The Labor enquirer., 1888-03-31
The Veil Lifted From The Por-
tal Of a Glorious :
Future
A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW
A Picture Drawn by Believer In
the Ultimate Triumph OF Uni
yersal Brotherhood.
For .Ile t:nasIrc,.

had n peculiar experience which is
narrated herewith. While seated
in my room one evening ponder
ing upon the spirit of unrest that
pervades the industrial masses,
and the various solutions that
have been proposed by the recog-
.nized leaders of the different fac
tions, | finally fell into a doze.
The train of thought which had
been pursuing was not disturbed
even in slumber. A sort of trance
had possession OF my faculties,
while a vision Of future possibili-
ties was revealed to my gaze.
Methought the fight of time
had brought the world to the year
2oS7, 200 years after the establish
ment Of the Cooperative Com
monwcalth in the United States.
From motives of curiosity, and a
desire to secure information, | had
journeyed to the metropolis of the
Commonwealth. My first visit
was to the public library. This
building covered an immense tract
of land, and was withal marvel
of architectural skill and artistic
beauty. Mile after mile of shelv-
ing was required to properly and
Systematically display the thou
sands of volumes here collected.
lnnumerable bookcases of hand
some design and superior work
manship adorned the various
departments of the institution.
Upon entering, my attention was
first attracted to magnificent
cabinet, constructed wholly OF
iron, which was elevated upon four
short ornamental columns. Sus-
pended above it by silken cords
was the inscription: "The
Pioneers of the Commonwealth
Being dcsirous of learning what
the cabinet might contain, sum-
moncd one Of the assistant libra
rians and requested him to unlock
the door, which he obligingly did.
lie informed me that this cabinet
had been procured for the sole
purpose of preserving the Chief
library works as well as documents
of certain labor organizations
which had educated the masses to
such a point that they could see
the rcasonableness. justice and en-
pcdicncy of establishing a Coop
erativc commonwealth. Having
reached this degree of industrial
and political culture. they had
then voluntarily abandoned the
competitive and gladly accepted
the cooperative system.
The interior of the cabinet was
divided into three compartments,
the two lower ones being filled
with books, papers, pamphlets, etc
The upper shelf was empty with
the exception of a small metallic
box. the key of which lay in avel-
vet case beside it. The assistant
placed both in my hands, first stat
inc that the box contained the
most valuable work in the entire
library. turned the key, the lid
flew open, and, behold, copy Of
Gronlund's cooperative Com
monwealth," edition of 1857
None but socialist can imagine
the grateful emotions that were
called forth at the sight OF thl'
volume. then realized that th'
hopes and aspirations expresset
in the authors concluding para
graph had indeed become reality
even beyond his most sanguin'
expectation. With feelings tha
cannot be expressed in words,
replaced the boz and its sacre'
contents and bulkd myself exam
ming the works on the lowe
shelves.
On the second shelf was an eS
cellent collection of the works 9
Parsons, Pillsbury, Owen, Hynd
man, Morris, Burns, Marx, Joyne'
Aveling. Nordau, Jonas and Stark
weather.
The contents Of the third shel