The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-06-12
n0MHUNIsM.

greSelve. The more thoughtful ana pru-
dent think they see signs of breakers
ahead. We are certainly in dangerous
waters and a cast of the lead and line is
at least prudent. The unrest of the
present had its beginning in the British
colonies of North America in 1776, and
was born of discriminating legislation.
The Colonies, at the outset, only sought
the repeal of OdiOus and unjust laws,
but as war was the result, they were
emboldened to strike for freedom and
were successful The French people,
heavily taxed in order to uphold a pri-
vileged class, became imbued with the
American idea and a blood Revolution
was the result. With proper leadership
their efforts might have given them a
Republican government such as ours.
The leaders in our Revolution were our
best men; the leaders of the French Re-
volutiOn, with only one or two excep-
tions, were their worst men. The result
was that Republicanism soon ran into
Communism and even the ignorant mas
ses were glad to have the royalty and
nobility take the place of those whose
rule had been a reign of terror and crime
without a parallel in history.
In later years, France again became
Republic, but with such careful restric-
lions as against Communism that it was
such only in name and soon the Presi-
dent became Emperor and the Republic
was replaced by an absolute despotism.
About the same time the several States
of Italy made a move for freedom and
though the small and despotic govern
ments were wiped out, a constitutional
monarchy and Italian unity, instead OF
Republican government, was the result.
Later still, with the hope of keeping the
lower classes of his people from imbibing
revolutionary ideas, the Gar emancipa-
ted the serfs of Russia, England yielded
to the demand of more general elective
franchise. Germany was united under
the leadership of Prussia and granted a
liberal constitution, and the government
of the Emperor of Austria and Hungary
rose from despotism to restricted Mon
archy in which the people were represen-
ted. France again fell into the hands of
the Commune, but is now Republic in
name. Within the year, it may vet be
governed by the commune or by Napo-
leon the 4th.
There is a spirit of Communism, agra
rianism and socialism that is live through
out the world and if not checked will
destroy every government and all proper
rights of mankind. 1t exists in this
country, especially within the range and
influence of German and French social
lists. If we fail to suffer from the Com
mune, il can only be attributed to the
fact that cur people are generally land
owners, and their interest is on the side
of law, order and good government and
not in revolution, anarchy and wanda
lism. The man who owns little farm,
the mechanic, tradesman or day laborer
who owns little cottage home, in city,
town or village feels as much interest in
the perpetuity of good government as
the great planter or the nabob whose
home is a palace. They have earned
these homes by honest toll and are sim
cerely attached to the principles of free
government under which they have been
enabled to have home. They have as
little of agrarianism or Communism in
their hearts as the millionaire whose
fortune is worthless in the absence of
law, order and good government. Their
hatred and contempt for those who have
nothing to rely upon for support but
their labor, and yet will not work, is in
tense and supreme, yet they permit these
vile creatures, who never did an honest
days work in their lives, to draw them
into labor unions, trades-unions, work
ingmen's associations, each Of which is
by step, they follow these worthless
drones into strikes, disregard Of law, mob
violence, destruction of public and pri-
vate property and murder and before
they realize that they have ceased to be
good citizens will form part and parcel
of the Commune. Let US all stop and
think little lest hasty action should
drive us to destruction. Like causes
produces like effects. Bad and discrimi-
mating legislation produced the revolt of
the American Colonies and the Ameri
can Republic. Discriminating acts and
class privileges by the government of
France produced the French revolution
and gave birth to the Commune. Bad
and discriminating legislation in the
United States has created a privileged,
but untitled class, swept our merchant
vessels from the seas, destroyed conf
dence and credit, impoverished the trad
ing and laboring classes, produced labor
unions, IabOr-stIikes and riots in which
both property and life were destroyed,
and step by step indicted Communism
into the country. The Republican par
ty is responsible for this condition of
affairs and but for the determined oPpo-
sition of the Democracy the acts of the
Commune OF France would, ere this,
have been repeated in this country.
Weaken the Democratic party by affilia-
ting with its enemies and you hasten
the evil day, strengthen the Democratic
party and Communism viii be throttled.
for, these the causes which produce il
will have ceased to exist.
While the Emperor, Kaiser William,
was taking a drive in Berlin, on the af-