The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-08-09
WHA7 rs CoMMUNISMS

has come into more prominence. The
Bread Winners League is Communistic
society in New York city, and recently
this society published declaration OF
principles. They also held a public
meeting in Tompkins Square, New York,
some two weeks ago. They desire:
"That the Government Immediately
take, control, own, and operate the rail
roads,"
Mr.. Justus Schwab, in his speech at the
Tompkins Square meeting, said;
"The Government will control the rail
roads and work the mines, Passengers
will travel more safely, freight will he
TRANSPORTED at cheaper rates, and work
men will be better off. The only monop.
oily will be the Government"
And one of their formal propositions
at the same meeting, reads as follows:
"Ninth-To secure the greatest advan-
tages of economy and convenience re-
sulting from the improvements OF the
age, and to guard against the cupidiiy Of
contractors, the fraudulent principle OF
interest on money, the impositions ofthe
banking system, and the extortions prac,,
ticed by railroads, gas companies, and
other organized monopolies, the system
of contracting public works should be
abolished, and oll public improvements,
such as post roads, railroads, gas works,
water works, mining operations, canals
nost Offices telegraphs, etc., should De
public property, and be conducted By Cov
ernment, at reasonable rates, for the inter
est of society"
1t sscarcely necessary to say that these
doctrines are incompatible with our sys-
tenn of Government, and totally at vari-
ance with our Constitution. The liberty
ofthe individual is the basic principle in
our system. But Communism would
make our Government vast operating
machine, that would tend to destroy the
freedom and independence of the citi-
zen. A government attending to such
vast interests, with huge armies of EN-
ployes, the expenditures amounting to
hundreds of millions annually, wonld in
evitably become monster Of tyranny
and corruption, and finally involve all in
general ruin.
The Constitution of the United States
provides for "a plain and simple Govern
ment," confning itself within its legiti-
mate functions, establishing justice, pro-
noting the general welfare, and thus Sc
curing the blessings of liberty.
The late Republican convention at
Cleveland, which nominated William H.
West, of Bellefontaine, for Governor,
proclaimed Communistic principles in
their platform, as will be seen by the fol-
lowing:
81. That Congress establish a national
Bureau of Industry,
"2. That Congress exert its authority
over all national highways of trade, by
prescribing and enforcing such reasona'
BILE regulations as will tend to promote
the safety of travel, secure fair returns
for the capital invested, and fair wages
to employees; preventing msmanagement
and improper determinations, and the
aggrandizement of officials at the expense
of stockholders, shippers and employees.
"3 That provision be made for statu.
tory arbitrations between employers and
employees to adjust controversies, recon.
cile interests, aud establish justice and
equity between them"
The Ohio Republicans in their plat
form, then, are quite Communislic. This
National Bureau of Industry" would
take the place of, and go farther in its
operations, than the Freedmen's Bureau,
which proved mere robbing arrange
ment. In the judgment of onr wisest
and best men, these Communist doctrines
are dangerous 10 every correct principle |
of free government, and totally subver-
sive OF social order They are destruct-
i've of individual liberty and all rights of
property.
For the first time, we believe, in the
history of the country, these abominable |
ideas are adopted and proclaimed by the
ruling political party in Ohio. By elect.
ing Bishop over that small Commuuistic
West, we will give them a
baCkset,