The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-04-27
THE COMING SLAVERY.

"But why is this change described
AS 'the coming slavery'2" is a ques-
ton which many will still ask. The
reply is simple. All socialism involves
slavery.
What is essential TO the idea of q
slave? We. primarily think OF him as
one who is owned by another. To be
more than nominal, however, the
ownership must be shown by control
Of the slaves actions-a control
which Is habituslly FOR the benefit of
the controller: That which iunda-
mentally distinguishes the slave is
that he lapors under coercion to sat
isfy another's desires. The relation
admits of sundry grsda.ions. Re.
membering that originally the slsye
ia prisoner whose life is atthe mercy
of his captor, it sufices here 10 note
that there is harsh form OF slavery
in which, treated ss an animal, be
has to expend his entire effort for his
owners advantage. Under a system
lees harsh, though occupied chiefly
in working for his owner, be is al
lowed q short time in which to work
for himself, and some ground on
which to grow extra food. A further
amelioration gives him power to sell
the produce Of his plot and keep the
proceeds. Then We come to the still
more moderated form which con~
monty arises where, having been q
free man working on bis own land,
conquest turns him into what we dis
tiuguish as serf; and he has to give
to his owner each year a fixed
amount of labor or produce. or both,
retaining the rest himself. Finally,
in some cases, as in Russia, until |
recently, he is allowed to leave his |
owners estate and work or trade fer
himself elsewhere, under the condi- |
ton that he shall pay an annual sum.
What is it which, in these cases, leads |
US to qualify our conception of the |
slavery "a more or less severe? Evil |
IDENTIFY the greater or smaller extent |
to which effort is compulsorily ex-
pended for the benefit OF another in
stead of for Settlements. II ell the
slaves labor is for his owner the
slavery ia heavy, aad if bat little 1t is
light. Take now further step. Sup
pose an owner dies, and his estate
with its slaves comes into the hands
Of trustees, or suppose the estate and
everything on it to be bought by q
is the condition of the slave
any the better if the amount of nis
labor remains the same? Suppose
shst for company we substitute the
community; does it make any differ
snce to the slave if the time he has
10 work for others is as great, and the
lime left for himself ia ss small, as
oetore2 The essential question is.
How much is he compelled to labor
ior other benefit than his own, and
now much he can labor for his own
benefit? The degree OF his slavery
Taries according to the ratio bstween
hat which he ia forced to yield up
Ind that which he is allowed to re-
ain; and it matters not whether his
master ia single person or society:
L, without option, he has to labor for
he society, and receives from the
general stock such portion as the
ociety awards him, he becomes q
lave to the society. Socialistic ar
angements necessitate an enslave-
nent of this kind; and towards snch
n enslavement may recent meas.
Tres, aud still more the measures ad-
'ocated. carry us.-P0puLsr Science
Monthly.