Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-13
A soCIALIsTIC CONGRESS.

Next week there is to assemble in Paris
Socialistic Congress, and the anomaly is
to be witnessed of this republic, whore the
largest possible liberty is afforded all,
where liberation is uubounded and the OPP
portunities in the race of life for the poor
are unlimited, being represented in the
body. The call for the Congress is made
by the French Revolutionary Socialists"
1t proceeds to declare, among other things
We Socialists, who aim to emancipate labor
to abolish salaries, to create an order of things
in which, without distinction of sex or nation
ality, each and all will have right to the pro-
ceeds of the common labor these we request TO
be present. We invite the proletariat OF every
country to come here and refasten fraternal re-
lations, to consolidate the efforts of the work
ing classes and to hasten the. future of a new
world.
The call is made for the Congress to sit
during the Exposition-because, as it re-
cites-the capital class has invited the
wealth and the power of the world to visit
the Exposition and to contemplate and
admire the work of laborers condemned to
wretchedness and misery in the midst of
the most colossal riches that society has
ever possessed"
There never has been anything more
solemnly silly than this kind of talk. If
the unreason and utter folly of the an
nounced purpose is not realized by the
wage-earners'tow whom thecall is addressed,
then they are beyond reach by ordinary
reason. But it is not intended to discuss
the issue Of revolutionary Socialism now !;
the immediate question is, "What will the
French Government do about it ?" If the
Congress had been called to sit in the
United States, the answer to a similar in
quiry would be prompt and to the point
Nothing; the Socialists may meet, chat
ter and resolve to their hearts content,
but so long as they commit no ofIenses
against the laws they will not only be
tolerated, but protected in the right of free
speech. When they invade order, and dis
turb the public peace, or commit crime,
the criminal laws viii punish them as it
does any ordinary offender" But in
France the situation is very different one,
and there is reason for the Government
taking alarm. There is in Paris large
group of malcontents who stand ready to
seize upon the slightest excuse for assault
upon the established order of things;
there is large, inhammable group primed
for disorder that can be easily aroused by
the visiting Socialists to attack the Gov
eminent, and in that action they would
receive secret aid and encouragement from
their old-time enemies, the monarchists,
who are anxious that the republic shall be
overthrow, no matter what agency may
be employed to that end. The Congress
will swarm with Communists and Nihilists.
European political refugees and representa-
tives of discomfort and radical enmity to
republicanism, and the of-scourings of
Europe in general. It will be a precious
lot Of cranks that will assemble, with
scattering of brainy men and shrewd man
ayers, and contingent of inHammatory
orators, and few designing conspirators
who care nothing for Socialism except as a
means for the overthrow of the republic.
Probably what the French Government
will do viii be to watch and wait. To
permit the body TO sit, and to refrain from
checking it in utterance until it comes to
open declaration of enmity to the estab-
hshed Government 1t may then be ex-
pected to step in and warm the leaders Of
the i'll assorted assembly that France exists
in powder magazine, and will not permit
any one to flourish torch within it.