Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-11-23
3iEAIPHIS APPEAL
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER go, 1878
THE TRKEpREssIRLE PROBLEM.


THE IRKEPREsSIBLE PROBLEM.
Inc movement against the security OF
property, and the conservation of present
social arrangements, which movement is
known as socialism, communism, interna-
tionalism, and in Russia nihilism, involves q
problem which is, so far, irrepressibe. 1t is
irrepresslble because the causes from which
it arises are in full action, and because its
opponents seek to extirpate it by force, with
out In any degree removing the causes in
which it originates. For half a century the
thing now called communism has existed; it
has been derided, and half contemptuously
argued against, but that has not prevented
it assuming the proportions we see it present
to-day, when it exists on every civilized land,
and is as inherently violent in this free re-
public as in the most despotic country in
Europe, as the communist newspapers of the
day give evidence. So important has it be-
come that within a few months
three attempts have been made, I'M
der its influence, to take away the
lives of three European sovereigns. Tho
menacing character and increasing number
of the communists have compelled derision
to withdraw itself, and serious discussion to
take its place. Prof. Hitchcock, in our own
country, and Prof Fawcett, in England,
have recently given the notions of the COM
munists their attention-the former in pub
lished book, the latter in a magazine article
These facts are sufficient to show that the
subject is an important one, and it is the
more so to US as it may, some day before
LII H.
box. The great object of the party we are
speaking of, under whatever name it may
appear, is to completely uproot and destroy
the present way Of obtaining and holding
property. Under some form or another, it
favorS surrendering all tia. each man has, or
makes, or earns, to the State; the State
to distribute 1t so that every individual
within the Stale shall have what he proper
ly requires, and none shall want the neces-
saries of life. The reason why the COM
munists demand an abrogation of existing
rights of property, is that the present mode
of distributing property is so defective In
a country where there is ample wealth for
all, and plenty to spare when every necessary
and comfort has been supplied for each indi-
vidual, it is evident that, under Just and
rational mode of distributing property, how
ever unequal different persons or different
classes shares might be, they would never
become so unequal as to leave honest, sober,
industrious and able citizens prey 10 desti-
tuition or so near to restitution that any acct
dent or sickness brings the individual of good |
and unexceptionable character to the verge |
of want Yet this is what actually occurs in |
modern society, and the existence of such |
state of things is proof of some wrong or |
defect in the manner of distributing wealth. |
This evil the communist proposes to destroy |
by destroying the rights on which private |
property Is held, and substituting an en-
tirely different way of approprlatiug to
each individual food, clothing, and other
necessarieS for living, for labor, and for recre-
alton or instruction. To these men the argu
ment so far offered has been that of extinction
by force. All history, all the prosecutions of
the past tell US that this mode of dealing
with the irrepressi5le problem will make it
more irrepressible than ever; because, while
Furnishing the development of communism, it
leaves the causes of discomfort untouched,
and ever-exlsting prompters to new efforts
against social order, and fresh attempts to
assassinate and to rob. "No policy can be
more short-sighted," says Prof. Fawcett, cor
more unwlse than to endeavor to repress So
cialism by imposing legislative penalties on
those who advocate its principles" and this
tor the reason that it would drive them to Sc
cret association and CRIME. In Germany and
Russia societies imbued with communistic
ideas are so numerous, so thoroughly organ
lzed, and so secret, that they have become the
OBJECTS OF an ever-present dread If the
sovereign in the midst of his people
can be attacked, who is safe? What
communism Is In. France, was seen
In Paris seven years ago, when the commu-
nlsts burned down public edifces and private
dwellings, tore down monuments and ASSN
ated priests. At present, monarchical
countries are most infested with it, but we
know that we shall have to encounter it in
our.own country; indeed, we had specimen
OF its nature in the Pittsburg railway riots
year ago. Some writers have contended that
when these societies have become prevalent
here, our position will be a specially danger
GUS one, because by the ballot-box they may
continue to get into positions that will cover
with the forms of law proceedings that will
destroy society, and institute chaos where we
have order, and destructiveness where we
have labor. This idea will change when the
nations who are compiling repressive laws
against the communists discover how useless,
and, indeed, how dangerous such legislation
is. Untrammeed by precedsnts or feudal
usages, above the domination of mere Gus
tom, and not afraid to adopt new principles
when old expedients fail, If we come
to be brought face to face with
so that it becomes threaten
ing, we shall cut the ground from under
It by abolishing wrongs if they exist, and by
remodifying the tendency in the comparative
system for 90 the RIGA to become richer and
the poor poorer" That singular people, the
Jews, from whom the world is continually
learning lessons, had in their constitution, as
against this very tendency. When the owner ,
Of land sold it he could sell only until the
Jubilee, a time that came each fifty years. |
When that period arrived the property sold re- ,
yerted to the family to which it originally be- I
Ionged. Twice in every century land mo. G
nopoy was made impossible. There were I
1ther provisions, having for their effect :
heck upon the accumulation of vast masses a
Of property in few hands, while the mass of t
society was left in intense poverty. Under $
,uch provisions moderate fortunes, sufficient
or comfort and welfare were the rule, and .
what the Jews could do this country can do a
+ occasion should arise, and, by modes d