The daily gazette., 1877-07-30
Communism and De>p0sism the same
How Ektremes Meet.


From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
IA How true is the adage "Extremes
meet ~ New world Communism sets up
to be the exact opposite of Old world
despotism. But the two are in practical
results, if not in primal aims, precisely
the same thing, as we will proceed to
show. Every dcspotic sovereign in Eu-
rope, for thousand years, has arrogated
10 himself and exercised those functions
of strong central government which the
crazy theorists of Tomp';lns square de-
mand for adoption in this republic. If The
distempered dreams of our Communists
could be realized they would give us "a
form of government which would be only
a parody upon that which advancing civil
zation is slowly shaking off across the
Atlantic. The first instinct of a despot is
to fortiiy himself ih power by the most
liberal use Of patronl3e. His stronghold
is in the support he derives from masses
of servjle men dependent on himself for
rank aud pay. A great sanding army is
only one Of his means of reliance. This is
his most indispensable ann of coercion
But all the shrewed tYrants of mankind
have sought to strengthen themselves by
other devices, only less efncacous, for
managing and robbing their subjects
They have centered the control of all
private business in the throne. They
have established and held the monopoly of
all manufacturing and industrial enter
prises. They have farmed out or given
to their favorites and faithful supporters
the sole right to work mines, to catch fish
to cut down forests, to settle and till the
public lands. From all these franchises
the Czars, the Sultans, and the Kaisers
for long centuries obtained the revenues
which fed their luxury and wantonness.
At the same time that the toadies and
parasites of power were thus enriched and
made pliable tools of imperial ambition,
the selfish interests of the lower classes
, were not wholly neglected. Crafty Kings
always took good care that the people
should not have too many reasons for re-
belling. Therefore they ofuen interfered
to regulate wages; they decreed what
should be the size of loaves. and their
price;hoW much beer should make spot
and its price; they passed sumptnary laws
restraining extravagance in dress and
equipage on the part of The rich, to hatter
the poor; they provided games and amuse
mems, and supplied bread at the public
expenses to keep the people quiet. These
have been the methods and instruments
of"paternal" tyranny from time immemo-
rial to make Its foundation strong and
secure.
Most of the nations of Europe, as en-
| lightenment and constitutional govern
ment have gained the sway, have thrown
off the worst of these abuses. But in the
principle of government interference with
the business, and, what is more, the con
sciences, of the people, outives all the
| efforts of Reform and Progress, In some
of them the railroads and the telegraph:
are the exclusive property of the govern
ment, and IL has the appointment of every
man connected with them. In some
special lines of manufacture are sill
monopolized by the StaUe, and all persons
forbidden to compete with them under
the severest penalties. Crown privi
leges for the right of fishing, mining, &c.
are still The subject of sale or bes,owal
The rulers still try to placate the people
with panem ct ciFcenSeS. And, whatever
else the despotic systems of the old worlC
have surrendered, they have not given vi
the right to maintain immense standing
armies. These indeed are the bulwarlR
Of all "paternal governments. Without
the bayonets at their backs these govern
ments could not stand day. 1t is the
duty of government, as the Communist
assert to provide work for the people, it il
for an equally good reason its duty to.pro
vide on the largest scale for the preserva-
ton of order, without which there can bt
no peaceful industry. Such has ever beer
the apology ofthe despots for their might.
standing armies. They are only relievin:
the people from the trouble of taking carr
of themselves, in the same 'paternal
tspirit which cuts out work for them and
amuses and feeds them The establish
ed churches of Europe are but an exem
plificatioA of the same protective tbeor.
of governing. If government under
takes to supply bread for a mans body
lwhy not food for his soul? A STATE
religion is natural corollary Of til
State rcgulat ON of labor and wages. 81
is the assumption Of the right OF a STATE
to prescribe tho textbooks to be used il
education, to own and conduct all thu
colleges, academies, and schools. Thes
are other relics of the 'paternaP' form o
government, which will disappear as mel
grow wiser ard better.
Now will it be believed that the fana
tics of Tompkins square propose tha
these decaying institutions of Europ
shall be copied into this country?
seems incredible but it is true. They d.
NOT recommend Us specifically to creat'
a great standing army and an establish
ed church, We admit but these woul'
surely follow the creation of the "pater
nal" system for which they ask. Thel
want our government to take possession
of and manage all the railroads the tele
gra aphs the canals, the gas works, th'
water works and the expresses-ln fac
to assume charge of every class of busi
ness comprised under the vague heat
"yarious branches of useful industry
They petition the Government: to regu
late the hours of work and pay and tt
appoint the laborers in all these spheres
of emp oymert. At one sweep this goei
as far as any born Caesar ever went. Al
for mental pabulum this too should b'
supplied by the Government free OF cos
to all but the taxpayers! Colleges, s,schoo
and institutions of science should be gol
4 bled up by the Government OF the Uhl