Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-05
Communism as IL Is.

Our repeated illusions to the communistic
tendencies which are being manifested in
certain quarters-especially in our large
cities aud mining districts-do not arise
from any apprehension OF serious and es-
pecially extensive danger, but that its true
spirit and purposes may be fully known and
understood. When that is done, this deadly
upas tree, of foreign origin, will find but
feeble footing in American soil
Communism is chiefly development of
French extravaganza in thought and feeling,
and is not well understood in this country.
When the communist rebellion was crushed
out in Paris, many of those bloody destruct-
ives fled for refuge to other lands. A large
number of them came to this country, and
can now be found in New York, Chicago,
and several other cities. The other day the
French communists of New York, at one of
their meetings, put forth statement of
doctrines and policy. The following ex-
tracts from this statement will show what
the French communists really are
just redistribution of wealth and work among all
men, and that the power to possess should not be-
long to q few but to all to the community
We are communists because we desire to de-
stroy this individual property personifed by ego
tism and iniquity; because we wish to found ON
oyerthrown society bond of happiness and per
feet equality among men.
We are atheists because, consequent with
ourselves, our logic refuses to admit supreme
being chimera, something monstrous and out
side humanity.
6 In the new society-that IN which the empire
Of the world has been promised, that which must
regenerate the races, that which must set us free
we do not recognize God; we will not have the
God in whose name many crimes have beer
committed, so much blood shed.
we are revolutionists because we desire tc
oyerturn by force a society which upholds itse
by force. Because we know that we must con
quer, at whatever price, political power, which
alone can establish the dietature of the proetar
lat and force 1t To act until there shall only b,
equal citizens in the new society
We are authoritative because we wish TIN
Capitalization of the revolutionary forces, no
their decentralization; because we desire disci
pline not anarchy; because we wish TO give T.
the commune 1.-THE only government OF the people
force as the auxiliary Of its right
1--WE shall remember the numberless atroci
ties of which Paris and Versailles were the theatre
and when the day of vengeance comes we vii
strike this criminal and savage society in its son.
as well az in its property
" In the army OF the revolution the most enici
cious means to employ for the complete extel
mination Of the bourgeoisie-the best arms for d,
Tense against the aggressions and ambushes of il
servants-are reprisals the relentless immolatio
Of all our enemies, the destruction OF their pa
aces and their property by fire, to overthrow the
temples, those monuments which recall huma
slavery, the ignorance OF the people and the reig
of the priesthood, and the bloody epopees of til
soldiers of the empire"
The Commune which these men propos
10 establish is despotism more rigid tina
the world has ever seen. 1t annihilates I'll
individual and makes freedom impossible
AS these men say, it establishes the dict
ture Of the proletariat and forces it to act
as the constructors of the commune direc
1t will not tolerate freedom of thought eve
so far as to allow anybody to believe in
God. 1t recognizes no inequality in int,
lect, character, or individual force. Gre
genius, character and activity is confn,
to equality in privileges and possibiliti
with the rotten life of the lazy loafer. Su,
{" commune would not last long if
could be established.