The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-18
A DANGEROUS REALITY.

LOT one ana the same tnlng. Eacn OF
them in its application to the several
classes which, under the name of Mill
ism, are agitating Russia, which in Ger
many attempt the assassination of the
Emperor William under the name of
Socialism which cursed France as Com
munism, and now threaten us in Cali
fornia as kearneyism, aud in other sec
tions Of the country under various
aliases, means simply Atheism in reli-
gion, a distinct belief in nothing, the
ignoring of all laws, all social restrc-
tons, all moral family or domestic rela-
tons, and is in fact social, religious and
political chaos. To cultivated people
in America, it seems almost impossible
that such doctrines can ever win re-
cruits from any other class than the
ignorant and vicious Yet in Russia
the spectacle is presented of people
who have become converts to these
mad precepts, who actually represent
the education, culture, and to marked
extent the nobility of the Empire
In Germany, Socialism has become
even among the intelligent classes, a
formidable political movement. In 1871
there were but two Socialists in the
German Parliament. In 1871 they in
creased to twelve, the party polling in
the general elections Of that year no
less than one half million votes. Is
leaders were active and aggressive.
No less than forty newspapers indus
triously advocated the Socialistic doc
trines, while some of the most distin-
guished professors of leading Universe
ties taught and disseminated the ex-
tremest phases Of it. Its propaganda
lists were loud in their denunciation of
the tyranny of capital" They hailed
with delight the progress of infdeity
and clamored loudly for the dsestab-
lishment of the Church. Recognizing
the fact that the pressure of bard times
promoted social restlessness, popular
distrust and discomfort, the German
demagogues, true types of our own rcck-
less politicians, harangued the masses,
and promised them positive and prac-
teal results in their war against the
trinity of tyrannies-Capital, the State,
and Christianity. CraZed by its teach
ings, few days ago, hungry work
man vainly attempted to put bullet
through the head Of the Emperor in the
open streets of Berlin. Anxiety is now
excited to know how Bismark will deal
with the Socialistic problem in Ger
many, since it is pestilence which
promises in some shape to give every
civilized government much trouble to
eradicate
1t is scarcely necessary in this con-
nection to recall its history in France.
The French people tried similar expert
ments in the eighteenth century, under
the lead Of Noltaire, Rousseau, and the
Encyclopedias, and it was not until
they came to the full realization of the
terrible significance of the Satanic boast
Of the Nihilsts Of that day" after US
the deluge that they finally grappled
with the evil and overcame it. But
even in France the spirit of the genera
tons of those days has never entirely
died out. Its traces still linger, like all
other of its congeners, which are equally
destructive of social morals and human
progress Communism in France has
indeed but recent V re-enacted it's deadly
work But it has crossed the Atlantic
and taken Americans by surprise. We
as nation have suddenly awakened to
the realization of the imminence Of the
dangers to which our popular institu-
tons are exposed by its rapid and sur
prising Development Foreign elements
have insidiously, but industrouslv, in
oculated large masses of the popula-
ton in our industrial centers, while the
loose talk and easy morality of dema-
gogues have influenced perniciouslv tn
minds of minimizing people. Our poll
ticians have been, and still are, uncon-
sciously playing with fire. All their
insinuating and ringing defamation
on the labor question has meant, if it
meant anything, that somehow the Gov
eminent was Withholding from the la
boring man some of his inalenable
rights, or restraining him from the eXer-
else Of some of his privileges as free
man. All the Communism in the air
to-day is the legitimate and logical out
come of these pestilent teachings. A
few noisy lunatics from abroad could
never have commanded a following to
be dreaded, if indigenous demagogues
had not played upon the widest pas
sons of the ignorant and vicious. and
if these deviltries of the politicians had
not been winked at for selfish purposes
by the more intelligent classes. But
while it is very properly matter of
congratulation to conscientious Ameri-
cans that they have shown no sympa-
thy for these disorganizing and danger
Gus theories, yet the fact is not to be
disguised that the worst doctrines of
Communism are being rapidly propa-
gated in our midst, and which, although
an imported heresy, will, at no very
distant day in our national history,
have to be crushed out bv the strong
arm of the general Government 1t
would seem indeed that an epidemic of