The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-06-26
Wednesday, June 26, 1873.

Wednesday June 26, 1873.
The Commune the Danger OF the
Day.
The European Congress Is now sitting
In Berlin, thinking that it is alone con-
cerned in shaping the future destinies OF
Europe, and there the British, the Rus
sian, the Austrian and the Frenchman
are amicably e~ndeavoring to adjust the
map of that continent, as If they alone
we're the motor powers. The interna-
tional exhibition at Paris is peacefully
exhibiting the fruits of peace, and its pro-
moters think they are thus satisfactorily
facing the problems of the hour. And
m this country, from New England to
New Mexico, Democrats and Repuoll-
cans are busying themselves with Potter
investigations, presidential titles, and the
possibilities Of 1880, IS if these alone
were the issues at stake. Here in South
Carolina we are making u nominations
and s%quabbling over Conservatives and
Straight-outs, Democrats and Radicals,
lust as If no other forces were at work
than those that ore concerned with our
next election. Meanwhile there comes
ND from the four corners of C~hristendom
q constant murmur Of opposition to all
the powers that be, whether they be En-
perors, Kings, or Presidents. That
grumbling and murmuring emanate
from the followers of and believers IN
the Commune which like the pestilence
that walketh in darkness has over-run
and infected the whole civilized world.
This Communism, this new political
doctrine, may be defined to mean the
absolute equality of all men. and the
equal right of all men to possess equally
the accumulated property, real and per-
sonal, which the centuries have amassed,
not only what John Stuart Mill calls the
unearned increment of landed estates,
held by the aristocracy, but even the vast
boards of capital which the labour, ener-
gy, and intelligence Of commoners have
aIUslSSco, LII 1879 ~-
the form of Nihilism, and as such 1t
threatens to undermine the throne Of the
Car. SO strong is the Commune there
that a girl who three months ago openly
tried to kill the chief of police for no
reason save that he was q government Of
fetal, was acquitted by ajury and made
a heroine by the people. In Germany,
Communism is known as Socialism, and
there 1t has twice tried lately to assassin
ate the Emperor not because he is anwor-
thy of his high position, but simply be-
cause he stands in the way of the level
ling doctrine. The bloody orgies, wor-
thy only Of pandemonium, which Paris
saw and shuddered at wen years ago
while the Commune temporarily ruled
he CITY, have for q time weakened its
power in France. In Britain, 1t K the
form Of strikes and trades unions and in
the light of day it sets fire to factories and
dwellings of capitalists in Lancashire.
Has the Commune raised its head in this
land of the free and the brave? Let the
Pittsburg and Baltimore riots Of a year
ago tell their bloody tale, and tho recent
demonstrations at Chicago will confirm
1t. Hero as in Europe the destructive
doctrine has its apostles and disciples.
Citizen Schwab and others unblushingly
preach that those who have should, must
and shall give to those who have not.
Landowners, capitalists, employers OF
labour, must bring together all their &C
cumulated wealth, place it in the hands
of communistic committee, and let all
mcn partake thereof, share and fare alike.
Mischievous and fundamentally erro-
neous though its doctrines are, we can
understand the existence of tho Com
mune in Europe where in every country
there is an aristocracy with its vested in
forests, and where a dense population
cannot comprehend how the land belongs
to so limited and privileged a class, some
of whose time-honoured titles cannot
bear inspection. But the growth of the
Commune in the United States is incon-
%prehensible. Here there is nc titled ar
~istocracy. The wealthy Americans OF
this generation arc the children and
grandchildren Of the poor, and their chill
dren and grandchildren will in due
course of time run through and dissipate
the hard earnings of their fathers and
Join the ranks Of the commonalty. Hero
with q few exceptions the wealthy de-
serve their wealth as the legitimate fruits
Of long-continued and s~elf-denying in
dustry. And We may add that here, with
few exceptions, the poor deserve their
poverty as the legitimate result Of idle
ness, extravaganza and lack Of energy,
for here there is land enough and to spare
if the poor will only 80 in and possess it.
The rulers and statesmen o Europe and
America are much puzzled and perplexed
about the commune. 1t belongs to no
nation. It disregards all national ties.
It blots out all geographical line 8 of de-
morcation on the maps. Religion, patriot
ism, pride of birth, all are ignored by the
communist. Russia may fight with En-
gland, and France with Germany, but
the commune in all four countries is one
and indivisible and its members
are brethren. Therein lies its terrible
power. Like a great underground, inter.
national league, it aims to subvert all
nationalities and realize that most ITO
plan Of all dreams, a universal republic,
and worldwide commune.
Happily in the South the communistic
doctrine has not many adherents. But
still Its presence is felt. Here in South
Carolina it does not take the form Of COM
nunistic division of property, for there
is not much property to divide; but it
shows itself in communism of political
power. Here the cry is not to:take lands
and money from the rich and give them
to the poor, but to take all political power
from those who are by ability and train
ing the leaders Of the people, and give il
to one of the people themselves, no mat
tor how corrupt and incompetent he be.
Some Of our newspapers have gone so ia,
as to say we have not and never ha We had
leaders of the people, and they call upor
us to support candidates for office not be-
cause they are best fitted for the position
but because thoy are Of the people anG
make no p~retence to be able to lead them