The Rugbeian. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1881-1882, 1881-02-01

Rugby, January, 1881.
Extract from an English Journal. ]


Attempts have from time to time, been made to
found new Colonies Or what may be described as
modified socalistC principles, but no particular sue
cess seems to have followed, Chiefly by reason that
some essential parts of the principle omitted by
which the whole calculation was upset Mr.. Hughes
is not only sound political economist and man OF
the world but he also possesses an unusual knowledge
OF the wants and requirements OF English working
men. He holds position in the phlanthropc world,
too, which at once puts him above the suspicion OF
being land Spectator merely speaking for the pur
pose of enticing dupes to new American Eden of
the kind to which Martin Chuzzlewit and Mark
Tapley were alured. We gather from Mr. Hughes
remarks that the fundamental principle upon which
the founders of New Rugby have acted may best be
described by the words mutual co operation. although
the phrase is one which has been considerably dis
torted of late. They hold that men were intended
to be fellow workers the earth, and not rivals and
that mankind is meant to live for and with, and not
upon, each other At the same time, Mr.. Hughes
explains that the Colony is not cOmmunstic one.
After making due allowance for the sanguine tenn
permanent of thorough but still practical, enthu-
siast, as Mr. Hughes undoubtedly is, the prospects
of the settlement certainly most tempting to such
emgrants possess little capital Of say, from two
to five hundred pounds. 1t is merely repeating
ruism to say that England is again passing through
a phase which makes it highly desirable that por-
ton of its overplus population should seek fresh
homes in new countries. There are thousands of
men and women so crowded in this country, living
in round of monotonous drudgery, who would be-
come useful and prosperous members of society in
other parts of the world. Here every vacant post
either in the professions, in commerce, or in trade
is sought after by host of applicants, although
the salary wages may scarcely be sufficient to live
on and the fact that there are fifty men ready to
take one situation, shows that there are fortyn
surplus population in this country in that particular
line of business. How many of these realize that
New York is now brought within nine ten days of
our own doors through the medium of magnificent,
fast and cheap steamers and that within eight or
nine hundred mile railway journey of the port of
Decentralization there are vast and fertile territories
where land is to be acquired for an almost nominal
sum on easy terms Rugby itself, although placed
deep in the heart of Tennessee is practically within
fortnights distance of old England, and compares
as favorably with the intense tropical summer heat
and long droughts of our Australian Colonies as it
does with the Canadian winters, where the land is
frost-bound for months at time and outdoor labor
completely suspended. 1t sounds cruel to tell an
audience who paying shilling pound for beef
that at Rugby mot the one in Warwickshire) two
year old steer may be bought for thirty shllngs or
two pounds, and mich COW for three pounds, whilst
poultry, of which everyone possesses great num-
ber can be had for SiXpenCe head. Beef is two
pence halfpenny pound bacon fvepence; whilst
wheat the staff of life here as elsewhere, tetches
about two shllings bushol. AS regards the land
itself, the price from fifteen shings to two pounds
an acre. according to position but only onefourh of
the purchase need be paid on taking possession. On
the whole, Mr.. Hughes and his co-workers may be
congratulated on having grappled with one of the
most difficult social problems of the day in system
attic and busness-like manner, and we heartily wish
success to the new Colony and all concerned in its
establishment.