The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-20


are now attracting more or less attention
throughout the country but the most
serious and the most likely to be fruitful in
evil is that compound Of ignorance and
madness now known as socialism. But
the problems which this new mania pre-
sents to society are easy to solve, provided
only society can be put face to face with
them in the clear daylight. In so fhr as
there is any argument with the new re-
formers, or with the socialistic theories
they pretend to advocate, there is no need
to wander beyond a primary school for
facts or dialectics 1t is. however, the
characteristic of this new agitation,
as of every other notorious vagary
Of popular thought, that confutation is
lost upon it. Schoolboys can confute the
argument Of these beer-mug orators; but
they will rise from continuation, like luna
tics, with conviction that not valid word
has been said against them, or even that all
that has been said has supported their
theory. Or if they have in any case glim-
mering that argument is against them, then
they fall to defying reason altogether. In
the days Of the anti-slavery agitation there
was common and characteristic end with
the supporters of the institution. Con-
WINGED of the invalidity Of their arguments
from physiology, and from political econ
omy, and even driven from their Scriptural
strongholds, they intrenched themselves
in the facile formula Of, ''Well,
damn a niger anyway This was the
supreme statement of a passion and preju-
dice which had in reason no basis that could
be reduced to argument. In the same
spirit the socialists, at loss for reasons, are
ready to tumble together in common con-
demnation of ignorance and ferocity all
social relations and advantages, law, order,
religion, right, justice, property and free
| dom--and precisely because they have an
| instructive sense that their cause, though it
| appeals to the world in the name Of reason,
is in fact the cause of passion and ferocity
they shnn in their propaganda that public
| ity and light in which their agitation can
! gether in secret councils and conspiracies
In its name and in the ordinary state
ment of its intentions socialism is harm
less word and few equally harmless
| phrases but as q practical force in the
world it cannot be measured or judged by
these. 1t must be considered in the light
of the actions of those who have hitherto
gone some way in the attempt to apply
these phrases and to make this name the
symbol of what is to replace the existing
order. Viewed in that light socialism
means destruction-the destruction and
ruin Of all that which makes the difference
between prosperous and civilized coun-
savages. It means the secret hand
welding the midnight torch declaredly
that bonfire may be made Of
the rich mans house, or the great
builders factory, or the great merchants
shop 1t means that, and also a stolid in
difference to the fact that under the lee of
the rich mans house are the snug little
homes of halt dozen other men--poor by
comparison with him, but rich in the eyes
of the socialists. 1t means war on the
men who labor and are thrifty men who
have committed the objectionable sin of
acquiring a little property OF their own !;
men who have wives and children, for
whom they endeavor to make and
keep the little home; for all these
are the upholders Of the system
that socialism proposes to destroy. Jehu
with o cab and driving his own horses, the
cartman who owns his cart and team and
the waterman whose whole property is
l. Lo yl<,s 10 . he - a., 80
that mine of wealth, his chest Of tools-all
these are capitalists and are to be whelmed by
force Of arms into n common ruin with the
ssbloated bondholders' unless, when the trial
comes, they themselves see the case clear
enough to know that they also are rich
men in the eyes of the socialists. Socialism
means war on society of which the Modocs
themselves might feel ashamed. 1t is a
baneful political disease that has grown
like plague in the great breeding places Of
moral pestilence and that we do not believe
will thrive in our air.
But if we accept this new scheme for the
economical and moral regeneration Of
the world let us at least take it with our
eyes open, with all the knowledge within
reach of its real nature and of its necessary
operations, and not be deceived by tho rig
marole objurgations of its apostles. France
and Germany have had experience of it's
effects. and people here can judge by tho
history of socialism in those countries
whether they have any disposition to have
the story repeated at their expense. In oil
the places where socialism has hitherto
made any persistent effort it has fourishod,
in 80 far as il has hourished at all. at
the expense of the freedom Of the
people. This is consequence in
fact as strictly logical ms it is APP
parently erratic; tor freedom is the
common advantage of the mass Of the peo-
pie Of any country against minority, while
tha socialistic scheme nronoses tho alyan=