The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-28
The COmmune's Creed-No God, no Im-
mortality, No Heaven.

warded by our correspondent IN Iars anu
published in the HERALD Of Friday last 1t
contains, as briefly and as pointsdy as 1t could
be put into English, the cold, cheerless creed
of the French Communists, and which we have
embodied in the heading of this article,
namely-.he denial of the existence OF
Supreme Being, Of the souls Immortality and
of a future rest in heaven. 1t was given to
our correspondent in an off-hand conversation
with General Bergeret, Communist leader,
and is, therefore, not the result of recent study
and impulsve thought, but is the utterance
of principles which have Ion, been embe dded
in French hearts, and has formed part of
their everyday life and conversation. 1t is
not creed of yesterday, else we should have
hope Of uprooting it from the land in day.
1t is not confined alone to the French people,
land, and, traversing the Atlantic, has reached
our own shores and settled itself here. But
we have faith that the intelligence and Chris
tian common sense OF Americans will not per-
NIT it 10 spread among us. Some enthusiasts
affect to say we are a very wicked and goddess
French atheism and communistic infdelty.
General Bergeret could not believe in God
because such balief would be unrepublican;
because ''if there were God He
would be a tyrant." Bergerets idea of Gods
government evidently corresponds with that
of Napoleon III. s government of France and
he would, therefore fight against it on earth or
in heaven. But Bergeret and his associate
Communists are not quite sure about the
hereafter, and consequently the immortality Of
man is transmitted to the children from gen.
Grafton to generation; so that if there is to be
retribution, as far as Bcrgeret and his clique
are concerned, ''the devil may take the bind
most"
amazement at the atrocities committed by the
Communists of Paris is greatly lessened.
How could they do otherwise than as they
have done-rob churches, break into converts,
imprison and murder in cold blood bishops
and priests, men and women alike? Without
God in their creed and His restraining
grace in their hearts, what cared they for the
Institutions Of His Church and the ministers
of His work? Tyrants themselves at heart
their conception Of the living and true God is
no better than they. The worst and basest
conception which the ancients ever had Of the
Supreme Being infinitely transcends in good
ness purity and love anything which our
modern French Communists have presented.
1t Is contrary to justice, to reason and to
right" says NJ. Bergeret, 'that one should
govern the many-that there should be God"
We, who have been educated from our infancy
in the belief in God and the doctrines
of the souls Immortality and future
state Of rewards and punishments, and in
the unity of the race and the father
hood Of God, and kindred doctrines,
can hardly conceive the state of mind
in which this Communist leader finds himself
ard keeps himself. from day to day. Contrary
to reason! Why the reason and the common
sense of the world in its darkest ages have al
ways acknowledged the existence and the
governing sup srintendence of God. Contrary
to justice! We have seen in the rioting and
bloodshed Of Communism what Justice without
God means. Our own civilization, founded
upon the fullest and firmest belief in the gov
eminent OF God, had not the first or most re-
mote thought of adopting the extravagances
in our late war which the ''justice" of these
occurrence since their reign of terror
began. Even the stoical Germans, who
are supposed to have no God but
nature, find even there controlling
spirit which would not allow them to act
toward their enemies as French intidels have
acted toward one another. Contrary to right!
Which one of the leaders Of this great artisan
riot has ever had thought of right during
their three months reign of terror? We have
not heard OF one, and we do not believe there
exists to-day, not only in Paris, but through
out the entire French nation, thorough
going Communist who has learned even the
alphabet Of the principles Of reason, justice or
right, which should govern mankind, and espe-
cially civiliz d nations, and, in supcrlative
degree, the country and the people par erc.l-
lence OF all the earth. ''Universal harmony"
in the mouths of such men, is universal bosh.
"Man, animals flowers, plants, trees, stars,
planets, everything" says the atheistic oracle.
must blend in one harmonious whole.
But the very next question put by
our correspondent shows how utterly
impossible it is to secure a harmonious
whole" without Creator. Bergeret could
not answer the simple question, suggested by
bis own creed, whether this universal har-
mony which be acknowledged was created or
whether it sprung into being itself. And
there Is just where every one of his class is
''caught on tie hip" BY faith the Christian
understands that the worlds were framed by
the word of God, but by reason we cannot tell
anything about it. The fact is before us, and