New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-08
NO FEAR OF A COMMUNE.


THE SURE DEFENCE AFFORDED BY 1HE RELIGIOUS
ELEMENT II THE NATIONAL LIFE.
TO the Edtfor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Mr.. Mavericks article on the Commune
win doubtless attract much attention. My own i'm
preston that he greatly ovcrestimatcs the strength
and influence the organization I'm this country while
he ovcrlooKs the forces that arraycd against
Il here While it IL unfortunately true that
throughout the country there is large class
~ persons over whom the Church has no influence,
there are few communities in which there not more
less spiritual life and activity We are to weigh popu
latinns as well count them The party OF Law and
Order representing property widely distributed exists
everywhere. and rises fun armed in each emergency
This was very clearly shown in the troubles OF last sum
mcr
Doubtless there many persons in all Of our
large cities who have less sympathy
with Communistic principles. do not think, however
that our "Grccubackcrs" and Changers" should be
cassed among these. In the old LOco-Foco days-the
days Of hard money and rag moncy-we had somewhat
similar divisions. and quite loose notions currency
and monopoios. There was then yOcerOus cry Of
"Doyn with the SOUTH We also had WOrkingmcu
and Labor parties do not mean 10 say that certain
clements in our present political aud social life not
very different and much worse than those Of
old but / do assert that the conserving forces
are greater now than before And 1t must
be borne IN mind that the newspaper shows
ia every morning MI the cvl thoughts and deeds Of the
day before while the good deeds, demanding public
notice are unrcpOred II Is mquestiOnaby true. and
more's the pity, that not q few of our genuine
social and political reformers IN their discus
sons and rcme, ial plans are quite APT to
overlook the work OF the Church and the
religious school, While Mr. Jusus Schwab 10 haranguing
his little crowd In his beer saloon tens " thousands OF
sober Intelligent industrious people wOrshippng in
our city churches; while other thousands OF chill
dren are gathered into sunday schools. such agencies
ma these are, as | have said, quite overlooked
by many OF our real phauthropsts-yet these
real protective forces which do not exist in anything
like the same degree in the countries where tde Com
mune has taken root and hOnrshed.
Let me- this connection, suggest 10 some Of my over
JEALOUS Protestant friends who have welcomed TO this
country all classes OF antPOpish people, and who may
be disturbed by the shadow OF the Commune, that the
Roman Catholic Church would play very
conspicuous and defensive part IN the
Of possible danger. The members Of that
Church whatever may be their defects. not Com
mupiss They cannot be dragged into this net OF the
devil In the case OF strife and disturbance they would
Give ample proof, by their action, Of the power
for they would be among the first TO resist
any general attack upon religion and property. While
the subject OF the Commune for dlscussIOn may
suggest To all reOrners whether true or false that there
IL n sure defence against the assaults OF the forces OF
evil and that this country Il may be largely found III
The religious element that peryades our National life.
Netr- YORK, April 80. 1873. H. L.