New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-17
THE DEBS UTOPIA.

After doing all that he possibly could to ruin
the railroad property of the United states VII.
Eugene V. Debs. late supporter OF the inalieh'
able right of rioting. has with CHARACTERISTIC
taste asked one Of the great railroad companies
10 favor him with grant OF land on which 10
found n colony free from plutocrats wages ana
sin Ii Is 10 he hoped that the railway VIII DE
forgiving as well as generous. and heap acres
of sod on Eugenes head and give him every
assistance in establishing his earthly paradise
He will need It all before he conquers the hui
man motives which have hitherto ruled society
and has grown wings en- his car-burning adher
ents, and when he succeeds the railroads ana the
country In general will owe him great deDt
for tho conversion and the exodus.
We are glad that Eugene Is going 10 put the
Socialistlc scheme in operation. and we bespeak
for him the support Of all who believe in 1t ana
Of all who do not Ii is time that the question
Of the possibility Of the Socialistc state was
determined TO the satisfaction OF its projectors
Religious monaseries and transcendenal ram
lilies were well enough in their way. but what
the world wants before embarking in Socialism
Is demonstration that the common run OF good
bad Indifferent dgent. lazy honest and DIS
honest men can he made 10 live together IN
peace happiness and 6nancia! equality While
running the complex machinery OF modern Ire.
Debs Is the man TO give the demonstration. lie
will abolish the wage system. and have the
editor of the Ftopan newspaper and the cleaner
of the Utopian streets work for board and cloth
ing from the Utopian warehouse. and keep the
s,reet-cleaner from wanting to turn editor, and
nrovent the storpho,lse bookkcepcr from having
10 90 home with a headache whenever there is
a bill game and sec that everybody really
works up TO the measure Of his ability and does
moi soldier about his work. secure OF his meals
IN eli cases He will see that all the boys get
thcir proper allowance Of beer and do not get
so nrch as 10 make them improbable servants
os tho commonwealth He will see that the
blacksmith does not through vanity wear out
his hest clothes in the shop TO the loss OF the
commonwealth stores. and. in general, will see
that a benevolent despotsm Is so exercised over
the colony that all its members Will do just as
they ought 10 do, and give unquestionlng obedi-
ence TO the rulers assignment OF work. All this
will he charming IL Debs can do II. he Will
prove himself the greatest genius the world
has seen For ages man has been led to ac-
complishment by unsatstied desire. Now, all
are to have what they desire. and, like good
children. be content and never complain nor re-
bel nor ask for more. We are 10 have COM
munity Of angels ruled by perfectly wise and
omuiuotent bpnevoIence. This IL the perfection
of despotism. but it is not democracy.
Debs says he is going TO apply his remedy
10 society along peaceful patriotic and consti
futlonal lines. That is reassuring. His former
career might indicate that he was going to do
II along warlke. rebellious and unconstitutional
lines. but he seems to have learned better SO
he proceeds to grasp civil power only through
the votes OF his Utopans. AS soon as the in
dustrlal features are fairly launched the Con-
stitution OF Washington will be revised on
DebsIte lines We have seen POpulist legisla-
ton. but 1t was not satisfactory because 1t was
hampered by laws OF trade and Nature. Debs
however, may show us the beauties OF Social