SOCIALISM IN AMERICA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 174, 22 August 1878, Page 4

SOCIALISM IN AMERICA.

New York, June 84— The Socialists had a great mass-meeting to-night, to celebrate the aim versary of the Social revolution of 1848 in France. The ball was crowded, and red flags floated all around. A strong force of police was presenJ, and entire harmony prevailed. Several speeches of a communistic tendency were made, after which resolutions were adopted approving the manifesto of the workingmen ot Paris of April 16, 1878 and denouncing the robbery of man by bis fe!low-man. That Socialists would continue to inculcate the doctrine of Lafayette : te When oppression bas reached is height, insurrection against tyranny is a most sacred right, and moat holy duty;" also, that copies of the resolutions be sent to citizens Emil He GirariMn, Jules Simon, Leon Ganobttttu, B njamiu Disraeli, President MacMuhoo, Prince Bismarck, General Giant, and President H>*yes. A Paris letter to the New York Herald states :-— A day or two after hearing this I found an opportunity of taking Victor Hugo's opinion of the question. The substance of his counsel to the States delivered with much earnesntees, was: "Don't lose your head. Be moderate," he said, "i D dealing with the authors of this national scare., Suppose you bave communistic agitatora among you ; . well it is a misfortune ; it is an evil, but do not give them the triumph and yourbrother republicans of Europe the shame of seeing you forget your self-pbsseesion. The world expects this example from you, You are bound to do it by your own past, by the noble principle of mercy and forbearance in dealing with misguided men, on which you acted at the close of a memorable 'struggle. You must show them that a reaL .democracy can be as generous as it is brave* You have shown it in a great civil war ; you must take care not to fail to show it in what at the | worst is ibufc a political conspiracy. I am sorry to hear of the alarm of the public and the general outcry in the journals. A people in that frame of inind are apt to think that it may as j well be cruel as just for once for the sake i ©f example. Any despot can persecute, fine, and imprison in the name of orderj only a great and wise government, strong in the support of the people, can temper its force of repression with pity and toleration^ You have a grand opportunity and responsibilities to match: you are called on to deal, for th^first time in your history, with the social danger; you must most strenuonsly take care for all our sakes that you do nothing unworthy of yourselves. Europe has often looked to you for something new : give it an American novelty in this highest department of j invention — the art of governing through j I the self-control of the governors." ° !