New-York tribune., 1903-07-20
THE PASSING OF COMMUNISM.

When Charles Nordhoff, thirty years ago.
visited the communistic settlements OF this
country, spread from Maine TO Oregon, he found
eighty different communes. all in hourishlng
condition. The Shakers alone numbered fifty
eight communes; the InspiratiOnists, or Amana
societies, of Iowa, seven; the Perfectionists
with headquarters at Oneida, n. Y, two, and
among the others with one commune each We're
the Rappists or HarmonstS, in Pennsylvania; (;
the Baumelers, or Zoarites in Ohio, and the
Icarians in Illinois. Only two of these were
then under the guidance of their founders. To-
gether they owned nearly 10000 acres of land
and their combined wealth was estimated az not
less than S12OQQO00. This allowed 1000 for
every man, woman and child in the various set
Elements AS tail to the comet of communism,
cooperative stores, factories and farms, copied
after successful English and German models,
were springing up everywhere The sun OF
communism seemed to be rising, and its vota-
ries We're confident it would never set
To-day of all this array there are more fail
ures than successes recorded of the cO-opera-
tive institutions, and only one OF the leading
communistie organization remains on its feet
the Amana societies of Iowa This sect has a
membership of 1,7O0, mostly Germans, divided
among seven villages near the centre Of the State.
It's members occupy a domain Of $4,000 acres,
and are largely engaged in farming and stock
raising. They have managed TO make both ends
more than meet though for several years the
membership has been stationary, and includes
many aged persons and FIVE hundred children
under fourteen years of age. They say they do
not practise communism for temporal or pecun-
iary reasons, or for the purpose of solving great
social problems but that they may better lead
the true Christian life. The family unit is al
lowed, and the necessary increase comes from
within and from converts made in Germany.
The Oneida Community, with its complex
marriage" belief was the first Of the great com
munes to perish. In 1881 it was transformed
into a joint stock company, with the members
of the old community as stockholders. This has
since developed into the present Oueida Com
munity, Limited, regular corporation, and one
that pays generous dividends. The Icarians, Of
French origin existed for nearly half century
without a dOgmatc basis. but internal dissen
sions split the sect asunder, and the affairs Of
the last branch were settled by a receiver in
1901. Next to go was the Harmonist sect of
Economy, Pennsylvania. The Separatists Of
ZOar followed, being dissolved because of lack
of recruits.
Now comes the United Society of Believers,
called Shakers-a sect which seized upon most
of the precepts of the Essences, a communistic
society which Pliny, the Roman, tells us existed
for thousands of years-pleading poverty and
asking that the State exempt it from taxation
as a church society. The Shakers say gradual
shrinkage of membership has left them land
poor and plunged them into debt, though that
is contrary to their faith. Unable to obtain re-
cruits, they have dwinded to one-fifth the mem
bership Of fifty years ago. A still greater de
crease may be expected in the next few years,
J11OS Of no tSbaIiavnrC' MI md 1bora
surely is a limit to the span Of life. though few
know better how to prolong it than the alb
stemious. virtuous followers Of Anna Lee. They
say themselves that only miracle can save
them from gradual extinction-the miracle Of
capital and labor settling all differences. Then
they believe that men and women will have
time Ito make themselves like the angels"
1t is evident that the United States is not in
need Of communism. If such a need really ex-
listed, there would not be this cry from the COM
munes, "Give us converts, or we perish"