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FREE FLAG.THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1877.‘‘THE AMENDE HONORABLE.”“WE opine” that our friend the Emancipator does us nothing more than justioe. We takegreat pleasure in honoring such men as ^ thebenevol opuof liberal or infidel opinions^throU1CMUTC XU UUUUiUig —nevolent Robert Owen, the earnest ph ropic John Stuart Mill and other similarbilan-enCan the editor of the Emancipator say thehpressed, with a foresight, a clearness«of conception, and intensity of feelingnever equaled by any other friendsof the laboring classes.George Combe, the Christian Social-ofist,published his “Constitutionas early as. 1835. We haveian,published extractsa to be as clear infrom this workhisthat prove himideas as either Sismondi or Chaim era,same in regard to His willingness to give ho nor to Christian philanthornsts and laborers in the cause of humanity.—Free Nlag.and we can hardly place himiWhen we penned the above article that is referred to above, we somehow or other had got the idea through our “wool”, that brother Rankin was a Christian, but if not we hasten to make “the amende honorable,” But while here, we wish to “stick a pin,” We ardently desire to be able to point to some great leader of the Christian Church who has oome out like Owen and advocated the democracy of wealth. In our reading, rather limited, there are but two Christian authors, St. Simon and Bishop Ket-tler who have touched the question, and even those only advocated despotical Communism. Of the protestant world we do not at the present except brother Rankin, know of an editor, a preacher, or any officer or lay-member of any note, that dare raise his voice for the rights of labor. From our hearts depths we wish the facts were otherwise. Also it is note worthy, that when we are met with argument it is universally in the worst shape, we are told by both catholic and protestants that if the socialistic doctrines are ultimated, that it will overthrowReligion.” That is to say give governmental support to justice, and religion will fail. I acknowledge my pleasant surprise at the noble position the glorious “Free Flag” occupies, and fervently hope that your membership in the church may remain intact for she needs your kind very much.We are not aware that at any time we have taken any matter that can be called labor’s products and used them without credit, unless they are scraps of labor that float everywhere, and to that we plead guilty, but when onr friends take an entire leader and appropriate it without credit like they did the one “Are we Free” then our rights of labor are so seriously infracted that we have to speak out in “the meeting. ”—[Ed Emancipator,]them in ability.These three men won for themselvesin different fields ofgreat names thought. Compared to them, OwenThere are several things in theabove that we cannot pass over without notice.First and foremost, we are informedby our compositors that the articleheaded “Are we Free” did appear inour columns, without credit, leaded,also, as editorial matter generally is,and, of course, the “amende honorable” was not fully made in our former number. But we shall be very careful hereafter, and believe that ouryouthful compositors will keep their eyes open, so that such a mistakeshall not happen again. We have,for so long a time, felt lonely, for wantof companionship in our reform ideasand plans, that we are only too glad toclaim and acknowledge countenanceand help from new advocates of thesrreat cause.We commenced this article withoutthe slightest hope of being able tolo more than to draw much nigherin spirit to the candid and earnest, “Editor of the Emancipator.” Butwe do hope to accomplish that. Wecannot,—so far as we can see,—agree with him in his ideas of State co-operation, but we can sympathize withhim fully in his self-denying labors,and, to the greatest possible extent,shall give currency to the truth thathe may print, and acknowledge theability with which it is presented.But our notions are radically hostile, though our purposes are the same.We must, therefore, find encourage-betweenrnent in the arrangement Abraham and Lot. We must eachwork faithfully in his own field, andboth join, on all suitable occasions in mutual efforts for the good of thecause44We ardently desire to be able to point to •ome great leader in the Christian Church who has come out like Owen and advocated the democracy of wealth.We cannot be certain what is meantby the “democracy of wealth,” but ifit is explained by the expression“rights of labor” in a subsequent sentence, wre think we can gratify our socialist friend by mentioning somegreat names in the Christian worldwho have been conspicuous as advo-.cates of labor and its rights,—and weforward extracts to satisfy him fully that we are not mistaken.Sismondi began to write (and publish) as early at 1820 against our system of