New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-01
1 ZOE 10 CIIILIZ.ITiON.

|
VI. Camille Flammaron recently set forth
very lucldly the aims and theories Of modern
| Communism. 1t was probably the strongest
! showing that could be made for it, for the
writer was friend, and desired to manifest ITS
rcasOnablcness. 1t appears from this candid
statement that the destruction, not the refor-
nation OF civilization as it exists, is the real OBJ
| ect of Communism. Its voarics hold that
nothing less than an utter cXtiIpation OF the
present social system will suffice to clear the
ground for the organization they deem prefer
! able. One result of this belief is necessarily
Indifference to all the considerations by which
the mischicvousness Of attacks upon modern
civilization is sought to be shown, and while
Communism may not yet have attained alarm
ing proportions, it is pertinent to point ont that
the spirit which inluscs it,, aud which is
identical with that which animaes the
dynamitcurS, is a spirit whichha at many points
in history been productive Of very grave cOnsc-
qucnccs. Collisions between parallel or similar
civilizations have frequently occurred without
checking the aggregate forward movement
But when opposing theories of progress come
into collision there is danger that progress may
be stopped by the overthrow OF the higher rae
or that its direction may be changed 80 as to
produce radically different results. Such
catastTOphcs haycscycral time been threatened,
and have more than once occurred.
They occurred when the civilization of the
Arabs went down under the onset of Spain.
They occurred when the civilization
of Rome persisted under the Eruption
of the basbarians. Further back than
this, they occurred when the Empires of
As,yna, Chaldca and Egypt were overwhelmed
by races dc,psing and hating their culture.
They were threatened when the Saraccns began
to sweep over Europe, and when the Battle of
Tours perhaps decided the question whether
the cross or the crescent should hold sway over
all that quarter of the globe. The spirit of all
those aggressive movements was that which is
to be recognized in the Communism of to-day
that is to say it was hostile to the survival of
the civilization attacked, and sought to extir-
pate that civilization. One distinction, how
ever, must be drawn between the past and the
present Then all the menace all the danger,
came from without. Now the menace and the
DANGER must be sought within. 1t may be- that
society can the better deal with the matter he
cause Of this propinquty; but if may also be
that the latter will prove specially cmbarrISs
ing.
In absolute states the tendency always is to
make issue with such elements: to yield moth
ing to them, and to undertake their destruction
by force. In free states the tendency always
is to make concessions to them to modify
existing institutions for tEcir bchUOf, rather
than give Them fresh cause of grievance. But
il Is important to observe that 10 concessions
can touch elements which hold such views
What renders the Communists and dynamitcurS
difficult to deal with is mainly the fact that
they do not recognize the general accepted
moral standard TO tell them that theirpollcy is
cOWarlly, wicked, futile, does not affect them.
They measure their conduct by a standard of
their own. They wish to destroys Us much as
possible. They hold that a general massacre
and c0nnagration would be salutary, and there
fore instruments of assassination and cyplO-
si0ns are regarded by them rs steps in the right
direction. Modern civilization, in fact, is to
them much what hcrcsy was to the lEQuisitiOn /:
namely, an evil to be crushed.
The persistence of this spirit in so modern |
and strange a guise that OF Communism has |
naturally escaped the attention of many inyc5- |
tieators. The nineteenth century is apt to ex-
pcct new inspirations in new movements. more |
over. But this is merely an old foe with a new |
face and there ought not to have been much Diff |
Guilty in recognizing it. Its menace consists in |
the complete divergence of its aims from those |
of the world at large. Fanaticism may at any |
time be formidable, and when it involves IN
difference to life. a fierce hostility to culture
and material prosperity, and logged de
termination to pull down every thing, it may |
easily acquire alarming proportions Nor can it |
b. encountered in any other way than by re-
s,tance. for concession ii will regard simply as
the removal of obstacles to It's man designs.
Discomfort OF the ordinary kind may always be |
placated, but discomfort which goes thelcngth !
Of demanding a new beginning for the human
race. 10 be secured by the abolition of all that
is, can only be dealt with hcrocally. But that |
sooner or later this sinister spirit will have to
be dealt with none who study the signs of the !
times carefully can doubt.
An interesting case of whal looked like suspend
cd animation q trance has inst occurred at =,