New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-03

The destiny of the individual man OF OF Hanhlhu
beyond this earthly life must ever remain hidden
mystery. Our efforts must be directed to that |
which we are able to grasp with our perceptions |
and Judgment. Scientific knowledge brings us into |
closer connection with nature and earthly existence,
the more it increases in depth and compass, while in
the same proportion il removes from the fancitul
and hypothetical chimeras of the past. Man did not
come upon the earth spontaneously lie exists by |
tbe mediation of the same natural forces to which all
life owes its origin He did not descend from the
blue ethereal sky" but has sprung up from the |
earth in virtue OF the same processes that lie at le
foundation of all terrestrial development In ac-
cordance with the present state of our knowledge ne
is the last product of the slow process OF develop
ment by which our planet in the course OF enormous
periods of time completes its natural cycle OF me-
which in turn is only single phase OF eternity.
What higher structures than ourselves may sun
slumber in the bosom of time, to be brought 1orth
hereafter by the same process do not know. But
ON one point science leaves no doubt Hitherto noun
ing more perfect than man has been produced by ma
tpre II is accordingly both his right and his duty
70 regard himself as the ruler all accessible eN
istenees. and TO guide and change them as mucn as
possbe for his own necessities and purposes.
In the appIicaton of these principles to the prac-
teal interests of society," DR.. Buchner entertalns
views of the most revolutionary and radical char
acter The free spontaueity of all nations and the
LEGAL enuoljtv of every citizen of the state must
form the basis of every constitution OF the future
This condition necessarily excludes every monarch
zeal and hierarchical principle. The Introduction
of a republican form of government IN the cVlhzeu
states of Europe is therefore only question OF
time. The existing monarchies are nothing more
than the remains of the former feudal state ana OF
the military conquests of past times and are doomed
toperish with the progress of political enlightenment
Bnt political liberation must find its complement
in social freedom. So long as society is bowed
down under oppressive burdens, by which 1t
is made sick and uncomfortable i'll It's very heart
political progress is a delusive dream. Every man
at the moment of his birth, DR.. Buchner asserts
brings with him equal claim upon the entire
property of humanity, and especially OF ms people
or nation But no one can deny that in the present
state of society," this claim is terrible m0ckery'
One is born in the imperial purple; another rolls III
excess of gold even in his cradle; another with hls
first breath calls his great part OF the soil on
which we all are born, and TO share of which we
are all Justly entitled; while another comes naked
and bare into the world like the beasts and like the
Son of Man has not where to lay his head The
| earth which has produced him regards him to
| a certain extent as an outcast who has come
into the field too late He only makes good his
| right to existence by apprOpriating his natural
| forces TO the service OF others. Even under
! this condition, society usually prOlongs his lie
| only in the most miserable manner leaving him IN
the midst of an exuberant national prosperity to
suffer the pangs of Tantalus, who saw all sorts of
| food constantly before him that he cOuld never
| taste Boundless poverty exists side 10y side with
| the most profuse riches. fabulous knowledge with
the grossest ignorance strenuous labor with careless
enjoyment, beautiful and glorious things with the
| deepest depression of human existence. The most
pathetic tragedies arising from these contrasts daily
pass before our eyes, while we have power to pre-
vent their recurrence Every hour men perish
quickly or slowly for lack Of the merest necessaries
of life, while close beside them the more favored
classes of society are swallowed up in luxury, and
the national welfare is the subject of pride and boast
| The remedy for these evils, according to the
author is indicated by the suggestions OF natural
science The true task of humanity or of human
progress consists in aleyiating the struggle for eX
istence or in the replacement Of the power Of nature
| by the power of reason. Hence the object can be
attained by the greatest possible equalization OF the
| circumstances under which each individual has to
carry on the struggle for existence in the cOmpe-
titon for the preservation OF his life Nature knows
no such equalization. She leaves the weaker party
to escape from the stronger by evasion or fight
rather than by direct opposition. Man has conducted
the contest with the external world to a successful
issue by his power of reflection and knowledge. In
| like manner. he must carry on the internal con-
| test against his own animal nature by putting the
law of reason IN place of the prOmptngs of impulse.
If in the sphere of politics. he has replaced the sys
TEN of oppression and tyranny by the principle Of
equal rights and equal duties he must also replace
| the system of mutual plumber which has hitherto
prevailed in society by the principle of equal means
or equal circumstances.
In order to accomplish the necessary equalization at
least to certain extent, DR.. Buclner, although not
a communist is in favor of aly actiaeg the right OF
private property in land make the samce soil III the
possession of the comm strongly aver n OF private
individuals He and internationally limit the
right of leaving u property to descendants,
and giving to the community share of the inherit
ance. The consciousness that the individual IS
working not merely for himself and his heirs, who
are often undeserving who do not require his ad
but also for the community at large, would be q
powerful check on the egotistic tendencies which
now constitute the handspring of social activity
and which have deeply corrupted the social nature
of man. The enormous private fortunes which have
been accumulated chiefly by inheritance and mar
rage in the hands of individuals or families cause
the same danger to the state as the excessive pos
session Of land by private individuals The I'M
mense influence of wealth in present social con-
dition forms state within the state, and tends to
abolish the power Of all regular government Money
in the end will be the sole ruler of the common
wealth, as even now we give the name OF money
princes to of cxorbitant riches as II TO intimate
that in their hands property is combined with pre-
dominant political influence.
With regard to the question OF capital the author
considers the cutlery against it which is now the
fashion among the working classes as an absurdi,y
ConitaI * the great material beucfactOr Of society