The herald., 1893-11-19
THE BELLAMY IDEA.
REV. BOWMAN AND MARGARET
COLLIER GRAHAM'S VIEWS.
Two Interesting Papers on Social
Topic which We're Read Re-
Gently Before the Unity
Club.

cluD. wednesday evening, SHOWS tne ln'
terest Of the public in discussions on
subjects that are engaging the attention
OF thinking people of today. Nearly
1900 people listened attentively to the
papers presented, some with that en-
thusiasm that gives vent to it's apprecia-
tion in hearty applause, Others in
closely following the words that fell
from the speakers lips and silently draw
ing their own conclusions.
Rev. w. @. Bowman Of this city
opened the discussion with an exhaust
i've, though brief, presentation OF the
good things we will have when the
Bellamy idea shall have been adopted
by the masses. Mr.. Bowman spoke in
substance:
The Bellamy Idea may be briefly
stated as a new social and political
state, based on the principle of co-opera-
tion, in place of competition, ana main
tanning by the arts of peace and industry
instead of force and war which is de-
fensible upon the soundest, principles of
social and political economy, to say
nothing of the higher laws of human
itarian philosophy. Our social economic
conditions are far from what they ought
to be. Our unemployed and starving
multitudes made criminals by enforced
idleness, our millions of surplus wealth,
in contrast with our struggling poverty,
our landed moneyed and corporate arie-
tocracy of wealth alongside of our home
less army OF tramps and paupers, paup-
ers from inability to maintain an un-
equal struggle against the rich, the
simple against the shrewd and the in
dividual against the combine, being con-
ditions to be utterly at variance with all
proper conceptions OF q worthy civiliza.
tion as we'll as common justice and hu-
manity. Mr.. Bowman spoke OF the
dangers and ill features OF monopoly and
dwelt extensively in defense of the Bel
lamy idea of competition being the
curse of the present civilization, claim
ing that competitor is incompatible with
the higher civilization of man and is
hurtful 20 his best interests. The flower
or plant in natures wilds left to struggle
with its growing brothers for soil and
sunlight will wither and die, and it is
only when lifted out of this condition OF
competition by man that these things can
be developed toward perfection.
The Bellamy idea is to perfect the
imperfect condition we are now in by
benishing the barbarous state of compe-
tition. He then gave many OF the ideas
of Belamy, 30 familiar to those who
have read Looking Backward.
Mrs. Margaret Collier Graham read
paper in opposition to tine ideas of Bel
lamy, and while she is woman who
has as deep regard for the conditions of
her fellows as any one, she opposed
those principles because che cannot see
that they do good. Her paper was
literary treat and showed brilliancy in
intelligent opposition. An argument in
opposition to a plan that has go COM
pletely fascinated so many, is interest
ing aud the principal points Of Mrs.
Graham's paper are given:
To say that one is opposed to Nation
hllsni has Saving one IS opposed % 81 s5Supsfass
1t is unfortunate that the Bethany idea
should have found its way among US un-
der the gulse of novel rather fortunate
for the idea. though unfortunate for US.
1t is puzzling to know how much is Bel
lamy. how much idea. 9h as q
There is a wide difference between
fancy and calm judgment, and there are
few who are ready to prove that the
Bellamy idea, with its industrial army
and the despotism Of its mythical ad-
ministration, would bring about the
serene, virtuous and uncreaking pro-
gress of governmental wheels which Mr..
Bellsmy describes. There has been no
more curious psychological phenome-
nor in recent times than the whole
sale hypnotizing Of clever literary peo-
pie by Bellamy's dazzling vision, and
| when they come out of the daze they
may be trusted to discover that equality
of income and equality of satisfaction
| are two different things. The first OBJ
lection one strikes in attempting to re-
| form the world iB the imperfection OF
human nature.
Mr.. Bellamy SAYS he came to recog-
nize in the modern military system a
model for his organization, an arsenal
of patriotic and natural motives and ar
guments for its animation and the un.
answerable demonstration OF its feasa.
bility drawn from the actual expert.
ments of whole nations organized and
maneuvered as armies.
Can anything be further from the
basic American idea, from the best and
truest American spirit than this picture
OF a highly centralized government
with it's army of Office holders exercis
ing despotic sway over the lives anG
property OF the people? Mrs. Graham
gave brief description OF the result o
the many "farms and colonies" formed
bv these rainbow adherents. If practi
cable is the system of equal reward fol
UNEQUAL work and ability desirable ant
would the Bellamy plan conduce tt
more individual dignity and freedom
then VS. are enjoying today ant
is such form of government
beneficial to the highest typ
of man? Can such a government
result in progress? Do we want a gov
ernment that would make the life o
Abraham Lincoln An impossiblity M
one knows better than woman how ia
the solution Of the economic problem
which marriage promises every girl, /
responsible for the lack of ambition
among women. 1t is an elusive proba
bility, a solution OF the bread and butte
question dependent in no way upon he
own worthiness, and uncertain as it is
has eufiiced to keep her where she is
in the worlds history Of achievement
We are not what we should be intelleC
tually, when you consider our natnra
mental equality with men. We are no
sex OF logicans and inventors an
lofty poets and great musical composer
Men say kind things OF women, this
we are naturally superior, and compl
ments are profuse, but behind which ar
hidden the thorns OF truth. We kno'
perfectly we'll that nothing would NOR
effectually terrorizs these same men an
more thoroughly cu7dle their blood tha