commercial industrialism,was a pi^my in intellect, though not inferior to any in genuine, self-forget-BVting benevolence.Coming down to later days, we mention Canon Kingsley, whose “Alton Locke” shows him to deserve a highrank as an advocate of the rights oflabor, though an Episcopal minister.There are many others in Englandlike him in spirit, and some of thememinent for ability.In this country we have Dr. William Elder, of Philadelphia, who published some very striking articles onand, with great ability and earnestness to sliowT the terrible results ofthe doctrines of Adam Smith andhis disciples. His warnings wereprophetic. He depicted, with wonderful correctness, the evils and sufferingsof the present time. Nobody doubtshis ability, or that he was an earnestChristian man.Dr. Chalmers the celebrated Scot-this general subject thirty years ago,and whose more recent work “Questions of the Day,” is full of valuabletish preacher, published his PoliticalEconomy half a century since, and made a powerful argument andargument appeal in opposition to the same infidel school of authors, wrho admitted, that, under the system of competition, labor must be “forced” down tonecessary subsistence.These two great men have furnished thought and motive power enough to save the world, if they are carefully studied. They were fighting for the masses for the poor, th« op-thoughts and forcible, eloquent argument.Of thfr present workers in the cause we will take room to mention Hon. T.Wharton Collens, of New Orleans,. • ...whose publications show him to be ayery earnest, as well as singularly clear and forcible writer in favor ofsocial reform. He is a Catholic and ismated by Rev. Jesse H. Jones, aCon-gregationalist minister in Massachusetts, whose two books, the “Abolition of Poverty,” and the “Kingdom of Heaven,” if studied by the Editor of the Emancipator will remove alldoubts of his sincerity and power as awriter, and ability as a thinker. Edward H. Rogers, of Chelsea,Massachusetts, has written and published, at his own expense, (althoughhe is a poor man, depending on hisdaily labor with his hands for hi-daily bread,) some of the most argu-mentive and convincing essays in farvor of the “rights of labor” and “democracy of wealth” that we have everseen.We send our friend of the Emanci-suffcient extracts from theirpator.writings to convince him that he and his friends of the liberal socialisticschool are not entitled to all the glory, and shall not be allowed to bear allthe toils and dangers of the great contest that will not be settled untiljustice and love take the place ofmight and greedy selfishness.This article is long enough, but wemust complete it by referring to onemore point.The Emancipator says:“Also it ia noteworthy that when we are met with argument it is universally in the worst shape. We are told by both catholic and protestants that if the socialistic doctrines are nlti-mated, that it will “overthrow Religion. ”Well, there have been socialisticdoctrines that would overthrow society and religion. Still, we have nothing but contempt for the stupidity,«and want of faith that has led, and still leads vast numbers of Christiansto tremble at the name “Socialist.”Many Socialists have been visionaries;some have been bloody and revolution-others haveary in their teachings; unjustifiably made socialism and infi-The causedelity synonymous terms.has suffered through their fault, but itwill not be long before Christian Socialists will constitute a host in themselves—and we hope the Emancipatorwill rejoice to see the day.In the meantime we hope the Emancipator will induce some state to makea partial trial of his “State Co-operation,” in the field of agriculture, manufactures or commerce, while theChristian Socialists go on, as they will,to see how they can succeed on a morelimited field, and in a way that does not involve a score or hundred ofyears of struggle and suffering before even a beginning can be made.Thus let us fight side by side, but not with each other.“LET US HAVE PEACE.”“No political liberty without economical independence” is the motto of the Emancipator. It is a goodmotto, for it is a vital truth.The Labor Standard also says:“No charlatanism should be allowed to turn the attention of the working-people from their real interests—theireconomical emancipation.”Agreeing in the active support ofthis essential truth, how can these twolabor organs manage to appear to disagree so continually ?The Free Flag has been substantially read out of the sectarian andpartisan clubs to which these quarreling (we do not yet say quarrelsome) brethren belong. But we cherish ahearty good will for both, and therefore exhort them to cultivat# the thingsthat make for peace.
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Minneapolis Free Flag
Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Thu, Jun 21, 1877
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