Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-05-28
Communism In America.

to fear from the COmmunistic
ideas which are being propogated at the
North, and which are causing so much
among the lovers of law
and order.
+ There is diversity of opinion as to
the importance of this subject. Some
influential journals in the North look on
it as an evil full of danger to the peace
and prosperity of the country, and even
of danger to the life of the Republic.-l
Others think that such fears are ground
less, believing that Communism can be
easily held in check by mere defiance
on the part Of the friends of law and
order. And others believe that it exists
in America only in the Imagination of
timid capitalists and bloated bondhold~
ers. But there is reason to fear that this |
mischievous theory is gaining ground |
among our people, and that determin-
ed enemy to religion, to law, to society,
and to property is constantly increasing |
in numbers and boldness in our country.
If the statements of the press are to |
be relied on, the International Society
has thousands of members in the United
States. 1t has funds enough to use the
press in disseminating its doctrines by
tracts, pamphlets and newspapers. 1t
has agents, supported out of its treasury
while teaching the principles of Com
munism and, it is said, that the So
cialists are quietly arming and drilling,
under the pretenee of keeping up the
volunteer militia. Their leaders are
certainly bold enough to express very
plainly their sentiments and purposes.
A few weeks since, the Secretary of the
American Reform League openly avow-
ed, in public address in New York,
| that the railroad riots of last year we're
the Bunker Hill of a new revolution,
and that the man who should shoot
Scott or Vanderbilt would deserve a
monument to his memory. About ten
days ago, Megg, member of the Com
muns of Paris in 1871, and the abettor
of all the great strikes in Europe for
several years before, was arrested in
New York. His offence was threaten
ing to shoot reporter for inveighing
against Communism while reporting
Soeialistic meeting. These indications
make it matter of interest TO inquire
into the meaning and aim of Commu-
nism. They can be easily understood by
tracing it to its SOURCE end by noticing
what it has already done.
! Communists or social democrats either
belong to or endorse the International
Society. It's programme embraces the
abolition of all religion, of all accumu-
lated property or capital, of marriage,
of inheritance, and the establishment
of universal brotherhood of mankind
on the basis of liberty, fraternity, and
equality. This wild theory has its ORR
gin in the false philosophy that under
lies the prevailing theory of Evolution.
That philosophy teaches that the human
race comes we know not whence and
goes we know not whittier; 6n1 il houts
as idle superstition the idea that the in
equalities of this life are to be right
eously adjusted in future world. This
life is our all in all. If SO, the wisest
man is the one who enjoys all he can
get possession of by fair means or foul.
Actual events in the last ten years show
that when the masses, under the lead
of intelligent Commu pists, are once inn
bued with the spirit of such theory,
they become mere brutes, disregarding
all rights OF property, and contending
for what they desire with the senseless,
unreasoning feroetty of wild beasts.
This is proved by what occurred in
Paris just seven years ago. fne Inter
national Society was the prime movefI
in the Commuaistic riots in that city in
1871. At the close Of the Prussian war,
the leaders of the Commune gained
over the National Guard OF thirty
thousand men, which by the treaty of
Brussels had not been disarmed. Back
ed by this armed force and the laboring
class, they at once began the bloodiest
dl0 luCSt CIlE1tiitSA tl9O oAA fCNOAA. Ivy
arrested as hostages and then murdered
in cold blood the Archbishop and many
Other clergy. A warrant was actually
issued to sarrest one called God AL
mighty, who has no visible means of
support and must be 8 yagrant." In
regard to property, their motto was. let
him who has not take from him vino
has. Acting literally on this principle,
they destroyed or seized for their own
use S15O,0oe,oe0 of public and private
property. And so faf from mere de-
fiance of Communism being enough to
keep it down, it took the French army, |
under Marshal Mcmahon, two months |
to subdue it in the single city OF Paris. |
When driven to their last barricade in |
the streets, the rioters refused to surren-
der. and were shot down, exclaiming,
Viue la Commune!
This is the reckless and determined
enemy to the existing order of society |
which is said to be constantly increasing
In nuinbersin this country. They believe
that capital, accumulated in the hands |
of few, is the chief source OF social evils
aud human misery-therefore, wealth |
must be equally distributed that all may
enjoy life alike. 1t is useless to say that
this programme is too absurd to be at
tempted on a large scale in the United
States. The rioters Of last year per-
sisted in an absurd object long enough |
to derange the traffic of the whole coun-
try and to destroy a large amount of
We need not think that Conn
munistic fanaticisIn is possible only
the "half tiger, hall monkey"
Frenchmen, and that our wide territory /
and free government gre our best safe
guard. On the contrary, America seems
to offer to Communism its best 0ppor-
tunity. Our theory that oil men are
born free and equal sounds q good deal
like Conlmunistic sentiment. II the
=, - "a o,.~,