The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-20
CAME BEFORE BELLAMY..
The Old Icarians, a Queer French
Colony That Located in
Illinois.
They Occupied the Abandoned
Homes OF the Mormons
at Nauvoo.
ro,r ~ np,tv of Everything Exccpt Power,
and One Man M~onopolixed Ihat
Failure Came Soon.

and One Man MOnOpOlixeu Ihat
Failure Came Soon.
In 1s47 a party of Frenchmen crossed the
seas and located in Texas for the purpose
of establishing a colony. Two wears later,
having found the soil and climate unsuited
to them. thev sent a committee up the
Mississippi river to look ut Nauvoo, which
had then been vacated by the
saws the San Francisco Chronicle. Ihe
committee found that the Mormon nao
LIFT many buildings, which were Tor SAFE az
a small sum. and finding them suitable for
their purposes they purchased the greater
part of the town site, 1000 acres OF farming
land. and built q Touring mill mt dlstil-
lery. es
The colony was known as 1.-THE 1carian
community" and Etienne CADET was the
acknowledged leader. 1t was composed
of artisans and wage-earners WHO were
honestly trying to adopt a more equal ana
unselfish mode Of living than the MAJOR
portion of the earth's people, in fact the
IDEA of Bellamy had been anticipated by
FORTY years. They based their colony on
agriculture. had a community of interests,
shared eqeally their labors and their
proits. and were looking forward for their
main support to the fruits of the held.
CADET. the leader, was q theorist--an aRi-
tator, rather than q practical manager.
In 1854 the colony first began to attract
attention by reason of its importance as
commercial and manufacturing parish.
The Icarians were a thrifty and Thoroughly
honest people and mingled socially with
the people OF Nauvoo. On a tract OF
twalye acres were clustered the principal
b~uildiucs-on precisely the same ground
on which the Mormons had built their
temple and arsenal. The main bul'd1nR
was 150x5O feet and two stories hlHh. me
first floor was used as a dining hail, wncre
ali of the colonists assembled at meals,
and on the second floor were sleeping
rooms. The old Mormon arsenal was
turned into a workshop and a large two
story building was erected-the stone from
the ruined temple being used Tor scnool
npruoses. The residence of DIR. Bennett,
tho former mayor OF Nauvoo under Nor
morn rule. was purchased, renodeled and
the many rooms used for dwelling purposes.
number of smaller rooms were also tut
nished in some of the deserted buildings,
and thus the question OF haoltatlon was
readily settled; in fact they hau 1oono, 30
to speak, a ready-made home.
The community grew until II numbered
betveen 700 and 800 people. A.few had be-
come dissatisfied and left. but others took
their places. The chief means OF employ
ment besides agriculture wsre tne vlne-
wards. mills, sawmills and dissillery. Many
small shops of various trades supplied the
needs of the PEOPLE and ware a source OF
revenne bv taking work from out
siders. In the schools boys and girls
were taught separately, and were required
to enter the schools as early as four ana
five years of age. They we're taught French,
English and German, and drawing, history,
geography and mathematics. The special
object of the school, however, was a careful
training in political economy. the prlncl-
pies upon which the colony was bundled,
manners and morals. Nc religion was
taught, vet there was no restraint placed
upon any one, the question of religion be-
ing left to the individual. Taey had a large
printing establishment, which was a very
active, one, publishing three papers, one IN
each Of the languages taught in the school.
The members were hard workers, and each
had a particular task to perform. Family
life was sacredly regarded. They had a
library containing upward of $500 volumes
mostly standard French works. While
they seemed obliged to operate q distlllery
as a means of revenue. they discouraged
the use of all intoxicants among themselves
even the use of tobacco was not counte-
nanced.
One or two bands OF music were Away
totbe found, and theatrical entertainments,
social gatherings and dances were a favor
lite diversion. On their arrival it was thu
intention to make Nauvoo only a temper
airy home. In 1852 a party of men were
sent into southwestern Iowa to obtain anc
improve government lands, with the inten-
ton of finally reading there. They nov
owned land and buildings valued vt S75,.
600 in Nauvoo, besides 5000 acres in Iowa
and were. in a highly prosperous condition,
But troubles we're already brewing, and The
new Utopia was destined to be a failure.
When the colonists left Havre they
promised to take CADET for their leader fol-
ten years. Before they had been In hau-
VOC a year CADET agreed to rellnquish :
part of his power and give the people s
Constitution. In February, 1850. the con
stitntion, having been carefully prepared
was submitted to the people and adopted
1t provided for q committee of six direc
tors, who were to be elected annually. Ont
of these was to be chosen BY lot to be tn
leader-the king of Icaria. They were thel
to be divided by the leader into the follow
ing cabinet: President and general super
intendent, director of finance, director o
clothing and lodging, director of education
health and amusements; director of indus
try and agriculture, secretary, and manage
of printing.
an assembly, which met every Saturday.
was composed of every male member owe
20 years Of age. In case Of the withdraw
OF q member from the community one-ha
of the property brought to it by him ws
returned to him in cash. CADETS idea i
granting the constitution was for the pun
pose of presenting the same to the leglsls
ture, with a petition of the people, and asl
ing for q charter. The Mormon chartt
had been revoked, and there seemed
strong sentiment against grantir
charters to peculiar societies. Tn
preamble of the constitution, however, COL
tanned a great deal of explanatory matt,
on the moral and social system of tt
Icarians, as we'll as some OF the maxims
the declaration of independence. 1t please
the Illinois legislature SO that the measul
granting the charter passed by a small nj
jority. Under the new regime CADET ",
elected president, which office he held fro
year to year.
Yet all did not work we'll. He was IL,
always wise, and a number of young me
with more progressive ideas began to diff
from him. He was now nearly 20 years
age, and while he was becoming less cap,
BILE year by year he grew more arbitra
and exacting. He proposed to aboli,
the Offices OF the president and cab
net and substitute a dictator with a
solute power to create and abolii
such offices as he desired. This propos
tion was contrary to the express conc
lions of the charter, yet CADET insisted
49,