The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-21
Principles Greater Than The Name.

Principles Greater Than The Name.
Denver Opinion.
1t is curious how singularly blind the coun'
try is to the growth of the socialistic move
ment in the republic. The general theory is
| that the movement is entirely in the hands OF
few noisy malcontents who preach murder
and that it Is very contracted in its range
Nothing could be further from the actual
fact. If list of the members Of the organi'
zation in this city could be published the pub
| lie would be astonished, not only at the num-
| Der, but at the character of the men who are
heartily and actively in sympathy with the
objects aimed at The public has been de-
ceived by the senseless shoutings of lot OF
anarchists who preach doctrine OF blood
which they are afraid to carry out, and which
would sweep them out of existence if they at,
tempted to carry it out, while beyond and
beneath this braggadocia froth and fox ire
there has been steadily recruiting strong,
conservative and effective organization which
means not danger to our institutions, but
danger to the abuses of our institutions.
This organization the nation need not fear. II
is an enemy to and not an advocate of misrule.
But within the definition of the word nisrule
It includes conspiracies to attack the prosper
lty of the country by means of fictitious val
ues, debaucheries Of legislatures, gigantic
swindles in public lands, gambling with the
bread of the people, and 5usurious trading
upon individual distress. 1t means to stop
these things if it can.
By Socialism it intends the greatest good
arranged upon lines Of equal justice. 1t does
not want to steal a'rich mans or a rich cor
poration's property. 1t merely proposes that
rich man or a rich corporation shall not
steal what is justly due poor man. 1t does
not propose to sweep away legal methods of
settling civil or general quarrels. 1t simply
means to insist that the courts shall not be
used as means Of perpetual Injustice, and
that the high tariff on justice and the avoid
ance of honesty by technicalities paid for at
exsrbitant prices shall not continue. There
is nothing which it asks which the moral and
the legal spirit of common law does not
guarantee. Its intention Is to see that the
guarantee has definite value. g
This country is not on the ''brink of a vol
cano," or at the ledge of an abyss" or any
thing of this kind, but it is nearing a change
in fictitious conditions and a return to natural
conditions. 1t is tired of having its prosper
| ity In the hands of conspiracies of gamesters,
and there is a distinct and organized intention
10 better the state of affairs This can not be
ln,, tl,ro,,ph Az IN ~ xiofip1 mol IA
cal parties, because both are in possession OF
the common enemy of the masses of both.
Thspa Is another way which will be more eff,
feetive, and which win have strength beyond
the anticipations CT thousands Of intelligent
persons 8ho are in the habit of poehpooh;
ing all references to the subject. Socialism
is growing because it is gradually becoming
understood that it has no connection with
the dynamite blatherskites who ought to be
Jailed by the authorities. Its quarrel is moi
with the nation, or with the Institutions
of the nation, but with those who are max
ing both the tools of their illegitimate search
for wealth. 1t has begun the battle ofgeneral
right against the money changers, and it will
drive them out Of the temples = Every work
ingman, every mechanic, every merchant
every manufacturer, every farmer, is inter,
ested In, the success Of the doctrines which 4
the name is associated in the minds of many
WITH barricades, Iemeutes, ASSASSINATION ano
Communism of the worst type, but the prln'
cinles are greater than the name. There Is
,m1,sic ahead for those who have made Ameri.
can institutions, a. farce and have purchased
from the national legislature to do wrong.