The Hickman courier., 1878-06-14
ComaluNEsr DEsrGSs.
a Revolution Predicted 10
occur In June-AII the Rail
roads and the Government
fO he Seized

ITO the Elitor Of the Chicago Tribune !
The headquarters Of the American
Commune are reported to be in New
York, aud its leaders are European
refugees, whose incendiary doctrines
render tame gzld colorless the PROPOSE
tons of the most fanatieal of Ameri-
can re{ormers They claim that the
order in the different cities OF the Tn
ion is nearly 10000 strong. and i,
gaining strength every day In some
cities they are armed, drilled aud
organized in regiments, prepared in
every respect for the great uprising
which we are told to look for about
the beginning of June. Their leaders
say that the failure of last summers
instruction has taught them the secret
OF future success. This year their bet
terlaid plans aad mora perfect organ
ization are to place them at the head
of a triumphant revolution, which
will'overthrow the tyranny Of capital,
coufscate property while abolishing
taxation, and supersede the sham
republics nism of American by system
of which their beloved Red" Is the
'.holy symbol" But, although the
headquarters OF the Communists are
iu the city, they will not probably
undertake any operations here, not at
least until they are emboldeued by
successes elsewhere When Pittsburgh
was blazing last year, and the rioters
almost everywhere were having their
own way a sympathizing blow was 10
/ have been struck in New York. A
great Communist meeting IN TOmp
kins Park, at which delegations from
other cities were to attend, was intend
ed TO iuaugurate the movement, Con
siderab bic alarm was excited in the city
but the authorities had well advised
themselves of the designs of the Com.
muue, aud were confident Of their pow
er TO deal with them la the hope
that their application would bs dents
ed, a committee of so-called work
insmeu" waited upon the Mayor with
formal request for permission 10 hold
the meeting, when they were rather
surprised aud di-gusted by the in
formation that Tompkins Park was
entirely at their service for the peace
ful object of public speaking aud ex
position Of their grievances, as set forth
in the address of the committee
Precautions, however, against mis-
chief were immediately taken, and the
city militia regiments were summoned
to the several arsenals and drill-rooms,
50 that. on the day OF the meeting, /
5000 National Guards were waiting
for orders to repair to any part where |
their services might be required, aud /
over 1,090 policemen paraded the /
streets that led TO the place of assem- /
bling These preparations were, OF /
course, known TO the leaders of the
Commune, aud the consequence was,
that the expected delegations from
other States did not appear, tho meet
ing was wretched failure, and the
attempt at rioting, in which it Gu nina
ted, was Immediately su ppres,ed by
the vigorous conduct of the police
The experience on that occasion Of
the alacrity with which the citizens of
New York will turn out for the defence
Of Law aud order was not lost upon tie
Communists, aud it Is not likely that
they will open their next campaign in
this city.
The coming revolution, it is beiev-
ed, is to commence with general
strike of workinsmen at the great rail
road eenters of the West, to be follow
ed by strikes of the employees on the
several lines Of railroads throughout
the Union. But, unlike the preceding
one, this is to be an armed strike, and
its fret aim will be to get control of
all the means Of overland transit, thus
putting an end at once to all transport
and communication, except such as the
strikers may choose TO keep open.
They are encouraged to believe that
they can succeed in idoing this by the
ease with wich it really was done by
the half organized insurgents Of last
and they are no doubt right
in their calculations, that the tempora,
ry success of such bold stroke would
bring to their ranks such re enforce
ments from the classes who can most
easily be used for their purposes. that
they would be strong enough to seize
sll The State arseuals and overpower
any State or Federal forces that might
be sent against them. To accomplish
this, their initial design, it will be ne
eessary that they find the authorities
asleep or off their guard, as they did
before; but on the present occasion the
protectors of law and order are fore
warned as well as forearmed, and not
likely to give their enemies the sdvant-
age of negligence. But, granting the
possibility of the opening triumph the
Communists anticipate, their ultimate
success will depend mainly upon the
attitude Of the trade unionists. These
the Communists claim to have captured;
and, although it is difficult to believe
that a majority of them would consent
to employ violent or revolutionary
methods in effecting the reforms they
seek, it must be admitted that their
proceedings have been frequently uu>
wise, and fheir leaders have not always
been moderate and unselfsh. They
have, in fact, been doing more or less un-
the work which the Cons
munist plans. They have also, within
the past few years, linked themselves
to set of political demagogues. and
their united appeals to popular preju.
diees have iatterly gained great force
If the more anarchial designs of the
Communists are therefore cloaked or
held for awhile in allegiance. and
modified platform, such as the trades
unionists can accept, is adopted, 1 can
see no reason why the two classes
should not combine for the accomplish
ment of common purpose In that
case, the party of disturbance would
soon become the majority; therefore
the people and the Communist revolu-
ton would be lawful government.
Nothing TO Rebel Against.
The Great Investigation was begun