Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-22
DEBs's COLONIES.
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DEBs's COLONIES.
Social democracy as projected by Mr..
Debs has now commenced to assume
tangible form. Colonies on the new
plan are to he founded in Tennessee,
Idaho, Washington and perhaps Utah
Representatives of the enterprise are
said to he busy in all these states,
selecting locations and endeavoring to
arrange for the purchase of suitable
lands.
The first colony is to he established
in Cumberland and Fintrass counties.
Tennessee. There 100000 acres of land
have been purchased for the sum of
$i,75O.oOO, paid for in bonds to the
amount Of se,0OOO0O.
The tract Of land bought is said to
be particularly well suited for the pur-
pose. Half Of 1t has beautiful forests.
In places minerals are found. and the
greatest part of it can be changed into
grain fields and orchards 1t is sup,
posed the land will easily be made to
support 10000 Inhabitants. The inten-
tion is to demonstrate to the world
what can he done under a system of
cooperation in the cultivation of the
h a, transportation and the operation
of machinery. The surplus Of the pro-
duotlon is to be deposited with the
company that furnishes the money,
until the bonds are redeemed. and
every member of the colony is to re-
celve as pay for his labor. no matter
Of what kind 1t is. labor checks that
can be exchanged for products or
money on hand in the common store
houses.
The colonies will enjoy, 1t is further
stated, perfect self-government. The
members will elect their own Off
GERS, and all will have equal
rights. No idlers are to be
who are willing to work are to be
made welcome. 1t is expected this new
Utopia will be in pratlcal operation
next summer with about 1000 families
to commence with.
No doubt this latest effort at a
practical demonstration of the merits
of socialism will be watched with in
terest, both because Its promoters are
building on larger scale than pre-
vlously attempted and because the new
experiment Is to be made, not In an
obscure corner but in the midst of
civilization. IT will perhaps be re-
garded as "A crucial test of the truth Of
the theories of which 1t Is born.
Other similar attempts have failed,
not on account of the absence of ex-
cellent rules for the governing of the
affairs of the colonies, but because 1t
has been impossible to find suitable
timber for the new and ideal social
structure. The architectural design has
been made without due regard to the
material available. The great trouble in
all arrangements of this kind is that
men and women as rule are utterly
| selfish while true co-operation--not
combination for the purpose of robbery
| --presupposes to great extent sacri-
| fee of self for the common good. 1t
presupposes that people believe In the
| kinshp. brotherhood, of the human
family. Unless this conviction has
first been firmly established it
| is difficult to see how CO.
! Ibf II ltNlUS 'un bt
made successful. 1t is certainly not
practical among those human beings
who regard others only as their prey.
If this world. or any part of 1t, is
ever to become Utopia, 1t is to be
through the influence of the teachings
of the great Master and His followers.
Those teachings begin, not with the
social structure but with the individual,
Their aim is first TO prepare the ma
terial needed and then TO build. There
is no reason why the great habltation
of the human family should not be
made the abode of unity, harmony and
peaceful activity. In fact, the present
conditions are by true thinkers felt
to be nm anomaly, difficult to account
for. But no change can be anticipated
before the race has experienced u
thorough regeneration. Reform is not
adequate to the prevailing evil.