The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-11
What is Communism ?

communism since the outbreak Of the re-
cent labor riots in this country, which
spread like wildhre over ten States. The
subject, however, is but imperfectly I'M
derstood by the average reader.
Communism is the name given to one
class Of the arrangements by which certain
spectators have proposed to dispense with
the laws Of social and political economy
which are supposed to keep society togeth- |
er, through the influence Of the domestic
affections and the spirit of competition,
and to substitute in their stead a set Of
artificial rules for the government Of man
kiud. 1t is the theory which teaches that
all things should be held in common, and
was practiced by the followers of Pytha-
goras and Plato. The word Socialist has
generally been applied to those who only
propose to interfere with labor by abolish
ing competition and wages, leaving men to
work under the influence of public spirit,
and making an equal division of the pro-
duce. The term Communist, on the other
hand, has been applied to those who go a
step further, and propose to abolish the
relation Of husband and wife, along with
the system of domestic government which
is founded on parental authority. While
Louis Blanc may be considered the head
Of the Socialists, the representatives of the
Communists are Robert Dale Owen, St.
Simon, Fourier, Proudhon, and Enfantin.
These men made some stir in the world,
at the first announcement Of their crack
Drained theories, but they could not with
stand the scrutiny of common sense and
the touchstone of truth. 1t is almost for
gotten that during the French revolution
Of 1913, when the fear that communism
would rule the destinies of that and some
other countries, the whole theory of the
communists was exploded by the touch of
sober reason. tits said, indeed, that there
is yet powerful nnder-curent Of commu'
nism both in France and in Germany,
ready to burst forth when an opportunity
comes; but it may be hoped that the pro-
gress continually making in general intel
ligence, and knowledge of economic laws,
will avert such calamity.
Although we usually consider commu-
nism an especially French fallaey, the first
consistent practical teacher of it was Rob
ert Dale Owen, an Englishman. He pub
lished, in 1918, A New View of Society,
or Essays on the Principle of the Forma-
ton Of the Human Character, aud the Ap-
plication of the Principle to Practice. No
alarm was felt at his peculiar views until
he struck at the root and foundation of
the domestic organization, and then men
began to expose the communistic theory.
Horace Greeley, a greatly; overrated man,
whose mind lacked balance, was carried
away for time by the falacies Of Fourier,
but even he repudiated them after his
sober reason had time to assert itself.
The principles Of Owen have found lodg-
ment only in the minds Of. a few crazy
women such as Clafin and Woodruff, and
perhaps few equally crazy adherents of
the opposite sex. But, another kind of
communism, based upon desire for a
more equal distribution of property, is
manifest in the doings of the mobs which
have accustomed SO much trouble Of late
A hostile attitude Of labor towards cap
ital has been apparent in the late strikes,
and the trades unions and workingmen's
organizations seem to be based somewhat
upon that idea. IF is to be inculcatsd,
and IS destined to extend itself among the
laboring classes Of this country, the time
is not far distant when it will bear its Bit
ter fruit and shake this country from cen
tire to circumference Let all such notions
be crushed in their incipiency. They have
no basis either Of common sense or com
mon honesty, and are fraught with moth
ing but evil to the best interests of society.