The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-03-04


finest illustrations of this spirit is his
reply to Francis Walker in the North
American Review for March, 1890. Mr..
Walker in his criticism had shown a
ignorance wholly 1nexcusable in a
man Of his pretensions, and scarcely
surpassed by the religious editors of
today. When Bellamy was through
with him nothing remained to be said.
lie welded blade as keen as the one
used by the Chicago editor, who is
said to have taken off his antagonists
head so neatly that the victim did not
know what had happened until snuff
was administered. The sneeze which
followed made him aware that he had
been decapitated.
This North American article is also
valuable as showing in n concise form,
and in the clearest manner, the ma
ture of the nationalist or socialist
program. It calls for the gradual as
sumption by city, state and nation of
natural monopolies-a measure be-
lieved in by many who claim to deny
Bellamyism, but who are ignorant Of
what Belamyism is.
The greatest annoyance which a re-
former has to encounter is the mis-
understanding of good people. He
does not expect everybody to agree
with him, does not care if they do or
not; but he likes to have his position
fairly stated, and if possible fairly
answered. The genuine reformer is
a lover of the truth, and would rather
be refuted than remain in the wrong;
but he is naturally grieved with those
who persistently misquote him or
misapply his statements. Bellamy
suffered from this very greatly. Those
who should have been his friends,
eager to go with him so far as he was
right and to be helpful in the correc-
ton of his errors, became his loud
mouthed and railing accusers, or
treated him with Indifference and con-
tempt. He never complained, never
urged the reading or review of his
works. His purpose was to do his
work as best he could, and leave the
result with the public; and yet, like
all men, he desired to be understood.
Those who think that Bellamy look
ed upon socialism as the ultimate goal
and destiny of humanity utterly failed
to comprehend him. With him social
ism was but the next and necessary
step in human progress. He regretted
the necessity of the step. If all men
would do right there would be no
need of socialism, no need Of economic
equality. To prevent Il few from do
ing wrong, we make laws for the
many. Because some viii Cypress their
fellows if they can, we must make
it impossible for any to do so. The
highest ideal of society is one in which
all live together as brothers, in which
love is the one motive Tor action. The
path to this ideal state leads through
socialism, but this ideal state is not
socialism. In this ideal state there
will be no division of property, and no
statute law; but all shall have enough,
and the law will be written on mems
hearts. The family is the prototype
of this far-off coming civilization.
Mr.. Bellamy was once asked if he
considered the social state pictured in
Equality the end Of human progress.
"Oh, no." he replied, cit is only the
beginning. When we get there we
shall find a whole infnity beyond"
One of Mr.. Bellamy's most marked
characteristics was his modesty, his
insusceptibility to flattery. Authors
are rare who secure million readers,
Especially in their life time. This he
accomplished. Letters came to him
from all classes of society, high and
low, rich and poor learned and I'M
learned, American and foreign. He
received enough praise to turn almost
any mans head, and yet it had not the
slightest effect upon him. He re-
manned to the end the same quiet,
modest, unassuming neighbor and
friend. He never met people as an
author, but as a man; in fact, his
neighbors scarcely knew him as an
author at all.
In his reform work he was patient,
gentle and conciliato tory. He seldom
went into society, like Hawthorne, ne
was a recluse, but when he met men at
home, on the street, or elsewhere he
was always social, friend y and natur-
ally assumed the easiest possible re-
lations with them.
Had he lived, there is reason to be-
live that he might have united all the
reform forces into one effective
agency for good.
No man could be less impatient
than he with tha Sl0w.m0yinp cnuSe Of