Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-21
Thc Commune in tue South.

Tho Rlchmond correspondent OF the Nc9
York Herald says :-Commuuism, which h.s
heretofore been confined strictly to tho Non,
and West, is now beginning to attract some n
tention 10 the South. The organization hoe
not yet extended itself to this section, nor b.s
there been any we'll directed effort toward tbn
of the principles Of the commune
1t was rumored some time ago that two agents
OF the Commune had visited this city, had r.
NAMED few days and then departed on ,on,
through the South. This is regarded a. hiOb.
ly improbable; but if such agents ever did m,
10 an appearance hero their movements mu,t
either have been guarded with the greatest So
crecy or they failed to ind any element in the
population here IN sympathy with their socisl.
lstic ideas and agra1lan principles.
The negroes constitute the chief labor Gle.
mcnt in the South. They are ignorant, docije
and pcaccable, and since the breaking IN Of
the Union leagues and other political organic,
tons IN which they were so long bound up iD =
halt civic, half military sort of way, they have
had no opportunity of imbibing any Of the
isms, communistic or otherwise. that pervadr
the laboring population Of the North. On the
other hand, the negroes have 20 serious cau.c
Of complaint The great mass of them are en-
ploycd on farms aud plantations, where thcv
realize subsistence great deal better than
they formerly did IS slaves, aud the remainder
make respectable living as mechanics, wait
ers servants and domestics o! every dcsctip
ton aud in every capacity. Aided to this, the
negroes are in the main coutcnt. There is lkc
nj la br ri
upon the great depression 10 the tobacco hu,
Eess and the failure Of Congress to egisate w.
on the tax question. but beyond that the ne
groos are quiet and comparatively happy.
The only possible available material in the
South for the leaders of the Commune to work
upon is the very small percentage Of white M.
cbanics and aborers employed 10 the lion foun
dries. railroad shops and Gu the railroads 10 the
South. The wages Of this class have been
several times reduced the forces 10 the shops
and en- the roads have been curtailed again an!
again, in numerous instances their pay is scv.
cral months behind, and then they receive their
arrearsges in scrip which has TO undergo
heavy discount before they eau purchase the
neccssarics of life. But even from these there
is no danger to be apprchended. The raiIroai
men and mechanics 10 the South are intelligent
and emncDtly conservative, and they are con
trolcd by communities where conservatism is q
fundamental principle aud where agrariansm
would not be tolerated. With their surround
ings and the interests by which they ar ruli
ed, it is scarcely likely that the white mcchar
ics aad laborers in the South could very read
ly be converted into disciples Of Communist
However, tho newspapers have taken the
matter up and have set the ball 10 NOTICE
whatever may be its course or whatever its I,
suit or termination. 40 organ Of the rcpuda
tionists or readjustcrs 10 this State charges tie
money dealers" with getting up the Comma
uistic excitement ADD with being responsible
for all The present agitation ard the pros
pective horrors that arc to ensue from the OF
ganiZation.