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ameliorated, and that it is the pressing duty of governments to affect such amelioration.
He followed this by an analysis of
Proudhon's
Political Economy, in which that writer points out that the way to ideal society is by association.
He was evidently full of this subject, for a few days later he came out in favor of a national bank, and in his argument to support the measure, spoke sympathetically of the national credit institution, or so-called People's Bank, apparently a modification of
Proudhon's Bank of Exchange, which the
French democrats were advocating at that time, but which seems to have been quite as visionary as similar institutions advocated in this country, many years later, by the Populists.
In the discussion of this and other socialistic measures he appealed to the
Roman Catholics of the country in an editorial addressed specially to them, saying among other things:
... There is one purpose very dear to us, with which it seems that the Catholics do not sympathize-namely, that of a radical improvement in the social relations of mankind.
The next day he commented with reservation upon the discordance which had made its appearance among the
French reformers, and threatened to defeat the measures with which he was in sympathy.
Upon this occasion he wrote:
... Full discussion will show how those who have not may benefit without robbing those who have-how to secure plenty for all without confiscating the goods of any.
It is to be observed, however, that the articles of this period in favor of association, co-operation, and social reform were earnest and sympathetic, rather than positive
