is associated with nfdelty and
atheism and with the worst revolutionary doctrines
which aim at the destruction, rather than the recon-
structon Of social order.
Ali these odous charges may be true, and may JUS
6fy large amount of suspicion and hatred The the
cries Of Socialism may be crude and impracticabe the
dreams of visionary enhusastsor the dark plotting
of social destructives Aud yet all this does not alter
the fact, that vague hope of the reorganization of
eiey has taken hold of many of the leading minds in
Europe and pervades the Of the people in France
and Germany This is proof of the excellence or
practcsbity Of their theories, bnt at least il ought
10 entitle them TO respectful treatment and fair
summation. question so immense is not to be set
tied by scornfn sneer or by crying out that is the
mere spawn of infdety.
1t is easy to how this question has nsen up to
such gigantic proportions in Europe. 1t is from the
extreme misery Of the poor population In the heart
Of every European capital lies the great, black reality
of Paupersm. No one who has not seen the poor of
those cities form any idea Of the wretchedness in
which they live. Even now We shudder TO think of
the misery which have seen IN London and Paris.
Wandering through st. Giles at midnight, we have
met thousands Of poor wretches crawling forth from
their kennels, and the glare of the sreet-lsmps fell
upon their haggard faces they looked less like human
beings than like demons made visible by the flames Of
he'll. What ia existence 10 men and women thus born
10 misery Can it be any happiness to live How
can mother look upon her offspring foredoomed to
misery, without feeling impulse to strange them in
their childhood How can a brother look upon sis
tar, and think of her probable fate, without honor
The condition of the poor in Paris is no better.
Meheet says, this population is the most ephemeral
sin its average duration which is 10 be found perhaps
"in the world. One must live in the poor quarters 10
"kpow with what rapidity this people is renewed.
Birth, death, are there incesSant and rapid terrible
chemistry, where life composes only TO deoompose.
One has hardly the courage 10 reproach them for
anything IN that imperceptibe moment which they
~hve between the morning and the evening. Poor
river of life, which flows 80 swift secuse wave.
II has disappeared"
In such extremity Of woe is idle to talk Of peace
and contentment. When men arektarving for want of
work; when their hands are idle and their wives and
children are dying Of hunger ID vain for the proud
and prosperous few to tell them that such evils
mevnsoe even the best society and that il s their
duty TO submit in silence Their hearts rebel against
this cold blooded political philosophy BY which they
must be offered up as sacrifices to the old order Of
things. They will not perish without a struggle They
will not die and leave no sign. II is impossible to
prevent their asking bitterly if God just and if there
be not something wrong in the very organization Of
society where such inequalities exist They around
them thousands rolling IN luxury who never did days
work In their lives. TRcr backs are bent with labor
and now they ask only for more work, and yet they
md nothing 20 do. And for want Of this they must die
miseraoy Is it strange that they become exaspersted
sgens, the nohi How long does it take q man who
starving 70 reason that he Is the victim of social in
lustceI " IL society cannot afford relief then down
with society and new.create the worldw
This 10 the real origin Of Socialism Its not that
he people are led aStray by designing men, But they
cannot help pondering sadly on these things. The
mestrcken NO, forces upon them the question Of new
social order. And never there greater mistake
sbAn for the statesmen of France and Germany 10
Br~e the que stion or treat i with contempt post,
ppe by miserable shifts spd eIpedients, which re-