New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-08
TILL REMEDY FOR COMMUNISM.

sTHE REMEDY FOR COMMUNISM.
Are the great riots of 1877 to be repeated
in 1879 Official information at Washington
has caused an impression that day Tor an
outbreak has been fixed and that san fran-
cisco leaders will commence. In wild speech
at the recent meeting here, one man predicted
that there would soon be blOOdshed, be
ginning at San Francisco" well-known
communistic leader at East st. Louis, who boldly
avOws his cOnfectiOn with secret society,
stated that 800 members were already armed,
and they "could have 10000 men under
arms in a week." and that there would he
"nlenty of news" after a couple of weeks. "A
very large procession of wOrkingmen at Fall
River. said to number 10000, bore such mot
toes as these "A rich man means much labor
"neyer paid for;' reform saved England
&" from Revolution Revolution saved France
" from Ruin; Which are we to have, Reform
cor Revolution? ~ socialist leader of
this city, and another who has been
just elected secretary of National League,
talk in public speeches Of "blood to the knees
and assert that within a short time Capital
will find Labor nearer its throat than 1t sup
poses. The coal region in Pennsylvania Is
"alive with COmmunsic lodges" according
to a dispatch of the 81 inst, and railway
trains have already been Distracted, while the
new organization grows rapidly III spite OF
every effort of the skilled detectives. Mr.
Loncrgan, of the Railway Secret Service. says
that the railway men have formed with other
laborers a National secret organization called
knights of Labor" Of which Uriah o. Stevens,
of Philadelphia, leader in the strikes OF last
year, is the chief officer, and that Justus
Schwab is a member Finally, the statement
that secret clubs arc drilling with arms at
Chicago, though at first denied, seems TO have
foundation.
What do all these things meant When THE
TRIBUNE recently gave a page to an ex-
position of the growing power of Communists
in this country, many thought that there was
no cause for alarm; that the Communists
were too few and scattered to make much
trouble. Yet the events Of every day
strengthen the evidence that secret leagues Of
Communists have been forming all over the
country, and in some quarters arming, and
that the control of this desperate element over
the Trades Unions has greatly increased, par
tlcularly in the cities where the forcign-bOIn
population is large, in the coal mines OF Penn
sylyania and Illinois, and IN some manuiac-
turing centres. Great strikes are now IN pro-
grcss ut Fall River, and III the coal region OF
Illinois, and a greater is anticipated in
the coal region of Pennsylvania If there
were no central guidance and deliberate
plan, it would be quite likely that strikes
would lead to outbreaks, and these to sympa-
thctic riots all over the country, as happened
Il. Il. hot
there does exist the central guidance, and
that it is in the hands, or directly under the
influence, of the refugees Of the Commune and
the international Society. The leaders mean
far-rcachng mischief. The subordinate chiefs
are stirred up in different localities on differ
ent topics III California, about Chinese labor;
in Fall River, about broken savings banks and
plundcred mills in coal regions, about wages.
The Trades Unions are swept into a general
movement because OF local issues, or COM
plants peculiar to each trade but behind all
this is the desire to take from owners OF prop
erty the fruits of their thrift.
There are political reasons for serious
thought The riots of last year appeared to
carsc Il great increase of the Labor, National,
or COmmunistic vote. Scared dcmagogucs OF
both parties were caused to trucIe most
shamcfully to the revolutionary spirit; cow
ardly officials so pandeIcd 10 1t that there was
no adequate punishment for the crimes COM
mitted Great destruction Of property brought
to many wOrlmen increased employment /;
that other w0rkmen lost far more was not
seen. Now there are agitatOrs who think that
another great struggle would bring more votes
70 COmmunistic tickets this Fail, more cow
ardice Of officials aud fewer pUuishmcn;s,
more trucking Of politicians and greater
power to agitators, more destruction of pro-
perty and work for the unemployed. 1t was
boldly said, the other day THE strike last
wear was q success it forced capital to pay
60 out 81, 900, coo for rebuilding roads and
works, aud drove politicians to their knees
"before u.s." But to the workman who con-
ccives that he has real cause of complaint,
the agitator says, We have suffered for years,
90 and nobody listened; as soon as we begin
"to smash things the public is forced to listen.
"Therciore, smash things again"
Two things are absolutely necessary, if civ
ilizcd society in this country is not to be dis
ordered for many years by Communism. The
first is that the public must stand ready to
crush every revolt against law, swiftly, thor
oughly, mcrcilessly. The law-brcaking Com
munist must meet no more liberation than a
mad dog. Next, there must be public
opinion which will stamp out any political
party or leader who alliliates with or courts
the spirit of Communism. Civilized society
must learn to hold as public enemies every
organization, political or trade and every pub
lie man or official in any degree leaning to-
ward Communism. 1t must be treated as we
treat cholera or the smallpox, or its work will
be far more deadly.