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Socialistic Belief.

August Spies, editor of the Arbeiter Zestung, was present at the meeting of the Congregational ministers yesterday morning at their invitation to tell them in a few words what the Socialists believe. Mr. Spies spoke for some time on the history of Socialism, the reasons for its existence, and the results which it was intended to bring about. He said that it was natural that Socialism should break with Christianity, for it was based on a materialistic foundation. "You have been preaching for years," he said, "and, except in a few individual cases, have accomplished nothing. There is as much suffering, as much prostitution, as much stealing as there ever was. The present in form. The rich mother selects for her daughter a husband not for what he is himself, but for the amount in his pocketbook. The girl is sold to him if he can pay the price. The working girl tires of her toll and longs to be above it. Money enough to give to her this desire in her price." He was interrupted by several of his auditors who stated that there was no foundation in fact of what he had said in regard to marriage. He answered that he believed a careful study of the matrimonial market as at present conducted would bear him out in his statement. Under the new order of things which the Socialists would inaugurate free-lords. In its same ideal form would take the place of marriage. The family would be the child of the community. When asked how the system of universal cooperation could be brought about he said that it could be done only by force, and this force existed in the masses. Revolution was coming indeed, not by Socialism, but thought the present special conditions, and the socialists believed in having just as little bloodshed as possible, but advocated the establishment of universal cooperation as a means for future safety and peace. In reply to a question from Prof. Willcox as to how many Socialists believed in using force he said that not over half a million in this country openly avowed their belief in force as a necessity. To this number, however, might be added a large portion of the Knights of Labor, who, while denouncing its use, were the first in case of a strike to show their faith in it by shooting down some man employed to take their place.