BONA DEA--MATRON'S HOME--PRE-NATAL INFLUENCES--IMPROVING THE
AIRSHIPS--BATTELL EXPLAINS--PLANS FOR THE FUTURE--MUSEUM OF UNIVERSAL
HISTORY--RELICS OF THE PAST--BUILDING TOWARD OUR IDEALS--LAW OF HUMAN
PROGRESS--PRESAGING THE FUTURE--PROFIT CAUSES POVERTY--EQUITABLE
EXCHANGE THE REMEDY.
[Illustration]
AS I listened to Norrena's description of the financial and commercial
system which had once existed in Altruria, I could not help but notice
its close similarity to the system which prevailed in the outer world.
As he elucidated the international and seemingly unlimited power that
had been exercised by the owners of gold, and how it would take all the
gold in the world to pay a small fraction of the annual interest on
the obligations held against the people, my heart sank within me at the
utter hopelessness of their condition.
I was expecting to hear that the people in their desperation had
blotted this power from the earth with fire and sword, but the speaker
finished with merely a description of a more equitable system of
transacting business. Just as he had come to this most interesting
place in the discussion, the Institute closed and took a recess for
dinner, and MacNair began to introduce us to the superintendents of
many of the large educational institutions of the country who were
members.
As we were leaving the hall Oqua joined us, accompanied by a
magnificent looking woman whom she introduced to me as Bona Dea, the
superintendent of the Matron's home at Lake Byblis, saying:
"My dear Nequa, I want you to learn that in Altruria we commence the
education of children before they are born. This is what these Matron's
homes are established for, and Bona Dea is superintendent of one of the
oldest, largest and most thoroughly equipped institutions of this kind
in the world. I want you to make her acquaintance, and I doubt not that
you will become fast friends."
"I am indeed glad to meet you," I said, "as I want to learn all that I
can about these, to me, strange educational institutions."
"And I," said Bona Dea, "shall be happy to give you any information in
my power. Oqua informs me that you are preparing a book descriptive of
our civilization, and I am much interested as an Altrurian in what it
may present to the people of the outer world."
"Yes," I said. "And by all means, I want it to contain a review of
these Matron's homes, and all that can be learned in regard to their
origin, and the good they are designed to accomplish for humanity."
"That, indeed," said Bona Dea, "would constitute a most important
volume in a series, but it should not be the first one in a thorough
treatment of the evolutionary forces which work for the development of
the race toward higher and better conditions."
"Then," I said, "would you have me ignore this, to me, most singular
system of commencing the education of children before they are born?"
"There is nothing singular about the system," said Bona Dea. "Even
the savages of the olden time did the same thing, but they did not
know it. The mothers were surrounded by the conditions of savagery,
and their children were born predisposed to become savages. These
pre-natal influences are in fact the commencing point in the education
of every child that is born, as they pre-dispose the child to a
life of usefulness, or the reverse, according to the character of
the influences. The object which our Matron's homes are designed to
accomplish is to provide the best possible conditions, to start the
child with a strong, healthy body and mind, with a kindly disposition
and elevated aspirations toward the highest possible intellectual and
moral development."
"If such results," I said, "can be secured by the establishment of
these homes, you certainly would not dissuade me from an exhaustive
review of the entire question?"
"Certainly not," she said, "but as a teacher of your people I would
have you follow the natural law and begin your work at the beginning.
From what I can learn, your own country is now passing through its
Transition Period, similar to that described in Norrena's lecture,
and hence the first great duty of your people is to abolish poverty.
When the fear of want is removed from every household the first effect
will be to place better pre-natal conditions around the mothers, and
the next generation will be placed on a higher plane physically,
intellectually and morally. This is the first step that your people
must take and then the Home may be introduced for the scientific
adaptation of pre-natal influences to specific purposes. Then you will
begin to determine in advance whether the child shall be an inventor,
scientist, philosopher, poet, musician, teacher or explorer. The
Homes are scientifically adapted to specific purposes, while economic
independence and general education lift the entire people to a higher
plane of being along every line of human effort. What your people need
now, is the general, mental and moral uplifting of the victims of
your present system, and to this end, my advice to you would be, to
confine your first work to the solution of the problem, 'How to abolish
poverty.'"
