AMERICAN ANARCHISTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5504, 16 November 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

AMERICAN ANARCHISTS.

(From tho Saturday Renew, August 31.)

The fabrio of society in the -United States may probably be sound enough to resist the attacks of revolutionary projectors; nor can foreigners confidently judge whether the dangers to which it is appireutly exposed are really formidable. Universal publicity and unlimited freedom of speech and writing may perhaps render innocuous some of the extravagant language which they permit and encnursge. The American nation has the merit aud felicity of depending less thau almost any other community - oa the wisdom and beneficence of a Government. Legislation is scanty and unambitious, and administrative interference is reduced to its lowest point In France, in Germany, and, above all, in Russia, traditional belief iu the übiquity and omnipotence of the Government suggests to anarchical theorists the facility of subverting or regenerating the world, if only they could obtain for themselves the control of the administrative in.ich.ine. Almost all sects of Communists aud Socialists iu Europe concur in proposing to establish a despotism after their own fashion. Iu England they have been alwavs held iu check by the love of freedom, which is both the causa and effect of constitutional government. Tho agitation which has lately apread among the working classes in tho United States excites natural surprise. The railway riots of last yoar were the expression of popular thoories of the relation of laiior to capital ; and about tho same time demagogues found it their interest to form a new organisation of working-men, apirt from the two political parties. For the purpose of conciliating toe malcontents, Congress appointed a committee to investigate the grievances and demands of the working men ; and the New York correspondent of the Daily News has furnished an account of the proposals addressed to the committee, which is at the same time amusing and startling." One of the most general demands is that the hour of labor should be reduced by law to a maximum of six hours; and Congress is invited to enforce other measures of the kind which are favored by Trade-Unions in England as well as in America. There is also entii e unanimity as to the expediency of rendering protection or prohibition universal, aud of issuing unlimited paper money, whieh is, according to some authorities, to be advanced in considerable sums to every working-mau. According to other reformers, processes for recovery of debt are to be summarily abolished. Some insist that every m in should have a farm, not apparently rememberiug Jmat in a population consisting exclusively of resident freeholders there would be no workmen. All machinery is to be appropriated by the Government, aud travelling by railway is to be gratuitous. Many of the witnesses warned the committee that, if their suggestions were rejected, the alternative was insurrection and bloodshed. One patriot informed them that members ot Congress were the) servants and not the masters of the people, who ought to make laws themselves without the intervention of elected representatives. These aud similar outbursts of ignorant cupidity are not to be met by argument, nor even by ridicule, which would never reach those to whom it might be addressed. If the delegates who propound crude schemes to the committee of Congress represented a majority of the nation, they would under the system of universal suffrage be able to effect their objects, not by recommendations, but by votes ; they would have no difficulty in finding candidates ready to accept all their folly aud dishonesty iu the lump ; and they might even, with some difficulty, compel the redemption of pledges which would have been extorted at elections. Fortunately the largest section of American citizens owns some kind of property ; aud as long as this state of things continues the honest men will be able to restrain the thieves, on coudition of exerting themselves for their own protection, Wnen Mr. Gladstone has given his adult males absolute mastery over the persons and property of their countrymen, anarchical experiments will be far more easily tried in England than iu the United States. Some interval must perhaps be allowed for tho education and growth of a class of politicians corresponding to those who manage public affairs iu America ; but the organisation which is so earnestly recommended by Lord Beaconsfield and Mr. Gladstone will accelerate the process. The Trade-Unions will not fail to iovoke for their own purposes the aid of. a Legislature elected by themselves; and the leaders of the Agricultural Laborers'Union have already propagated the doctrine that property in land must be abolished. Unlimited paper money is at present not popular iu England ; n-u----will Parliament at preseut be asked to render the recovery of debts impossible. Unlimited facilities of borrowing seem to all but American theorists scarcely compatible with diminution of interest and systematic refusal of payment. The doctrine of universal spoliation is to be confuted only bv superiority of political or physical force. The proposals which are made to the ooramitt.ee of Congress prove that no reliance can be placed on the honesty, the good feeling, or the good sense of demagogues who may perhaps represent the wishes and opinions of a vast multitude. The chimerical projects of tho new labor party might be regarded with comparative indifference if there were not indications of its having become powerful euough to be courted by professional politicians. Reasonable aia>m b '8 been caused by the adhesion to the faction of the notorious Geueral Butler. The universal and well-founded belief of friends and enemies in his exclusive devotion to his owu interests involves the conviction that the labor party ia already formidable. General Butler has now for mauy years been a Republican leader. He possessed for somo time the confidence of the late President; he was, aud perhaps is, the m >st powerful member of the House of Representatives ; and he had sufficient influence iu the Senate to procure the rejection of Mr. Dana, who had been nominated to the English Mission, because he had dared to oppose Butler at an election. He seems now to have satisfied himself that nothing more is to be got by alliance with the discredited Republicans ; and perhops lie would not be welcomed by the Democratic party to which he formerly belonged. Among the obscure agitators of the now organisation he hag no rivalry to apprehend ; nor will the contempt which he probably feels for tho character and judgment of his associates offer any Impediment to affectation of sympathy with their desigus. On some points General Butler may boast that, as a leader of the Republican party, he has anticipated tho policy of his Communist accomplices. Long since he induced a majority of tho House to vote for the partial repudiation of the national debt.; and he is a constant advocate for the deb isemeut of the currency, by unlimited circulation of paper money. Of lato he has taken many opportunities of appealing to the envy of the poor against the rich. In one of his Bpeeehes he complained that young men of fortune drove four-iu-haud instead of earning a living which under existing institutions was already secured. Declamations against unearned -comfort and luxury are virtually directed against property. General Butler probably relies on tho ability of a prosperous community to defeat tho predatory measures which ho ostensibly countenances. It is understood that in his long and active career he has not negleeted the duty of providing for himself and his family.

An interesting account has been published of a late conversation betwoen General Butler and the moat disreputable demagogue who has lately appeared in any part of the United States. One Kearney has for some time past eudeavored to excite mob* iu San Francisco to acts of violence aijai ,3t the Chinese, and to armed resistance to the authorities of the State. Although the extravagance of his language and policy is said to have produced a partial reaction against his agitation, some of, his supporters have been chossm af delegates to form a new Constitution for California. Koarnny himself is now on a visit to the Kastern rftatos for the purposo of obtaining support among the discontented workmen. General Butler thought it worth bis while to seek au interview with the ringleader ot the Californiau riut6rs. [ and their harmonious exchange of couGdence has beeD, probably with their sanction, made public In answer to complaints of Ghinose immigration, Butler pleasantly suggested that tlio bones of Chinamen would make good manure. The merit of the jest cannot be fully appreciated unless it is remembered that Butler's interlocutor has sometimes incited the rabble to a literal masttore of the unwelcome foreigners. Kearney could not but concur in his friend's indignation against a supposed holder >rf national securities who lived at easo on tho interest of his investment, while less fortunate citizooa were forced to work for their living. It was not their business to reflect that tho money could never have been borrowed if it had been understood that creditors were not to receive the stipulated interest. There was

probably no need to discuss any special question. Ihe negotiation seems to have been in a high degree amicable and successful. The favorite representative of an enlightened district iu the model State of Massachusetts and the Irish Califoruian adventurer arrived at a cordial understanding. The labor party will receive the support of Geueral Butler in its schemes for reducing the amount of labor and of abolishing capital ; and tho disaffected portion of the community will,- if possible, elect General Butler as President. Before eithei object is attained the respectable citizens of the Union will take measures to prevent a political and social revolution ; but it will he desirable that they should not be too long inactive.