South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-05-23
The Communists Creed.
BY REQUEST

Gus proportions, and means as many
things as a Greek particle. No two Com
munists are able to agree in what they
want, fact abundantly proved last sum.
mer by Mr.. Hewitt's Committee IL IA
( had rendered no other service, the ooun-
try would owe 1t something for that de-
monstratlon. In general Communism
may be defined az simple restlcssness !;
sense, true or false, of the evils Of the
present social system, without any WELL
considered plans for its improvements
Among the yagaries which il proposes IL
would he strange If II did not hit on some
practical suggestions; and still stranger
IL 1t dld not avail itself of some of the
| forward movements that have already
been made by those who have not the
least sympathy, religiously, socially or
politically, with the Communistic ayita-
tors or their schemes. Thus it happens
that the Communists creed is like the
astrologists philosophy of ancient times.
with deal of nonsense there is some
sense; and with very little if any pre-
science, 1T nevertheless, III a blind sort of
way, gives hint of the possible devel-
opments of the future. The following
summary of political doctrine, given in
nearly the exact words of prominent
Communist, embodies the creed of Amer.
lean Communism in what may be called
Its mllder form, freed from that phase of
Socialism which is borrowed from Four
rler and demands the abolition of the
family rs well as the perversion of the
State:
The cause of all misery among the
laborlng classes is our present system of
wages. Now, i'll the place of this system
we propose TO put the system of co-ope-
ration. Every man who is able and will.
ing TO work shall have plenty to do, and
lie shall be paid according to his ability
ana industry. The labor authorities, ac-
cordlng to the necessities of the people,
shall order the work to be done, and ev-
cry worker shall be benefited through the
entire production of the cooperating com
munlty. Then we propose to introduce
direct legislation through the people, as
they have 1T III our sister Republic, Swift.
zerland. This system is as simple as it
is just and practicable.
'All the other propositions laid down
IN our platform can be accepted likewise
without any bloody revolution. The
cight-hour law, which has for is object
the prevention of over-production, can us
well be adopted by the different States
as 1t has been in principle by the general
government. Sanitary inspection of all
conditions of labor (means of subsistence
and dwellings incluled) is but a inst de-
mand. Bureaus Of labor statistics, for
the purpose OF ascertaining the true CON
ditlon OF all classes, industries, commerce.
NC, can be established without violence.
frohlbltlon OF the use OF prison labor by
private spectators prohibition Of the
employment OF children under fourteen
years OF age; compulsory education Of
all children up to fourteen wears prohi-
bItlon OF female labor in occupations Diet
rlmental to health OF morality, and the
equalization OF women wages with those
OF men where equal service is performed
strict laws making employers liable for
all accidents 20 their employees resulting
from the employers negligence the re-
peal OF all conspiracy laws operating a
gaInst the rights of working men to n.
meliorate their condition gratutous ad-
ministratlon of Justice in all courts Of law.
and the appointment of lawyers as mu-
niclpal, State, and national officials the
abolition of all indirect taxation and the
introduction of "a graded income tax in
ITS stead all banking and insurance to
be conducted by the government all
these propositions can be carried into eff
feet without disturbing the peace Of this
nation for single moment. There can
be no doubt but that an overwhelming
majority of the people would be benefit
cd by the adoption of our programme"
Now III this, which may be regarded
rs typical creed, there are some sensi-
ble demands, and some that merely re-
fect those which have already been en-
bodied in Ehilanthropic legislation. The
proposition that the nation undertake the
work Of banking is one already i'm part
adopted by resumption the proposal
that the Government undertake the work
of life insurance. however chimerical If
may be, as indeed we think it is. is not
so wild but that II has been recently ABLY
argued by writer III the Nineteenth
Century the hint that cooperation
should take the place of work for wages
IS one that may be realized in the fu-
ture, though certainly not by forceful
legislation
But one fallacy runs through the whole
creed-the implied demand that Che Co
vermont shall take care Of the people.
instead Of leaving them to take care of
themselves that it shall undertake to
equalize all classes, instead Of leaving
every man TO find in untramclcd freedom
his own natural level
The top OF society, for the sake Of is
own preservation, owes the bottom what
every Christian owes every other man ac-
cordng 10 the command, Freely We
have received, freely give" We are
bound to take care Of the bottom FIRST
and then, in che ratio Of their need. those
above the bottom. an the way up f. the
top. If any street Is 90 be severed LEI
d. be the worst Que. III any street +.
shaded. or lighted. or ventilated. or sum
Piled with w5Icr,iet DO Boz the one iu which
the poor people live. Let improvements
TO- made whore ,lsy live WHO need them
most. The rou- and rich viii talk.