"But would you," I asked, "discourage these specific measures at this
time because the masses are poor?"
"Of course not," said Bona Dea, "for those who are able to apply them,
but I would first place these advanced scientific methods within the
reach of the entire people by establishing economic independence for
all. This is simply following the natural law of human development."
"Will you," I asked, "please explain just what you regard as the
natural law of human development?"
"It is the law of growth," said Bona Dea, "and always begins at the
base and works its way upward. The plant germinates in the earth and
then pushes its way upward towards the light. The growth of the
animal organism from conception to maturity is along the same line
of progression, from the bottom of the scale, toward the top. In the
growth of human civilization and the mental, moral and spiritual
elevation of the race, the same general law of evolution holds
good. The elevating influence must reach the people through their
environments. The real man and the real woman, is the ego or spirit.
The physical body is the outermost environment of the individual being.
By improving the physical conditions we stimulate the mental organism
into a healthy activity, and the result is intellectual growth, and
spiritual unfoldment. Such is the natural law of human progress from
the physical through the mental to its culmination in the spiritual or
divine, which is the very highest type to which we aspire."
"This," I said, "looks like a concise and logical statement of the
natural law, but how do you apply it to the present conditions
which exist in my own country? We have a civilization and many very
intelligent, well meaning and well to do people who might be greatly
benefited by a better understanding of the influences of pre-natal
conditions."
"Doubtless that is true," she replied, "but your duty as a teacher is
to take the whole people into consideration and not a part, and in
your work for their enlightenment begin at the bottom of the scale.
Your present civilization was developed along the lines of unconscious
growth, jest as the child grows from birth to maturity. But your work
as a teacher and civilizer is to work along conscious lines and lay
your plans with due deliberation. Having, as it were, reached the top,
you are able to give instruction to those who are lower down and help
them to climb higher. The place of the teacher is one which demands
that you should understand the natural law of growth, so that you
may work to the best advantage. Hence your work is to begin with the
outer environment, the physical, and that which pertains to the higher
will take care of itself. It is not the whole, but the sick, who need
the physician, so it is not the wise, but the ignorant who need the
teacher. For these reasons I advise you to confine your present work
more to the economic, as that would prepare the field for the higher,
and that, just where it is most needed, among the poor."
"I think I comprehend your meaning," I said, "and shall act accordingly
in the preparation of my first volume on Altrurian civilization. Oqua's
advice was very similar, but situated as I am here, these numerous
lines of thought press in upon me all at once, and there is so much
to learn, that I often find it difficult to make a selection. I am
sure that the people of my own native land are passing through their
Transition Period, and I am anxious to give them that which will do
them the most good."
"Then," interposed Norrena, who had joined us, "show them how to get
rid of poverty. Without economic independence, political independence
and personal liberty, under the law, are a hollow mockery. There can be
no progress without freedom, and there can be no freedom as long as a
people are driven to their work by the stern lash of necessity."
"But how is it," I asked, "that you have such a realizing sense of the
horrors of poverty, when you have always had an abundance?"
"Because it is the one great object," said Norrena, "of our educational
training and of our Altrurian civilization to provide against want,
and to relieve distress wherever found. Every student in our schools
is required to make a careful study of our Transition Period, the
helpless, hopeless condition of the poverty stricken masses, and the
methods by which they got out, and which must be continued in order to
stay out."
"But why," I asked, "do you now, after centuries of abundance, still
make these lessons so prominent in your educational system?"
"Because," said Norrena, "we are still on the physical plane, and if we
do not guard against them by every means in our power, these physical
evils may again overtake us. We know for a fact that eternal vigilance
is the price that we must pay for the preservation of our present
blessings."
"But constituted as your people are," I said, "with their readiness to
relieve distress under all circumstances, I should think that you have
no cause to fear a return of the old systems of oppression."
"Certainly not," said Norrena, "so far as this generation is concerned,
but should we neglect the education of the rising generation in regard
to these matters, we would begin to go back toward those conditions.
There is no danger so long as we do our duty as educators, and keep
alive the finer sensibilities of the soul. We did not reach our present
condition at one bound, and if we were to go back it would not be all
at once; but it is the duty of our teachers, to see that we do not take
a single step backwards. Hence, we educate."
