, 1873-12-23
L CRUCIAL TEST.


4 CRUCIAL TEST
Tho tivo thousand workngmon who met at I
Turner Hall OH Sunday, and askod that tho Gov
crumont provide work for all unemployed por-
sons, hayo given their sanction to q doctrine
Inconsistent with their profession Of American
citizenship. We tako It for granted TINT tho !
mooting was mainly composed Of American cti-
zons, although most Of tho speeches wero doliv- |
cred In foreign languages, aud onuncinted prin-
ciplos essentially foreign to American minds.
Tho doctrine TINT work should be provided by
Government hns always been favorito one with
two very different kinds Of people. The most
oppressive Governments Of Europe have always
spont largo suma IN kooping tho tnasses at work
on good wages, lest tAoy should grow discon-
tented. The Louvre, the Tuilerios, tho mag
nihcent Donlovards Of pariB, wcro built on this
principle. Tho snme doctrine, in another Shape,
is the gospel Of tho Socialists, Communists and
1nteruationallata, who represent d reaction
against tyranny. equally inconsistent with any
Government, republican or other. Evory French
Republic that has over been attempted bus
was onunciatod not many weeks ago by tho 1n-
tranBigentcs Of Spain, who aro doing their worst
to betray the Spanish Republic Tha rapino aud
bloodahod That accompanied tho attempt Of tho
Fronch Republicans OF 1893, aud put this dcnti-
cal doctrine into practice, has brought tho nnme
of Rcpublic into dtBreputo in every European
country. It hae dono moro than anything
olao to prevent the establishment Of a
genuine Republic abroad. The royoutionistB
worc in favor Of having tho State employ all,
houso oil, feed nj, amuso Ill. md rob nil. Some
Of the speeches Of Sunday night, and particular
ly that OF T. A. Hoffman, Jr., road like transa-
tiona Of the harangues TINT inoitod tic Parisi-
ans Of 1703.
This country has hitherto managed to keep its
destinics out Of such handa. Socialist doctrines
have no place In it's Constitution, and those who
come here from abrond ought to leave such doc
triues behind. IN ono senso tho Amorisan Re-
public is still on trial, al,-this may bo Its crucial
test,-and nothing will tend moro certainly to it's
overthrow than tho adoption by American citi-
zcns Of tho sentiments md principles which ase
aasociated In European history with tho fotlleBt
e1cessoH and the most disastrous failures OF the
experiment OF aolf.government. Those Of our
citizons particularly WHO have como to us from
countries where Socialism has wrought auch foil
results ought not to shame themselves aud their
now country by talking such dangerous nom
aense. They have come to 4 land where 1t is tho
function Of the State not to tako caro- Of itB oiti-
zens, but to give item liberty to take care Of
themselves, Society owes tho duty OF relieving
tho poor in the way Of charity, but it does not
owo tho duty, and cannot perform it, Of provid-
ing work and wages whoro there Ia none. The
| public authoritios could not, it they wcro
to bo hung on tho lamp-poats, fur
nish employment to tho men composing
tho Turner Hall meeting. Thoy cannot
perform 1mpossibilltics. How could they tell
whom to employ, and whom not, or nt what
| wages, or how nany hours. aud at what employ
ments Such things are no part Of the func-
tions OF Government, either Municipal, state, or
National. IT." said brilliant French writer,
who antagonizol tho Socialist movement, lyon
make the law for all citizenH palladium OF lib
erty and property, il It is only the organization
Of tho individual law of aeIf-defenso, you will
| establish upon tho foundation OF juatico gov
ernmeut rational, SIMPLE economical, COM
| pretended by Ill, loved by all, use-
ful to al, supported BY all, intrasted with
q responsibility :, perfectly defined and
carefully restricted, aud endowed with imporish-
ablo strength. II, on the other hand, in tho in
terosts Of individuals or classes. you make the
| law IN instrument OF spoliation, every ono will
wiah to make lawa, and to make them to hs own
! advantage. There will bo riotouH crowd at tho
| doors Of the Legislative halls; there will be o
bitter conflict within; minds will DO in
anarchy; morals will bo shipwreckod !;
there will 10 violence in party organs,
heated elections, rocrimiuations, joalousios, mex
tinguiahahlo latos. the public forces placed ut
tho service Of rapacity nstoad Of its repression,
the Government responsible for everything, and
bonding under the burden Of its responsibilities,
political convulsions, revolutions without ond,
ruins over which all tho forms OF Socialism and
Communism attompt to establish themsolves,-
theae arc tho evils which nocessarily flow from
such poryersion Of law"
|
The staid old Journal Of Commerce, OF New
York, which has mover boon known to admit
anything into It's columns which was not Of q
financial or commercial uature, was rocontly
A..