New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-05
A NEW UTOPIA
WHAT MIGHT BE IN The TWENTIETH
CENTURY.


monweaItb.r A Young man, put in a mesmeric
slecn in 1887 chances not to be awakened, ana
living IN an underground chamber, the house over
which is destroyed by fire. remains IN state OF
franco until he is accidentally discovered and re-
stored "a life in the year 1000. This is the thread
upon which is hung most elaborate and detailed
description Of the changes wrought by the twentl-
9th century in the whole social and political sys-
TEN Julian West, the nineteenth century man
who is supposed to tell the story, finds the world
transformed lie learns that the process of CEN
tralization which was making such rapid strides
when he went to sleep had subsequently been ex-
tended until the industries and commerce OF the
century were in the hands of few vast syndi-
Gates and the masses. vany protesting against
the concentration of capital apprehended the
growth cf an intolerabe moneycd despotism
At this stage when revolution and anarchy
seemed unavoidable, it began to be perceived that
the ccntralizing movement when rightly Under
stood itself indicated the way not only OF escape
from the perils it threatened but from all the
evils which had so long afflicted society III
word it was realized that the true remedy was not
TO leave the lines Of development upon when 'he
world was working but to extend them Inc re-
suit was the creation Of public sentiment the
practical unanimity Of which put an end 10 All lear
Of violence or revolution and which, wisely en-
DlOVpd, transferred the NIoic lHuuoOiif'i "" N"N"
mcrcial system to the state. AT the end OF
century Of the new regime society was rcconst-
tutcd There were no longer rich and poor
Every human being counted alike in the capacity
10 earn and the right to receive competency
The wealth-producing power of the community
was enormously increased by the elimination OF
waste and by the application of simple principles
which elected from every citizen the best WORK
Lawyers, bankers stockholders, merchants were
no longer needed and had therefore ceased to
exist Money had ceased to be used Credit ana
debt had disappeared together All the uncer-
taintics of fortune which impcl men to struggle
and contend for wealth had been eliminated.
Education Was universal Ignorance, crime, vice,
were unknown. In brief, state of affairs which
might very easily be thought the millennium had
been established
It will be seen at once that this is a daring con-
ception. and that only an uncommon degree OF
skill and an imagination at once fertile and logi-
cal could impart vcrisimilitude to it. But Mr.
B,ilamy has achieved so brilliant and complete a
success in his difficult undertaking that the reader
is carried away by the development OF the New
Utopia and finds it far more fascinating than any
ordinary novel, because the wonderful picture
seems Mt only faithful representation of what
ought to he, but not too sanguinc foreshadowlng
of what actually might be. The whole scheme of
Iiic rHcUc1dleu society Is DIOuEnb out III 'iN
course Of conversation between Julian West the
nineteenth century survivor, and DR. Lcete,
citizen of the twentieth century This method
affords opportunity for the exhibition of all the
objections which would naturally occur to a man
of the present day. and nothing is more remark
able in this very remarkable book than the ad-
mirahlc skill and adrOncss with which the whole
complicated system is explained and defended
A chief source of the books attraction in fact is
the commendation of the most revolutionary
changes TO the reader by an exposition which
makes them appear not the simplest but the most
obvious steps imaginable. Whereas in all Socialist
literature there implied if not expressed such
mutations in human nature rs experience teaches
us to consider hopeless Mr.. Bellamy has here sue
ceeded in describing thorough reorganization of
society without demanding the least concession to
impractical fancy The reader as he proceeds
finds no difficulty in cOnceiving the possibility or
the changes narrated, for they are so introduced
and accounted for as to seem to flow naturally and
inevitably from the whole tendencies OF modern
evolution. To produce such an effect is TO rise
to the plane of high art. We do not mean to say
that there are no weak places in Mr. Bellamys
chain of reasoning There certainly are such
places: but they are SO syilfully and cunningly
concealed that perhaps few will discover them,
and it is not worth while to weaken the interest
OF the book by pointing them out at present. The
merit of the author consists in his conquest or the
most difficult conditions He has succeeded III
giving to the unexpected, the improbable, even
the impossible ali the outward seeming or the
natural and practicable Strange and momentous
as are the changes indicated they are made to
wear the aspect not of fantasies but OF posi-
bities; and no higher praise could be given
work of fiction than this impression implies
Yet to call it work Of fiction is hardly correct,
for philosophy has quite as much part IN IL as
ina gination. 1t appeals TO the highest and best
of human aspirations, moreover. Few OF us have
been strangers to the perfectionst longings here
embodied and so deity carried to fulilment And
what a world it is which Mr. Belamy shows us as
the natural evolution from the present chaotic
conditions world without poverty; without
inequalities of condition; without the strain and
stress of money rubbing: without the envy
hatred. unchariableness, which the struggle for
existence develops and maintains without fac
ton: without corruption; without the follles and
meannesses of fashion: without fraud and false
hood; without chicaney of any knd;
without ostentation; without sordid cares;
world in which all are assured
competence; in which the whole business of the
nation is transacted for the collective beneht OF
the nation; in which while ample provision exists
for the development of every capacity and talent,
there are neither millionaires nor paupers; III
which the state is the one monopolist and the
people at large enjoy the profits of the monopoly ;
in which citizenship involves no sexual dis-
tinctions or disabilities in which the higher edu-
cation is the birthright of all alike; from which
the waste and friction Of ncessant competition
have been eliminated; and in which the race has
for the first time in its history an opportunity 10
cultivate its nober attributes and tendencies
Is it beautiful dream? 1t is indeed that
vision which inspires the poet as he
@sings Of what the world VIII be
When the years have died away
Yet the prose writer has here shown power