We had now reached the Department of Public Comfort where we were
making our home during our stay in Orbitello. After dinner, Battell
informed us that he intended to start within an hour to Lake Byblis,
and that before he left, he desired to have some definite understanding
as to our plans for future work.
"Then," said Norrena, "you had better join me in my rooms and talk
the matter over. I feel deeply interested in your plans for opening
communication with the outer world. So if it is agreeable, come with
me."
We accepted the invitation, and were soon discussing what was now the
leading thought in our minds--the improvement of the airships with a
view to forming a connection between the inner and the outer worlds.
Battell explained his plans for constructing a ship that could be
moved in any direction, the power to be applied instantaneously, so
as to be able to meet all the contingencies of a storm and contending
currents of air. Then plans were discussed for protecting the occupants
from intense cold. For this purpose, I had plans of my own which I
did not divulge. Several ways were proposed for making the vessel
proof against cold, but I saw at a glance, that with all of them, the
freezing moisture on the inside, would so obstruct the vision as to
very materially interfere with the proper guidance of the vessel.
"Before I left," said Battell, "I gave plans and specifications for an
entirely new ship, that I want you to test in a storm, if you can find
one, and report as soon as possible. Captain Ganoe has agreed to go
with me and assist in its completion. As soon as it is ready I will let
you know. Will you come to Lake Byblis and start from there? or shall I
send it to some other point? What will be your address?"
"I have made no arrangements for the future," I said, "that will in the
least interfere with the proposed trial trip to the southern verge. I
think, however, I had better remain here a few days, as there are some
questions that I want to study, and to that end, I shall take a look
through the Museum of Universal History."
"Well, get your book ready," said Battell, "and we will find the means
to send it where it will do the most good."
"I have sufficient material ready," I said, "for a number of books,
but the question now is, How much out of the great abundance, shall I
select to go with an account of our discoveries?"
"Well, I should think," said Battell, "that you could not send a
very large proportion of what you can find in a single one of these
exhibits, to say nothing of the libraries; but do your best. I have
work that must be completed, in order to make yours available, so
good-bye, and may success attend you."
Captain Ganoe, MacNair and Iola accompanied Battell to Lake Byblis, and
Norrena, Oqua and myself went to the museum.
This was a most magnificent structure, situated on the river, on a
point of land where the river leaves Orbitello and makes a sharp
turn toward the east. The building was a hexagon, about 600 feet in
diameter, and the foundation had been excavated down to the level of
the water, which gave one-half the building the appearance of extending
out into the river. In the center of the building was an inlet for
boats for which there was a spacious landing, enclosed by broad, marble
steps on three sides. At the center, and each of the six corners,
was an elevator which connected with each floor. Around what may be
regarded as the main building, was a broad extension in the form of
an inclined floor, that communicated at frequent intervals with the
several stories, either on the level of the floors or by easy flights
of steps.
On the periphery of this inclined spiral floor, was a railing. The
whole of the external structure was supported by massive and highly
ornamented columns of aluminum which reflected the light like burnished
silver. In the center, and supported from above, was a double track
electric tramway, with cars moving each way at short intervals. This
arrangement gave the entire floor space to pedestrians and those using
electric chairs and other small vehicles. The lower stories of this
immense building, up to the level of the bluff, contained supplies
of all kinds, required by those engaged in river transportation.
The upper stories of the building were devoted to the preservation
of relics and records commemorative of past civilizations and
taken altogether, presented to the eye a complete history of man's
progressive development along every line from the earliest period of
recorded history. This wonderful exhibit, enabled the student to trace,
by means of practical illustrations, the progress of the mechanical
arts, from the original crude contrivances to the present high state of
development under which drudgery was unknown, and the people were in
the full enjoyment of all the comforts of life with a minimum of labor.
It is no part of my intention to attempt to give more than the most
cursory mention of this wonderful exhibition of industrial progress.
