The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-19
pleasure to take time and trouble.

pleasure to take time and trouble.
 To begin with. there Is not very broad practical difference between the original meaning of agrarianism. communism and socialism. Although the Agrarain Laws deges Agrariae) originated with the Romans. the theory is as old as civiliza- tion. The land of Canaan. as we read in the Bible. was to be divided among the Hebrews. and in ancient Greece thou- sands of years ago the lands were divided among the people in equal portions Among the Romans the theory of a division of the lands among the citizens obtained at least 800 years before Christ. and the, first Agrarian law of which we have record was proposed by the Consul viscellinus. and the plan of dividing all the public lands among the Roman citi- gems prevailed during many centuries. And so, the dictionary definition, "one in favor of an equal division of lands" practically gives us the meaning of the word.
 Communism goes a step farther and has for its object the abolition of all private claims to property of every kind. In other. words, it means that all goods and property shall be in common. and no one shall have and retain anything Of his own. There has long been society in this country called the Perfectionists, but they carry their theory to the ex- treme of believing in a community or wives, which is revolting to humanity fotia nitx this theory of community of property goes back at least as far as Plato. andi like all other efforts to bring about real or imaginary improvement In the world this has been carried to sucn ex- tremes in some cases that the real good in it has been lost sight of or overpoweri e6hby the bad. The horrible excesses or the French Commune of Paris Is an example of a theory run mad So, 1T we say that communism means "a scheme for equalizing the social conditions or life" we get at the real meaning or the term, however divergent may be the beliefs or practices of different advocates of the theory.
 Socialism differs from the others in that 1t proposes that the State. which means any government, shall carry out and enforce the theories of the agrarians and communists. A French philosopher, Paul Janet gives this precise definition of the term: We call socialism every doctrine which teaches that the State has a right to correct the inequality of wealth which exists among men and to legally establish the balance by taking from those who have too much in order to give to those who have not enough. and that in a permanent manner, and not in such and such a particular case. From this it will be seen that the theory of Socialism is for the government tG stand in the position of guardian to each citizen and to insist that all the citizens shall have an equal share of all the good things of life. There was con gress of Socialists Assembled at Gotha, in Germany. in 1875, at which 2OCOO reyuia. members were represented, and this con gress drew up and issued manifesto, l too long to be copied here, but which in effect set forth the idea that the gov ernment should take upon itself the task | of regulating and controlling all the h. dustrial, economic and social affairs ot all the citizens if such manner that each should enjoy equal advantages am" privileges with all the rest. Socialism to define it briefly, is "a theory or system of social reform which contemplates complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution ol property and labor" Like the others oi which we have spoken this Is also made A cloak to cover all manner of excess anu lawlessness.
 When we come to Anarchy we find a theory which seeks to abolish all form of authority and establish a system ol complete individual liberty. Carried tO its legitimate conclusion the anarchist believe and teach that there should b.. no government and no rulers. and tha. these who believe In their doctrines are | fully justified in resorting to any form of violence, murder, arson or anything else in order to carry out their views. 1 Anarchy really Is another name for law lessness. for they are opposed to an! | and all forms of government, and hoiU that each individual should be wholiS l tree from any form of legal or govern mental restraint It Is notslnecessary t. waste time telling an intelligent man like our correspondent what would be the | inevitable result of carrying out in practice the theory of the anarchists.
 Finally, agrsrianism. communism and
 socialism do not legitimately lead tv
 anarchy. They all intend to accomplish
 their object by peaceable means. whit.
 anarchy would accomplish its aims by
 violence.
 The terms right" and left" as ap-
 piled to members of parliament refer to
 positions of members on the floor. In our
 House of Representatives at Washington | Democrats sit on right of the Speaker and Republicans on the left.
 An appreciative subscriber in Talladega
 writes The Advertiser the following kind l letter, for which we return thanks: