The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-01
MASSACHUSETTS,.
ACTON, March ~. 1876,

| To the Editor u the woRxnsMAx's ADVOCATE.
If understand Proudhon, he merely
claims that there can be no absolute and
perpetual title to wealth. And this must
be admitted; for can only claim the ~ss
Of my 6nger-nails; they won't stop with
me. That 10 to say, We have the right to
appropriate the material things Of earth
to an extent which must ever be modified
by others possessing the same right.
Thus property, or the possession of
~ealth by right, % far ~ individuals are
concerned, must be comparative. If l
were the only human being on the earth,
it would all be mine.
Now, all own the earth to use, bat it
would not be right for them to sell it to
the man in the moon. And claim, with
Proudhon, hops, that few usurpen now
living have no right to give an absolute
and perpetual title to any number Of men
yet to be born. This, to my mind, is an
absolute truth. Now, the comparative.
which is practical truth, in based upon the
fact that possession Of wealth il indispen-
sable.
A solution of the contradiction consists
of sho wing Of the relations between the
absOluts and the comparative. In philoso-
ply it requires three to make whole one.
Thus, absOiste, comParatsoe and the rela-
ties This third proposition, when sp-
piled to property" We call MUrUALIsM.
Mutualism solves every riddle, and brings
harmony out Of chaOs. 1t cannot rest
upon mere belief, but il is fact Of civili-
zation. don't like Proudhon's definition
of property" for it is not the worlds
definition. This using Of words, other
than ~ they are generally employed, re-
suits in an endless confusion. And yet,
Proudhon brings this same complaint
against other writer's. He contends for
possessions but repudiates property. If the
title Of his book had been "What is Usu-
rY :" instead Of What 10 Property :" it
would have been far more ineligible.
The whole book, n read it, il mastery
exhibit Of the wrongs perpetrated by and
through that stupid and stupendous bar
barism called interest on money, or, the
power of property to increase without
labor.
Great men make great mistakes; and
the idea Of AboIishing property, because
the properties Of property have not been
fully understood, ID analogous 10 the at-
tempt 10 abolish alcohol bsoanss there are
barbariAns who gst drunk ON new rum.
All such labor 10 really detrimsnt to
genuine reform, except 90 far 10 IL has .
tendency to stimulate TO thought, and
hence to action.
But | am surprised that the editor Of
THE ADVOCATE should consider Proudhon
| Communist; for the reason that on page
259 he says:
The disadvantages Of communism are
30 obvious that its critics never have needed
to employ much eloquencs to thoroughly
disgust men with II"
Then, again. page Isl, Communism il
oppression and slavery" And he pro-
ceeded at length TO show that Communism,
IN practice, conserves the barbarian Of
property and abOlishes individual freedom.
Communism i % abnoxisus TO the live
man of enterprise that there - NO danger
in that direction, except In case the rob-
beriss and outragss Of land and money
monopolies became 40 altogether unbear-
able that the people are compelled to dc
something; and if they know not the right
they will, a. a natural consequences, Ay tC
other wrongs not less hideous in their 70.
suits.
Suffice il TO say, Proudhon does mot and
cannot advocate common property, frou
the fact that he advocates the abolition oI
all property, ~ he usss the word. But
an he does most smphatically advocate ths
possession Of wealth BY individuals, it SEEM
unjust in the extreme 70 imputs TO him
the stupid crime Of Communism.
Let N repeat Proudhon contends fOl
association and cooperation, which il ths
practical application Of the principle oI
mstxaIism. In other words, proportions
equality, which ID squity; that ID. justice
To this end We mnst hsve kbsrty, and lib
srsy again results in individual posssaaioz
Of wealth, and social equality and scisn'
tie unity oi aston, eli for III, without
any infEingsmsnt q socasty rights o. per
sonal liberty.
/ On paas -, cur anthor snYa: 81 have
dsmaaltnasd. not ths peanihility, bst q,
| neenaailp ef equality d faflnnan ThaI
10 ap sniustmnsss ssntsmsnk unlun
Rzeaahm Mm = tsal. h osuaa M kns.