The New York herald., 1877-09-01
COMMUNISM ANALYZED.

LECTURE BEFORE THE LIBERAL CLUB.
Last evening Mr.. Olin l.. Warner delivered tho four
hundred and thirteenth free lecture before tho Liberal
Club his subject being ''rhe Paris Commune and its
True Significance" largo number Of the better class
oil working present ''Snco the recent labor
strikes" tho lecturer began SIT has been sometimes
said that they the indications of tho birth or
outbreak OF communism IN this coanry There is
only moral resemblance They alike the strug-
gle OF right against might It matters little whether tho
tyran. WELD sceptre money bag whether ne be
q king or q capitalist In either case the synpathies
of all thinking ana fair minded with the OPP
pressed. do not appear hero the advocate of Com
mun,sm or labor strikes; but do wish TO clear the
Commune OF 1901 from the mass OF calumny that
mas boon heaped upon It, was In Paris at the time 1t
was held by the Comm une and can therefore speak
IRON my own knowledge and experience" Mr..
Warner then spoke briefly of the disastrous events
which led 10 the Commune, and said that he
wanted to correct vague and mistaken notion
prevalent in this country win regard to the
relation TO Communism or an equal DIVISION
OF property, the only edict Of the Con mune relating
property at all bong that which Increased the rate
OF tax proportion to the extent or mans posses
sons Tho object Of the Commune was 10 establish IN
the large cities the right enjoyed by tho villages Of
cecn.; The municipal government and this, the lee
turer sald should be remembered, has been the
primo motive and starting point Of all the French
cOmmunes--ip 1893, in 1S4S and IN lS7O7l. "We
should consider the intentions well as the acts OF
tho Communists before passing sentence upon their
character, and say that the motives and in-
tentons OF the original founders were. per-
iectly honorable and just, no matter what
may have been the result. BY many years
OF tho basest msruc, they had beon SO dsgused hat
they sought to rid themselves OF everything which
bore the stamp OF government, but the reforms they
proposed radical to be accepted even by the
persons whom they were designed TO benefit. Let MS
have progress, revolution II need be, but at all events
progress That tho reign OF tho Commune was IN
tended 10 DO peaceful aud boodess was shown by tho
destruction ol the guillotine II became bloody tho
evil must be laid at the door of Versailles
Mr. Warner then proceeded TO an explanation and
d fence OF the "so-callcd crimes Of the Commune,
with occasional touches at the condition OF society and
government III this country. "One oil the earliest
OF the Commune" he sad, 'dissolvcd the UNION
OF Church and State. Even here they are moi alto
gether separate for the government exempts church
property from taxation, thus taxing the iaborer who
never crosses the threshold, but where sits the MIL
lionnsire and cold hypocrisy reigns supreme. While
this continues this land not free evory sense aud
rs boasted Institutions are ia danger" Mr. Warner
continued his defence Of the Commune ard described
come OF the bloody scenes of which he an eye Wit
ness, and tho retaking of Paris by the government
troops 'Though we may not, future generations will
dare call these men (the communsts brave" The
lecturer was frequently Interrupted by applause his
ausions to tho bloaed capitalists and honest working
meu being received with special avor. Tho lecture
aterward freely discussed by the members Of the
club