Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-30
SOCIALIST.
Bishop O'ConnOr Ou the Dangers
10 This Country.

Bishop 0'Connor, formerly Of this
city, nov bishop Of Omaha. delivered
a lecture in st. Louis recently on
socialism, which concludes az follows:
Nevertheless, there are very grave
dancers 20 be apprehended FROM cum.
munism in the United States. In
nearly all onr great commercial and
manufacturing centers there are
societies either avowedly communistic
Or largely under the influence OF CON
munistic ideas They are thoroughly
organized and, in some instances,
drilled and armed for the struggle
hey predict, and which, their leaders
ay, they are determined TO precipi-
ite, between capital and labor, in this
ountry. All the clements Of dis
RIDER amongst US are in sympathy
With them. Our great and ever grow
ing army Of tramps would rally 70
heir support in any crisis tha'
aight arise. Property owners and
iaw abiding citizens generally regard
hem with ever increasing alarm. To
sIthdraw their men from their iniu
nee and prevent their gaining absO-
ute political control OF our cities
arge firms aud railroad companies art
distributing their factories and shops
jver the country districts OF every
tate. But the influence these organ
cations WELD ut the polls makes them
ouried or feared by our politicians,
who cannot be induced to iavor the
eglai4tion necessary TO avert the evils
they may cause at any moment. The
destruction Of even one Of our large
cities would be a fearful calamity; yet
who will say hat it may not be
brought about any day by these sOoie-
Ties, some Of which seem to be ami
mated by the very spirit OF the Paris
tommuneP Ii Is but three years since
|hicagO seemed, for a time, to be al
heir mercy, aud when, in all prOba-
nlity, it would have been laid
IN ashes but for the determine
ion OF the Irish regiment that
had been called out to defend it. The
Ianger for that and other cities is not
lver. 1t becomes every day more and
more threat ming. And unless proper
precautionary measures be taken TO
vert it the consequences may be de
Jlorable. Should the injury to lit,
lad property, to be apprehended from
tn Sc societies., actually ensue, in .
single instance, their suppression al
Iver the country would follow as a
natter of course. But, prevention is
better than cure They should be per-
nitted to meet, and organize, and the
,'ize IS much as they please, but the
sh luld MT be permitted to arm and
lrlll Tor the avowed purpose Of %lorciUp
Oh ir theories ON others at the point
ofths bayOnet. Men so ignorant, or
so [ ,oiish as to dream Of attempting
anything Of the kind here, can be 10
70 ,er than lunatIcs, and lunatios
hnu.d not be allowed the use of dead
Wv apons. Good citizens Of the ma
tionalitits to which the members Of
nese 5 ciet,es belong should try to
make t EN- understand that, in lhi
;Ouutr liberty dOesnot mean licens
ut the protection Of every ma
n his rights nnd r the constituuo
and tn laws I e representativ ID
he pr $ shou d k ep the public ~
formed t their proceedings, and re-
anna I e ffIm time to ime Of w,s
hey N rSt expect SHOULD they procep
70 acts II voicHoe agaius' property o
lersons The municipal authorities /.
he cit S where these orgauizati ~
kit $ uld keep a cl Sc watch o.
heir IN ement,, e. peria ly in tines
u public ex u msnt, 81 IS 80 be pr
pared ii necessary 10 meet force with
force should they a lem t disturbance
( the p ace There L. n all great
GINS much inf IN uabl, material,
moral as veil a, pin. 5 Cal, nd danger
ols pipu ar commouons Way alisa
ner At any moment from unforeseen
nd Insignificant Gu es. In a country
Fn. re VIC may be said 10 have prsc-
ically no standing army. even a small
body of vel organz d de~speradOes
can, at such times, doinfinite mischief
before they are put down, unless the
nth rites are supposed beior. hand TO
repress them Whist occurred so re-
Gently in Pittsburg and Chicago should
be a warping to these and other cities
to prepare for like contingencies in
the future,