The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
SOCIALISM IN AMERICA.
THE QUESTION VIEWED FROM CHRISTIAN
STANDPOINT BY TILE REV. DIR. HITCHCOCK

THE QUESTION VIEWED FROM A CHRISTIAN
STANDPOINT BY TILE REV. DIR. HITCHCOCK
THE PEW SYSTEM CONDEMNED.
Every seat was filed last evening in the Rev. DR..
cuyler's Church. Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn, where
the Rev. Roswell d. Hitchcock d. D., delivered dis
course Socialism in America
II have not come" said the speaker, "to give at
tcntion to tho secular so much as to the religious
phase of this question 1t is that which concerns
more and more. Thirty years ago was in Paris in q
terrible period Of that citys history. Louis Philippe
had been driven ont and the republic of
Lamartne set up. The atmosphere of the whole of
Europe filled with the echoes Of that revolution
Presently the streets Of Paris black with
of people. 1t instruction of labor lcaping
like tiger at the throat Of capital Then came the
man horseback. Cavaignsc and were there when
the order given to fire the Infatuated masses
This the logical result Of the teaching of Louis
Blanc and other socialist writers, who fired the
labor element with the idea that society owed labor
an opportunity and laid down the false principles
in political economy which simply intcrfer-
with the law of supply and demand.
As consequence the whole scheme fell
to pieces and the masses, maddencd to des-
peration flew at the throat of capital. On every
building the words Liberty, Equality, Fra
ternty' liberty simply meaning as we understand
telligcnt Trcnchmen awed by this reign
of terror, discussed the situation and resolved
that the Empire should be restored to rescue
France. That country has been cured Of Com
munism, she il becoming Christian and within half
a century will be largely Protestant. Her peasant
proprietary only need the light of the Cos
pei. Communism, however, is rearing its head in
other countries, notably in Germany. Bismarck.
who possesses the greatest mind in Europe made
the stupendous mistake Of meeting the evil by re-
preston SO in Russia the Nihilists met by stern
repressive measures This is little short OF mad
Tn VIII fpxvu rd Tho alr.,
lusm of the feudal ages was threatened, there is a
loud cutlery against retrogression but il is different
marck continually published in official journals
favoring return to the feudalism of the Middle
dragons teeth, and from the east to the west OF
Europe there will arise crops OF armed men.
NOT INSTITUTION FOR AMERICA.
Here, in country, socialism has also reared its
head. 1t ia not in accord with the spirit of nsti
tutions. and let it be well understood that if labor
raises the hand of violence force will he met 3y
force and 5000 900 of farmers as well as Others own
ing property will know how to stand their own
acres Peace, order, family and personal property
will be taken care Of
But cannot have peace till grapplc with this
question as Christian men Here is the poor mans
Bible. Christianity is democratic religion. There
are 5o00u0.ooo Of Buddhists in the world aud
160.000,00o Hindoos Brahmins--that is the
former constitute forty per cent of the hu-
man race-and Buddhism is driving Brahmin-
ism to the wall because the former is democratic
The Hndoos constitute religion of caste poisoned
by aristocracy. II were agitator and desired to
make mischief would hoist not the inhdel but the
Christian iag-the flag of democracy tho red
flag The Bible is full OF cheer for the poor
and full of dcnunciations for the aristocracy
\ more democratic gospel preached
than in the Middle Ages though you may call it
the Nedinval Roman Catholic Church, which had
always to that period stood with the against
oppressors. But after the Reformation things were
changed and the Roman clergy gradually linked them
selves in league with monarchies and aristocracy.
TENDENCY OF THE PEW SYSTEM.
Arc VIC not organizing system OF religion and
raising fine churches in this country to shut out the
who constitute the twothirds of society? 1t
Is not the fault of the Bible The Protestant gospel is
degeueratng and have for some time viewed this with
alarm. Don't tell that preaching is too good for
anybody; 1t may be too fine, and, for my part
don't want it nc. The palmer the Gospel the better.
Religion is simply the art of living we'll and every
man understand that pews became COM
till the year 1850. They not to be
found in the great Catholic cathedrals Of Europe.
that have existed since the Middle Ages. All
level in the Catholic church, which retains its hold
on the masses by such democracy. Don't you think
the Protestant churches losing by their pew
system? The poor cannot afford to come and pay
the rent. What shall be done? Let those who &C.
cupy the pews in the morning throw them open to
the In the afternoon Bring the light OF the
gospel into cellars and touch the heart and the poor
will follow you anywhere benefactor, even to .
Protestant church.