The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-27
COMMUNISM.
Among tho Peruvian, and may.,.

| ~ Is interesting anu instructive tLt
this time, when the labor question is
interesting all thoughtful people, to
take q backward glance and consider
for moment the social system that
prevailed on the continent before the
invasion OF the Europeans.
| The Peruvians in South America
and the Mayas in Central America
were then the most civilized nations,
end both were communists, though
The difference between them was great,
!or while under the rule OF the Incas
the system was compulsory, the May
As adopted this mode OF life from in
clination, being as absolutely freef from
greed OF wealth as their unfortunate
and degraded descendants OF today
are.
The Incas ordained that one-third
OF the land should bededicated to the
sun, that is to say, to the maintenance
OF the temples and priesthood. One
third was for governmente expenses
public works, etc, including the sup
port OF the royal family, OF the army
and to fill the public sranaries kept
for any case OF emergency. The re
naming third OF the land was divided
among the people in equal shares,
and none could by any means what
ever augment their property. A topo
OF land was granted to every male
child, and hall atopo to every female,
one topo and a half being considered
sufficient for the support OF man
and wife. Marriage was obligatory
at certain age, and topo or half
topo being added to the property at
the birth OF each child, all
increase o. family did not make
parents dread poverty for their off
spring. Once every year the addition.
al land was bestowed where it belong
! ed. At the death OF any individual,
child or adult, the property reverted
to the commonwealth. There wereno
capitalists, no monopolies, conse-
quentiy no great enterprises except
those undertaken by the government,
the cost being betrayed by the public
treasury. Nor was any one ever dis.
tressed by want.
The cultivation OF the soil was also
regulated. Agriculture was held in
high esteem by the Peruvians, and the
Inca himself, at q festival held in the
month OF November, publicly titled
the ground with golden plow to set
. good example, and the labors 9th
husbandman were always facilitated
in every possible way The first land
to be titled and planted was that OF
the sun, or i'll other words, that OF the
!, church, and all engaged in the labor.
After that all had to prepare the soil
and SOW the seed on such ground as
belonged to the aged, iniirm, widows,
young orphans and soldiers in service,
/ their wives being considered as need
ing the same assistance as widows; for
the women did not work in the fields,
which may have been the reason why
the woman's allotment OF land was
less than that OF the man. No one
had right to attend to his own in
terests until theland OF fall the helpless
i people was sown with seed. The Inca
Huayna had man hung because he
/ dared to till the land OF one of his re.
/ lations who was we'll and strong while
the work for the infirm was vet unfin-
ished; the gallows was raised on the
very spot where the man had been
found working. Charity was not
merely regarded as a virtue to be hon
ored but as q paramount duty.
This duty for the helpless beirg per-
formed, each prepared the land u.s.
signed to himself, his wife and his
children, and if q large family made
the work too much for one man it
was obligatory for his ne;ghbors to
aid him. The lands belonging 20 tho
government were the last attended to.
Thus we see chat beyond a limited ex
tent Individual liberty did not exist;
and yet those people were very hap
py, while no wretched beggars dragged
their loathsome rags and filth through
the streets, disfiguring the highway
and filling every sympathetic heart
with sorrowl
And that system extended through
out q population OF millions, every
matter being regulated with the great
est nicety. For every ten men there
was one who had to look after their
conduct and interests, and these Off.
GERS had to report to others who we're
to overlook one hundred individuals.
These in turn reported to higher Of
iicials and so up to the Inca, the
child OF the sun and the father OF the
people.
The Mayas were no less charitable
than the Peruvians. Not content with
giving assistance when requested, they
searched their towns and villages to
find the manned and intirm, and gave
them all the necessaries of life. The
land was common property at the
time of the Spanish conquests and
all worked together to cultivate it, di-
viding the property equally among all
after presenting q part to their ca
ciques. They never thought OF cheat.
ing each other. They had netted
purses, and in the market, treated of
everything that was in the land. They
gave credit, lent and paid without in
terest. They used no written bond,
for none dreamed OF breaking their
word. Fifty or one hundred would 90
hunting or fishing, but instead
OF each appropriating his own
game it was equally divided among
all at the end OF the day There was
such a universal brotherhood among
these people that when one went tray
cling he was welcome in every house,
and was sheltered and fed as a matter
OF course, none thinking OF asking or
accepting payment. To-day even,
their descendants though very poor,
are some of the most hospitable peo-
pie on the face of theearth. Even yeg,
although entirely in the power of the
white man, and constantly laboring
for their exacting masters, they help
each other and share equally as far as
it lies in their power. II fire DESTROYS