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THE SOCIALISTS

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 2, 1878

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 51, No. 18.

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THE SOCIALISTS.

WHAT THE POLICE HAVE TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT.

The police authorities anticipate trouble from the Communists this summer, and, if the information they claim to have is reliable, there would seem to be some ground for their fears. It is a well-known fact that the Communists of Chicago have a strong organization, one which embraces seven or eight thousand men. The Superintendent of Police says that the Communists are drilling in “circles” of twelve, so as to avoid exciting alarm, and that a great many of them have arms,—shot-guns, revolvers, Enfield rifles, Springfield rifles, etc., quite a number, who were soldiers, having the guns they had during the Rebellion. He has detectives among them, who attend their meetings and know all their plans, and, while they are peaceable and law-abiding now, they are liable to

BREAK LOOSE IN A MOMENT AND MAKE THINGS LIVELY.

He deplores the fact that the police force is without guns, saying it is impossible to protect the people in case of a riot unless every man has a repeating rifle. The Departments of Boston, New York, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Louisville,—in truth, in every large city,—are armed and drilled, while Chicago is the only large city in the country whose police force is at the mercy of a prepared mob. The men now have no encouragement to risk their lives, being poorly paid and badly cared for by the city; and, besides, there are less than 350 to look after 500,000 people. “The citizens of Chicago,” said he, yesterday afternoon, “do not realize the extent of the mine under their feet, or they would make preparations for the explosion when it comes.” The reporter told him of the subscription on the Board of Trade, and asked how the money could be most advantageously used. “In buying guns,” was the reply.
A day or two ago a Tribune reporter had a long talk with one of the leaders of the Socialists in this city. Said he, “There is trouble brewing.”
The reporter asked why, and he replied that times are not improving. “You will see something terrible in a short time; something that will open your eyes, and will compel you, as well as all wage-workers, to go with us.”
“Do you mean to say that you will attempt a revolution?”
“I mean to say, sir, that a hatred has been engendered between the capitalists and laboring classes, and the time is ripe for a change. The capitalists are divided against themselves, and that is what will help us. I hate to see it coming, but there are going to be terrible times. I am afraid we can get reform in no other way.”
“What do you mean?” asked the reporter.
“I mean, sir, that our rights are denied us at the ballot-box, and we propose to have them by force of arms;—have them we will.”
“Do you mean to say that there will be blood-shed?”
“I say that there will be a change within the next ninety days, and we will bring it about.”
“How?”
“By revolution. The mines are laid. We have the trains ready, and the firing will be begun all along the line at once. Capitalists will meet the laborer on the street, and the capitalists will be hanging from every lamp-post. The laboring men have been kept down long enough. What we want is a co-operative State, in which all rights of property shall be vested, and each man shall be recompensed according to his power of production. That is the object of the Socialistic party.”
This conversation took place in the presence of a well-known local contractor, whom the Socialistic leader was not acquainted with.
The leader who was interviewed also stated that the Socialist party was working now under the instructions of the National Executive Committee, whose headquarters are at Cincinnati. A circular issued to the different sections of the country, some four months ago, advised the various committees to organize companies in each city, town, and hamlet, where it was possible, throughout the United States. In this State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Massachusetts, this has been carried out to the letter. To every company is appointed a Captain by the Central Section, and the two Lieutenants are elected after the organization is effected. Every ten companies constitute a battalion, which is in command of a colonel, appointed by the Executive Committee. It is claimed that in New York City there are twenty battalions organized, having an enrolled membership of over 16,000 men, largely composed of Poles, Bohemians, Scandinavians, Germans, Frenchmen, and a few Irish, under the lead of the notorious Megy and Schwab.
In this city there are claimed to be enrolled upwards of 14,000 men. Of these, it has been stated that 10,000 belong to the military organization. In California the best organization exists. Pittsburg is the armory for the party. The guns and ammunition that they possess, it is claimed, are stored there, because the leaders hold “that the boys there know how to use them.”
It is still claimed that the riots of last summer were started prematurely, but this time there is to be no failure. The work is to commence in Chicago at a given signal, when simultaneously Schwab and Kearney and the other leaders will gather their hosts together, and the work of carnage and destruction commence.—Chicago Tribune.