Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-10-15
SOCIALIST COLONIZATION
Its Strength and Its Justification.
BY LEON ARD D ABBOTT.

by LEON ARD ID ABBOTT.
Those of us who have pledged our
selves to the work OF Socialist coloni-
cation are nowadays so often called
upon to Justify our position, not only
in the face of a hostile and apathetic
public. but also for the edifcation of
our critical and scientific" brother
Socialists, that it is well to be able to
state shortly and concisely the rea-
sons for the faith that is in us.
All Socialists are agreed as to the
END in view. We are all working for
national brotherhood and the collec-
tive administration of industry. But
we differ as to methods.
The colonization method has two
distinct and striking advantages over
the political method, at any rate
while socialists are so few in number,
and these points will be briefly stated
and defended.
First, we are enabled to realize here
and now-even though imperfectly-
the socialist ideal. 1t means Social
ism in our time. Encouraged as we
Socialists may well feel with the pro-
gress our movement and its ideas
have made during the past twenty
years, we most of us recognize and
admit that the fullness of our ideal
cannot be realized within our own
lifetimes. We are inspired by Il
great hope, and we are content-nay
impelled-to joyfully i've our lives
to the realization of this hope, but in
our hearts we feel that the utmost
we can expect before our deaths is,
like Moses, to scan the promised land
from afar.
Granting that this is so-ard who
in face of the mountains of CONNER
cialism, of ugliness, of selfishness, of
apathy, of conservatism, that are
piled upon us, can deny it?-the colo
lance, and gives us new hopes. In
one little corner of the earth, at
least, we can translate our ideals into
facts. We can establish a comradship
of brothers and friends, based upon
equality and held together by the
bonds of love. We can exercise from
our midst the foul fiend of Capitalism
and its vampire brood of rents and
interests and profits. We can live
close to nature. and surround our
selves with everything that is beauti-
full and lovely.
Our scientific friend. however. is
not enticed by this dream; he already
has crop of objections. The meth
cd is not scientific" he declares; we
are forming a little eddy away from
the tide of industrial evolution. He
points out that these Communistic eN-
periments have failed bv the score,
He calls us selfish and monastic.
i because our method means a partial
retirement from the busy world and
the propaganda therein of Socialist
principles.
TO his first objection we answer that
we have enough faith in Socialist
principles to believe that they may
be successful on small, as well as
a large, scale. Socialism may tri-
umph in the village, as we'll as in the
nation. Moreover, we declare that
action is always more potent than
words. and that a thoroughly success
full Communist settlement would do
more to convert men to Socialism
than the distribution of a hundred
thousand pamphlets.
1t is true that Communist expert
ments have failed. 1t is also true
that many have succeeded. Our as
sertion must be that there is no in
herent reason why they should not be
brilliant success, provided only that
there is sufficient initial capital and
business ability. and also a congen-
iality of temperament amongst its
members.
The taunt of ''monasticism"i is quite
yalueless, because almost all the mod
ern Socialist colonies issue periodical
organs, and are the centers of very
effective and influential propaganda.
The second advantage of the coloui-
zation method. as compared with the
political method. is the different re-
lation in which we stand to our oppo-
nents. In the one case, we form a
voluntary association of those who
think with us. We buy our land, and
begin forthwith to practice the fra
ternal pr nciples in which we believe
We do not bicker or quarrel with
those who think differently from us;
we set them an example, from which
they can draw :h.ir own cen lus.oEs.