The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-10
Tile CONDITION OF TKANCE.

When we talk Of socialism, we mean a
state Of society that is a pure demo-
racv. and i'm which the state il is 20 be
lord and ruler of everything. The indi-
vidual is TO have no rights that do not
emanate from the state and the state is
bounufm father that looks after each
citizen or child and supplies his needs ont
of a common stock which is the property
Of the State. IT is the antdotes of de-
mocracy that forms itself into con-
sutuUonal republic. Tie leading idea OF
that is that the individual owes nothing
but allegiance 20 government lie de-
rivcs his rights from nature, and ne mas
every right which he has not surrendered
10 government. Government. instead Of be-
ing his parent. is his creature. and Is 10
DE confined 70 the particular functions
that are marked out TO it. Under this
idea. the individual is always striving 10
better his condition. because everything
he can acquire is his own. The asgre-
gate of wealth under 1t is always on the
increase. Under the other idea each M
div.dual is always striving TO get as much
as ne can of the common stock. Few
people are laboring TO create. all arc la
boring to get some of what has been
created Finesse and stealth come al
once to be the agencies Of this state
while labor is the agency Of the othei.
The one state develops individuality. man
Illness courage. love of truth and love OF
Justice The other state develops chican-
erv. lying. bribery. and every corrupt
influence which will enable a man 10 see
cure something valuable without work.
France furnishes to-day striking a.
ustratlon of the degrading tendency OF
sociailsrc influences I'm government. Her
great revolution Of hundred years ago
found her people. ia no condition for the
ronplotc eufrauciist that 10 brought
them. and tendency towards socialism
in her rule was perhaps the inevitable
consequence of that immense transiorma-
ton which the Revolution made of her
people from scrfs 10 lrecmcn. But the
government which Napoleon Immediate
lv established upon the ruins Of The rev
olution contained all the essential seeds
Of socialism that were bound TO sproUt
and grow in time in.o that sort OF gov
crnment. although. If It had been sug-
pesfcd TO him that that would ice their
Ultimate outcome. he could not have been
made 10 believe IL. lie was founding a
dynasty and was seeking TO send its roots
out into an parts of society and TO es-
tahlish supports for it everywhere. lie
was laying broad and deep foundations
for an al-pOwerful Central government.
but it was with the idea that that gov
crnment would BE always presided over
bv a NAPOLEON. Fate carried the Ncpo-
Icons away. but left the foundations as
ne had laid them. This scheme OF rule
had centred everything upon the govern
mont The array. the church. the civil
administration. all education. looked TO
the government as their creator and sup
porter. In turn. al the Influences Of each
of these we're directed to making the gov
eminent as powerful as possible and the
narent and guardian Of all its people.
The r.sul. is that France is fast drifting
into q pure socialism, honey-comDed all
over and from bottom to top with rot
tennoss and corruption.
NJ. Francois Leroy Beaulieu has con-
trsbutcd an article TO the Economist upon
In. state and condition of France. which
makes some very startling revelations.
lie SAYS the annual deficit in the coun-
trys revenues is between 3W.~OVp ana
tO)VJO0tg francs-between sixty and eighty
millions OF dollars. This has built up an
enormous floating debt. which is con-
cesied by shifty expedients. II is hid
den by short loans at high rates rather
than that the public should know It's
amount and shoulder II BY public loan.