The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-07
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1871.
Coo,era,;on and Communism.

A striking illustration OF the superiority in |
organizing skill and ability for practical work |
of the Anglo-SaXon over the so called Latin |
races is seen in the different development of
the communistlc idea in America OF England |
and in France. The conviction that there is
something like injustice in the present UNI
equal distribution of property is not hot'oh
confined TO mere speculative philosophers
like Proudhon, Fourier and LOUIS Blanc, Out
some modification of it exists in tie minds |
OF mos. INTELLIGENT aud thoughtful men. But
the practical difficulty OF making re-adjust-
ment in such a manner as not TO disturb the
peace and break up the very foundations of
society is an appalling one TO most milds
his officially is nothing TO speak OF as a nat
ter OF speculation, any more than tie forma-
ton OF the universe, which has been describ-
ed in different ways with great particularly
by many eminent men. But there is found
to be great deal Of friction in attempts at
anything like practical realization of COM
munism, just as there is in carrying into eff
feet most OF the other social and political doc
triues Of the New Testament.
Ill Tue IldSScs, hIiO aiO ILoSotiihy-
indoctrnated with the most radical socialist
theories, do not hesitate to attempt TO bridge
over in an instant, "without notice TO the adj
adverse party" without the needftl plepara-
ton of the people and without tie general
assent which is Indispensable in so extensive
a reorganization, the immense chasm that
yawns between the society that exists and
that of which they dream. Assuming the
truth of Proudhons maxim that property is
robbery" they would proceed to an immediate
equitable division of wealth and to an instan-
taneous abolition OF the idea of individual
wealth. They adopt a communistic phrase
ology, call each other citizen and "thee" and
"thou," change the names of streets and the
months and think they have fully arrived at
Utopia.
In England and America the process is dit
terent. Enslish-speaking people attempt no
more at first than to make far-off beginning
of the great reform. They undertake some
thing that nominally is not communistc at
all, land is really so only in spirit. Instead of
making direct attack on capital and di-
rect demand for just distribution of goods,
they aim in the beginning only at forming as
sociations by means OF which workingmen
can capitalize their labor, become the chief
benefciaries of their own toll and cease to be
the dependents of men who contribute mon
ey without labor. In the end cooperation
must prove to be identical with communism,
iii extended to all branches of industry and
hpnOmnc 1lniyarcol Thnpol, II t1,a
leveling process by methods strictly legiti-
mate according to the standards of right even
now in vogue, and though it undertakes to
give OF its gains to each according to his con-
tribution 10 the common store and not to all
equally, as communism does, it will readily be
perceived that practically it is the entering
wedge of as complete an ultimate revolution
in human affairs as Messrs. Banqui, Pyatt
and the other Partisan madmen think it DOS
sible to see accomplished next week.
Whether cooperation is something that is
susceptible of becoming universal, and so en-
bracng the whole body of the working peo-
pie and compelling all men finally to become
working people, is not yet determined. In
manufactures and in some branches of trade
its success is already assured. Even coopera-
tive housekeeping, a thing that must be in
finitely complicated, has its earnest and
plausible advocates as Isl well known. One
reasoning on the matter would naturally con-
clude that the point at which industrial asso-
Citations must stop is agricuture-that voca-
ton being of such a nature as to require
wide dispersion of the force engaged in it and
therefore seemingly not susceptible of having
its operations carried on by a cooperative So
ciety. But sinsularly enough it is here that
cooperation has made one of its most inter-
estiDg and apparently successful essays. The
men of small means who have associated
themselves at Greeley, Colorado, in accord
ance with the notions Of that truly great man
whose name they have adopted, have proved
that farming in a new country can be carried
on to the most purpose by associated labor.
Their continued prosperity will be source
of sincere satisfaction and encouragement to
all friends of progress.