Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-04-24
The Communists Platform.

Al the present moment, when every
one is discussing the probable fDr4re OF
France. and while the dOings OF the
Communists Of Paris and Marseilles
i. are the one topic of the day. it may
not be amiss to publish an authentic
account Of the actual programme Of
the Communist party. The following
extracts are translated. as literally as
possible, from a French document,
published about a year ago:
OUR PROGRAMME.
Fundamental Principls-"Equa1itg Be
fore az Things"
J.. The active socialist party, after
OverthrOWing the present Govern
ment. that is to say, after having a0-
cOmplished a political revolution, viii
proclaim that all descriptions Of prop
erty are to be no longer personal, but
national.
2. IT viii invite the immediate for
nation Of industrial societies in every
parish or township, and win publish
reports, drawn up by men familiar
with the subject, showing what kinds
of industry are indispensable in each
particular district or county, and what
parts of the country are most faVOra-
bic OF the reverse, for any given Occu-
patiOn.
g A certain period win be granted
10 every citizen TO consider which
working society he VIII Join. Tt Is the
right as wen as the duty Of every one
80 choose that kind Of labor which, !
taking into consideration his physical
and mental capacities, win prove
most beneficial to himself and to the
commonwealth
f. Al persons who shall refuse TO
Join Oneo or other Of the working s0cie- /
Ties. without assigning some valid
reason FOX refusal, viii lose all rights
as citizens. They viii not be adj
mitted % any of the public establish
meuts which contain the provisions
destined 70 supply the wants Of the
members Of the commonwealth. To
such persons, houses, public dining
rooms, railroads, post0fhCes, and tele-
graphs, in fact everything, viii be
closed. They VIII be absolutely de-
prived Of the means Of existence, and
must decide either to work or die.
3. Each group Of WOrkmen viii
elect, from rs midst, a public valuer
or superinteBdent. This individual
should be chosen by his fellow work
men, on account OF his energy, ability
and superior knowledge of the details
Of bis trade.
6. The duties Of this superintendent
VIII consist chiefly in regulating the
supply Of work, ia taking account Of
its value, and the quantity performed
by each members also in negotiating
between his society and the local Of
Zee, 10 which every society in the dis
Cicr viii have access, sending to IL
the products Of their labor, and re-
ceiving from it everything necessary
to supply the wants Of their members. |
T.. "A committee, COMPOSED of mem
bers elected By every working society, |
viii regulate, in its own district, the
suDply4Of labor, and develop the natu-
raj or acquired advantages of the local
ity. To viii receive all the goods pro
dUced by the industry of each society
10 its district, classify them, and dis
tribute them according 20 the wants
of the community, or, in the event of
a surplus, send thea 10 other districts
10 form material for q new Organiza-
ton.
s.. The committee viii publish at
regular intervals reports on the work
accomplished By each society, and on
the sum total of the products and con
sumption of each member Tor a given
period, I'm order 70 show clearly the
profit or loss that each member brings
TO the commonwealth.
9. The aforementioned reports
viii also serve to enlighten the citi-
zens I'M the election OF agents and
public funcdonari@ Of every descrip-
ton, and alsotO regulate the course of |
all kinds Of l2bor and show what
changes 2 required in any depart
ment Of Industry.
10. All the public Institutions, as
well as the dining-rooms, sleeping
ROOMS, schools, hospitals, libraries, /
roads, railways, posts and telegraphs
shall be placed under the administra-
ton Of local bureaus.
III. All the public works Of the To-
cality, such as the making Of roads
and railways, public buildings etc,
and the cleansing and keeping Of
them in order, shall be under the man
agement Of the principal bureau.
II. All kinds of labor which re-
Quire physical force only, without any
special technical knowledge, shall be
performed in rotation BY the members
Ofeach section.
ID. The principal bureau wiz also be
charged with the education of chill
dren, for which purpose special build
ings VIII be Constructed. Ia which
physical and mental training alike
shall be included. UD 10 a certain
age, 10 be hereafter decided, the chill
dren shall not BE- taken Ia hand By
She Communal sections.
"a. Parents who wish TO undertake
personally the education of their chill
dren shall have the right to dosos but
THIS snail not exempt them from the
obligation Of working a certain NUM-
Der 0ih0urs every day.
10. AS a general rule. when the
members @ the community have com
pleted the liked number oil hours for
work each day, they can occupy them
selves in any way they Ike-in doino
nothing, in outdoor recreation. ia vis,
iting the public theaters or concerts
scientific lectures, etc.
is. Any person DESTROYS Of devotiug
an his time % scientific researches on
discoveries shall present 10 the local
bureau 8 statement of bis project
which, & found feasible and likely to
be useful 90 the community, shall con. /
fer upon the author the right 70 retire
from his working section. lie shall
also be provided with the means ne
cessary for the accomplishment Of bis
undertaking.
81. Having acquired the right Of
devoting himself to a special Oceupa-
ton. the author of the project shall
present reg0larly 90 the bureau full
reports of his Undertaking, which
shall be published.
is. In this way the bureau Is placed
10 constant communication with all
the skilled artisans, engineers, inven-
tor and harmed men ia the country,
and receives reports and suggestions
calculated 70 increase the well being
ffhe community. The bureau wiz
elect from its members directors Of
public works and special Mnctionaries
for asch department.
lie. TIE number Of working hours
esch day shal be regulated by the