The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-17
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DEBv IMPRACTICABLE SCHEME.
George 3. Roberts. the writer on eco
nomsc subjects. screxaw the opposition that
would come to Debs' proposition from
the state he seiecte6 lie said that The
change In the organization Of society 10
move iE.o orc OK the new states. ard ey
their voting: force put their advances IDEAS
into cTec; there. is one 10 which he may
&c safely encouraged TO devote his ener-
sses 1T ss no. likely he said. ITO arouse
any serious opposition until the particular
state has been selected when some dissruss
may possibly cone to the surface Ia that
locality"
That is a very natural attitude for the
people OF any stats 10 take We are al
anxious &c, know what it Is like IL the
north pole. but we do no, all care to I'M
dsrtAks the journey: expeditions underta-
ken by others have our sympathy In their
effort, our interest in their experiments.
and Will have our applause II they sue
coed. There are few people who would
not like to see aerial navigation ac-
compiished; we will gather and
look on admiringiy at those who
have the femerfty to undertake such
a hazardous venture. but we do not care
10 satrust our own safety to the untsied
machine. There is no doubt that the
whole OF the United States would look on
with considerable interest while Dir. Debs
On anybody else essays to create Utopia
out OF Utah. Or q social paradise out OF
any other state: but every state wants the
experiment rnadn ut the expense Of some
other state.
II Mr.. Debs should succeed in putting
one thousand men into any section OF
country, each with an equal tract OF land.
each with the same amount of money,
each with equal strength. and start them
of In a race to wealth from the means at
before some OF them would be trying TO
get the better Of the others This effort
woaid be made by those who were better
than the majority. and by those who were
worse than the majority. The latter
would scheme to do less work for the
endeavor TO acquire more. even with a
greater expenditure of energy. intellectual
or physical Debs would lead. He would
aof take a spade and turn the soil with the
rest. He would show them that he was
OF more value In some other capacity. He
a
enjoy the same bread as the rest. but It
would not be obtained by the sweat OF his
hrow-and Mr.. Debs would Re right. There
II no reason why Mr.. Debs should dig In
the earth or fell trees. be newer OF wood
or a carrier Of water. II he can get some-
reason why. II Mr.. Debs can effect 1t, the
work OF his brain should not be exchanged
for the work OF anothcr's Drawn.
There 10 even no reason why. going into
the ranks. = man who Is willing to throw
enough energy and spirit into his work
TO accomplish in six hours what an indif-
fsrent or lazy man would take ten hours
10 do. should not enjoy the luxury Of
greater leisure. and not be compelled TO
work eight hours In order that the other
should not work more than eight hours.
II the rules OF the colony should bring the
Industrious man down TO the level OF the
lazy. or men ike Debs down 20
the drudgery % these mentally his
inferior. the colony would die OF
despair. A man might as we'll be
convict ard work so many hours
day Tor his food and his bed II lie Is 10
h. deprived Of the privilege OF emulation.
Liberty Is Only the right to enjoyment Of
the consequences OF emulation II thers
is no encouragement to fare better. 10
rise higher. or acquire anything beyond
the daily bread. then life Is not worth ilv-
ing. The theorists say that that would no,
result from equality. but that all alike
would enjoy the hountics 81 nature. But
all people do not enjoy the same comper-
sations. and how ia their relative value
TO be measarede Some men would rather
have i good meal three times day than
plain fare and books: some men would
ayasiciousiy desire all the books they
could consume In their leisure hours, while
others would value far more two or three
faverites. The competition for the graft
aeation OF tastes and incilnstions would
disturb equality from the moment the Tine
was drawn.
II would not be long before the active
minds chafed and rebelied against the
dead level Of repression. nor before the
iadolent chSfei and rebellei against ths
pressure TO keep them ~ 10 the level 81
The active. tt would no, he long before
uaay abandoned the colony and whatever
they might have srought INTO Il. and If
there was anything LEI, somebody would
get Il. II pehs had TIE ingenuity 70 de-
wise such plan. there Is reason 70 sup
peSe that he would have ingenuity not 20
! be among these wFo were left