Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-16
matter or in nature. We deny the existence
of God, and no longer discuss it,


THE REPUBLIC MUST BE DESTROYED,
"What changes do the communists think
necessary in the United StatesP"
'Some desire such modification of the laws
as would improve the condition of labor. We
do not believe in partial changes. We be-
lieve it necessary to apply communisticiprinci-
pies radically, because it is not possible to
apply them little by little. We are in favor
of centralizing all power in the hands of the
government; this is why we call our journal
La Capitalization. We desire to see the gov
eminent take possession of the railways, and
all other monopolies. The State should be
the only proprietor, and should use all prop
erty for the good of all. If we came into
power we should decree the abolition of all
individual property"
"Was not something of this kind tired by
the Jesuits in Paraguay"
There the people lived in community. 1t
is not the same thing. We do not propose
that man shall be obliged to get up and go
to bed at certain hours, nor that there shall
be any interference with his individual hber-
ty. We do not want to turn the world into
barracks, where men should be drilled and
driven; we are not enemies to the arts or to
the pleasures of life, but we want every one
to get his share of them according to his ca
pacity to enjoy. But we desire, also, that
men shall only enjoy what they produce, and
for this reason we would make work compul-
sorry on every citizen"
AS OTHERS SEE US.
Then you think the United States needs
reforminRP'
Everything in it is bad. You will excuse
my frankness, but here you are rotten from
head to heel. 1t is worse than in Europe.
Your constitution is tolerable, but no one re-
spects it; it exists only for forms sake. The
officials whose duty it should be to protect 1t,
from the highest to the lowest, pay no heed
to it. Your universal suffrage is influenced
by glasses of beer, and the man who can
spend the most money is the one who sue
ceeds. There is no principle; everybody is
seeking his own profit; the only question Is,
Will it pay2 Then, as to the individual lib
erty, there is less here than under the most
despotic government in European countries
less, even, than in Germany. There Is no
country l know of where the individual lib
erty of the citizen is less respected than here.
Why, with twenty-five dollars, and two wit
nesses willing to serve me, | can put any one
in prison. This l know from personal expe-
rience. The corruption of your public serv-
ants lis due to their short term of office. 1t
costs these men a good deal to get elected or
appointed, and during their term of office
they must make enough money to get back
what they spent to getin, and also must make
as much as they can In addition, knowing
that within few years at most they will be
thrown out of office.
HARD ON THE REFORMERs.
GAN the officials take brides. You can do
do nothing unless you can pay them. When
| came here | wanted permission to establish
kiosques like those on the Paris boulevards.
l went down to the city hall and saw one of
Mayor Havemeyer's secretaries. L explained
what wanted to do. He thought it would
not be bad thing, but wanted to know how
I tO a
He explained quite frankly that as he would
only be short time in Office he could not lose
any chance of making. money. He said l
would have to pay cash down-promises
would not do. As l had no money | could
not get the permission. This conversation
took place in the mayors office with one OF
the secretaries, whose name | do not care to
mention. There was no sum named, because
as l had no money it was useless to discuss
the amount. Then, again, when l was ar
rested and brought to the prison, was asked
whether | desired to pay or not. l
said had no money with me, but that if
the warden would send letter for me
to my house l could get some and would be
willing to pay the messenger for his trouble.
One of the employees was sent with let
ter to my house. When he returned he was
drunk and had spent the money he had re-
ceived at my house. / was ordered to go
into the unpaid cells, but refused. The man
who had spent my money threatened to strike
me if l did not go at once. However, re-
fused, as I knew the money had been given
to him. When examined by the warden he
admitted he had spent the money.
CowARDLY OUTRAGE.
81 afterward learned that when he came to
my house with the letter for the money he
tried to induce my daughter, girl of six
teen, to accompany him. He told her that
was in prison crying, and that | wanted to
see her; this was false. He would, no doubt,
have induced the poor child to accompany
him had not friend of mine come in and
said, You must not leave this house, made
moiselle; if your father Is crying | will go
and see him. 1t was all lie, and he no
doubt sought to entice the child from the
house for some base purpose. 1t is only in
America that servants of the government
would dare to commit such outrages. have
travelled in Germany, France and England,
but l never saw or heard of such abuse of
as l have witnessed here. Your
constitution may be better than in other coun-
tries, but it is not observed"