The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-04-13
IDAHO WORLD.
a CURIOUS COMMUNITY.
rur soc,.Iusrs m AND AROUND ST. LOUIS MISSOURI

ment of wickedness:
It may not be generally known to the
public that there are in this city the ell
ements of what is commonly known as
community" or society, formed on
the basis of what they call
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, COOPERATIVE LABOR,
AND COMMON PROPERTY"
Such, however, is a fact About three
years ago, the pioneers in the enter
prise, thinking they had strength suffi-
cient to make start, and relying upon
the promises of pretended friends, left
st. Louis and established themselves in
Jasper county, in this State. There
they struggled along till last Summer.
Those upon whom reliance had been
placed for assistance, after the first
movement, however, failed to fulfill
their promises. The land had been pur-
chased on time, and they found them
selves unable to meet their obligations.
So they were obliged to disband about
the middle of last Summer, and give up
their lands, upon which considerable
improvements had been made. Before
the disorganization the community num-
bered nine men, six women and twenty
seven children. Some of the members
at once moved further West, declaring
it to be their intention to buy land in a
locality where it was cheaper, and con-
tinue to propagate the principles of
communism, and form another such or
ganization as soon as possible. Others
returned to St. Louis to gather addi-
tional strength, recruit their numbers,
and make a new start Among these
was
ALEXANDER LoNGLEY,
the leader in the movement, and man
who has been pretty nearly all his life
endeavoring to combine in practice the
principles of business, social and polit-
ical cooperation, having been men,
Der of the famous "Phalanx," which at
tracted so much attention some years
ago, also for some time member of
the Icarian community of Iowa. Now
there are over two hundred commun-
lists in St. Louis, and those who are in
a position to know say they have rea-
son to believe that quite number are
disposed to look upon the doctrines with
favor Their publication, or organ,
called the Communist" which was sus-
pended for some time, has just been re-
vived, and the assurance is held ont
that it will be issued regularly. The
organization of the supporters of the
theory is being gradually perfected,
and they have attained such strength
as to make an exposition of their prin-
ciples of no little
INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC;
especially so, perhaps, since this is the
first movement of the kind in the State,
and it is proposed to establish one of
the societies near the city. The Com
munity would introduce the Democratic
principles of our Government into bu-
siness, into society, into the family
everywhere; thus abolishing all dis
tinctions Of wealth, learning, sex, and
castles of every kind The bearing of
these principles" upon marriage and
the social evil are Of special interest i
and to these points particular attention |
was given in our inquiries. 1t was de- :
clared that the community would take I
away every inducement for marriage G
except
PURE, UNALLoYED AFFECTION" c
No woman would be driven into it for I
the sake of support, because all would I
be provided for in this respect, whether f
married or not. Then, after marriage e
all the business being attended to by a +
committee, they would have nothing to a
cause disagreement, and their time G
would be devoted to cultivation of the v
affections and looking after their chill t
dren. This state of affairs would abol- \
lsh the social evil, it is claimed, on the v
ground that the larger proportion of the t
abandoned women fall through want. t
For the present, the Community, as re- a
CARDS the intercourse between men and t
will live in accordance with "
he laws of this State, but it is expect Il
ID that after time some special pro- Il
'lslon in the marriage laws will be C
made In their favor. Indeed in their G.
theoretical, ideal community there are II
NO MARRIAGE LAWS AT ALL, Y
tut the same unlimited freedom as in e.