The Washington herald., 1912-01-11
STATE SOCIALISM
AFAHUREN PERU

uary and yesterday as to the issues
which the German veters face and have
TO decide in to-morrows Reichstag
elections, and the important part which
the socialist vote is expected TO play
there. leads to the earnest contemplation
OF what socialism ever has accomplished
In the destinieA Of any nation. The whole
tendency Of the age seems TO be to pen
alize one lot Of people for the benent
Of another. History records one civii-
zation which set out to standardise man.
It's government was the purest form OF
despotic socialism the world has ever
seen, and as an ounce of fact q worth
a pound OF theory It Is q thousand
piles that The political status Of ancient
Peru and its moral lesson Is overlooked
by modern economists.
The government Of Peru, under the
Incas. presents a perfect sample OF state
socialism. There was In reality no such
thing as poverty. Every child was actu$
ally provided for from birth. No spend
thrift could waste his substance, nor
could any man, by his industry, amass
a fortune. No beggar was tolerated IN
ancient Peru. Whenever a man became
reduced by sickness or misfortune. the
arm Of the law was stretched out to
minister to him in generous measure.
bringing with II no humiliation. but
places him on a level with the remain
der Of the people. There was no money
In the Peru Of the Incas. for there was
no need for II. because II the symbol Of
possession had existed, one portion Of
the community must have enriched itself
at the expense Of the other. Thus. the
whole fabric Of society would have col
lapsed.
Occupation was found for all, for the
young to the aged. None but the de-
crepit and the sick were suffered to eat
the bread OF idleness. Incidence was a
crime in the eyes Of the law and severely
punished. Freedom, under such a regime
did not exist and indeed, could not exist
Each child born became not the posses
sion OF fits parents, but the perquisite OF
the state. This is entirely the programme
OF modern socialism. But as the social
ism of ancient Peru was practical in its
application there was no encouragement
given to any such theory as that which
prevails to-day.
The law compelled every man and girl
to marry when they reached the age OF
puberty, and once a year. in accordance
With the mathematical regularity OF the
care OF the state. husbands
were found for the girls and wives for
the men. On the day appointed all those
Of a marriageable age were called to-
gether In the great squares OF their ma
tive towns and villages. No one was al |
lowed TO select a wife beyond the con- |
bues Of the community TO which he be- |
longed. though, as far as possible with |
In these narrow limits the personal pre- |
dilections OF the contracting parties were |
considered.
The ceremony having been completed, !
the welded pair retired to the dwelling |
furnished them by the community. An |
allotment was made sufficient for their |
and an additional portion |
was granted for every child born 10 |
them, the amount allowed for a son be- |
ing double that for a daughter. But |
there was no possibility Of one family |
outstrippinE another along these re-
stricted lines. The division OF the soil |
was renewed each year and the pos
sessions OF the tenant increased or de-
creased by the simple process Of count
nE noses" When the sons and daugh- |
ters became grown up they again set \
up on their own account, just as their
parents had done.
Is not this the ''ideaP' which the So
,lalists Of this day are endeavoring to
establish? The whole OF Peru was well
wnen the Spanish FIRST landed |
here. Grain was stored up In every city
10 provide against contingencies. The /
lrmy. in which. by conscription. every
man had TO serve his time,
security. The land was rem
u great aqueducts- The laborer. no
natter what his trade, was provided
With the materials or requisites to enable
him to carry out his duties. Indeed, the
security and care Of the working man
vas always kept in view by the govern
nent. He had, as we see, a home pro-
'ided for him, work, food, and even a
wife. The ambitions which agitate the
minds OF most men could have no part
" parcel in his being. II he could not
Use above his neighbors, he need not,
It least. have anxiety for the morrow.
What is this but practical socialism?
What was its effect on the people OF
Peru? The people, though treated kind
y and with absolute justice, became only
machines. Though his paternal govern
nent recognized his right TO work, and
o live 1t would not allow the workman
o better his condition. However in
ustrious. he could not add" says Pres
oft, "a rood TO his own possessions. nor
dvance himself one hairs breadth in !
he social scale" As he could not better
lis lot. he had no motive to do more
han was expected OF him. This. Of
curse is only logical socialism. II you
ct man better his lot. IL must be at
ONE one else's expense. and at once we
each different levels. Therefore the Pc 9
uvlan monarchs treated their subjects as ,
n one dead level.
mans whole life and career was map !
ed out for him at birth. As he was
orn. so he would die. Perhaps the sys- ,
I'm was well suited to- the character Of :
he ancient Peruvians. Nevertheless II
roved vicious in the end, and brought .
bout the downfall OF the empire at the
rst invasion. Having created a vast
Machine which eliminated the personal
actor Initiative had been crushed In the ,
ldividual When. therefore, the Inca
-as taken prisoner by Pizarro. by one
Z the most daring coups de main In
istory. the body polite was paralyzed. z
10 one did anything. There was no one ! .
} do IL. The dwellers in the cities and
illages, who later allowed themselves to
E moved down like sheep, did not take
ny initiative In attempting to rescue the S
erson Of the Inca. The people could be q
erded about like cattle, but after gen. /,
-ations Of enervating government, In
hich they were never asked TO exercise =
,e one function which makes man supe-
or-the brain-they had lost the power
7 individuality. Thus a handful OF !,
panisl adventurers, III disciplined.
reedy. with their retreat cut on In case Z