St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-17
wALKs AND rALX =.

nationalist club at last begins to rear its
head in ST. Paul. II was not unexpected; the
craze for starting these cluts having eS-
hausted itself in the East is now travelling
westward for the srhjugation of additional
lerritor V. The principles of the nationalists
are very soothing when orally explained;
there is something charming about the future
its always in the future-wiih its golden
DAYS OF peace and good will 20 all men,
These nationalist are admirers and read
ers of Edward BeIlSmy'S Locking Back
ward:' but to read the report OF the initial
meeting there is sp apparent ignorarce OF
Mr.. Be lamy's delightful book. some men,
bers." we are told, characterized the work as
visionary in that il did away with the neees-
kity of labor" Now. if there is one thing
more explicitly brought out in Looking
Backward il is The fact that every able
bodied person should work. True, the time
for work is fixed between The ages of twenty
one and torty. five, when. under the adnaira-
bic form of government so beautifully de-
pieted by Mr.. Bethany, man could lay aside
work and enjoy the remaining days OF his
life amid peace and a sufhciency Of the good
things of this world; but how tins can he con
strued into an implication thai hard labor
Is degrading" is difficult to understand.
There must he ',heWerS Of wood and drawers
of water" and this is quite plain 10 inteili-
gent, thoughtful readers of Looking Back
ward"
While the dream of Edward Beliamy'sf
very taking in book form. it is very Difficult
TO conceive how such condition of society
could be arrived at with nothing but every
dNy humanity to work upon. Mr. Beitamy
saws we are drifting towards il: that these
monstrous trusts and large trade comoines
are but a stepping stone to the nation beeofn-
Ing its own storekeeper. All this IS very hne
from the laboringman's point of view. bus
what of the milliouaires who nowadays
spread -eagleevery state Of the Union!
The motive power to-day is mOrey. Money
IS everything; il will do everything except
insure q mans sefe journey 10 The klnedt m
of bliss. How, then, are these Nationalist
10 permeate society to such degree that the
autocratic boodier will relinquish his power
on the government Of the country aud trans
fer his possessions into the common treasury
of the people! How fairy like are ali these
schemes for universal brotherhood They
raise their heads to day. and, mushfoom-like'
ere dead and unheard Of on the MORROW
How many are the failures of the we'll
meaning people who pant after the ideal
society. History s&arms with them a lew
wears ago venture of the kind was 'naugu-
rated in Southern Minresoti. A colony OF
English people was established; each man
and family were accommodated with resi-
dence and certain quantity of land. The
scheme was a deserving one; 90 heads
of families were accorded a splendid oppor-
tunity ID maintain themselves in fair con
dition of comfort not TO say luxury. But
the attempt, like hundreds that preceded IL
was failure 1t started out well; that Is the
Syay all such schemes have. Like the hrSt
blush of dawn, everything was bright
and blooming TO the eye. But
there fclIoNtd the bmden End heat
of the day. and with the dark mantle OF
night the Ioseate picture OF The morn became
bleared and unInTiting. Ia two or three
years the colony was broken up oy tne
iethargy displayed by the men: they conld
not maintain themselves simply from the
discord ard lack Of union which had been
allowed to break upon the little band.
The Nationalist club viii furnish nice
exruse for genial and social intercourse. as
well as the emil henment Of its members.
but the theoretical principles which form
the basis of its existence can never become
pra ciical this size of the grave.