One feature, however, impressed me most and that was the striking
similarity in these exhibits, to the much smaller ones, which I had
visited in the outer world. The methods which had prevailed in the
different stages of civilization, were almost identical with those
prevailing in the corresponding stage of outer world development. In
water craft for instance, the raft of logs bound together with thongs
and propelled by poles came first, followed by canoes hollowed out of
logs. Then smaller boats with oars, and growing in dimensions until
they assumed the shape of Roman galleys and the ships of the Northmen.
Then sails were introduced and later, steam became the motor power.
So, of the methods of land transportation. The sledge and ox-cart were
followed in time by the stage coach, this by the electric car, and last
came the airship.
I asked Norrena to explain this remarkable similarity.
"This," said he, "only indicates that human development along every
line of progress is determined by the constitution of the human
mind. Knowing this, we have the key which explains all the mysteries
connected with the progress of the race from lower to higher
conditions. At every step it has been met by similar difficulties and
hence the methods for overcoming these difficulties have been similar,
because all have alike possessed the same mental constitution. This
progress up to a certain point, has been along unconscious lines, and
the average man and woman had no clear understanding of the influences
which were impelling them forward. In every age, and in every condition
of life, man has been building in the direction of his ideals, but
never reaching them. In his primitive state, he felt the need of some
means for crossing streams, and having observed that wood floated
upon the water, he constructed a raft. From this he formed the plan
of a boat, and constructed a canoe. As he improved in the direction
of his ideals, these ideals became more exalted, and to-day we have
the magnificent electric yacht. So it has been in every department of
human effort. The higher the ideals which have been formed in the mind
of man, the higher he has climbed in the scale of development. This
is the fundamental law of human progress. Every one of these relics of
past ages was at first an ideal that had been formed in the human mind
before it was realized."
"A thought strikes me," I exclaimed. "If all these ideals have been
realized, is it not a promise, or a prophecy, that our ideals of
to-day, will be realized in the future? And if from the constitution of
the human mind we could presage the ideals of the future, we could in a
general way predict what the civilization of distant ages will develop."
"Certainly," said Norrena. "Your thought is strictly philosophical
and applied to our immediate future it gives an infallible rule for
presaging events where we are familiar with the forces impelling in
a certain direction. If we can ascertain where we are to-day on any
given line of progress, we can safely predict what the next step
will be on the same line, for all things are possible to the human
mind in its ultimate state of development. There is no such thing as
actually turning back in the path of progress, much as man may seem
to retrograde at times. The lessons taught by these seeming failures
are essential elements in his still greater development further on.
Nothing that is useful can be permanently lost to the race. What we are
inclined to call evil, is fleeting and fades away, while the good, the
true and the really valuable is immortal. Hence, human progress towards
higher and better conditions, as applied to the race, and long periods
of time, must ever be onward and upward toward the Infinite Good."
"I have always," I said, "been deeply interested in everything
pertaining to the progress of the race, but I have been inclined to
regard it as somewhat a matter of chance. You seem to have reduced
it to an exact science. I can understand how certain influences are
necessarily toward improvement, but how is it that our elevation is
assured when so many are unconscious of such a tendency, and in the
outer world at least, multitudes seem to be bent upon getting lower
instead of higher in the scale? I feel quite sure that the masses of
our ancestors in the past, were no better than the masses now, and
did not consciously co-operate with nature for their own improvement.
It seems, however, that by some kind of a blind chance they may
have contributed something, but it certainly was not intentional. I
see a different influence working here and the people are evidently
co-operating with nature for the good of all, but I fear that it will
be a long time before the people of my own country will reach that
stage of development."
"Do not be discouraged," said Norrena. "The constitution of the
human mind is a guarantee of human elevation. The history of human
development presents two distinct stages, the unconscious and the
conscious. All progress from the simple cell to the human being, is
of course unconscious and is governed by fixed and immutable laws.
These same laws control human development up to the point where
knowledge enables the race to consciously participate in the work of
its own elevation. As soon as the people are sufficiently developed
to understand the operation of the laws which control their own
unfoldment, they will enter upon an epoch of conscious progress
by careful and well concerted measures. When at the close of the
Transition Period our people reached that stage, the change for the
better in every direction came suddenly upon the world, because the
masses of mankind felt the need of something better. Unconscious
development had prepared them for the wonderful change. The blind
forces which had been slowly urging man upward toward a higher plane of
existence, now had the aid of careful and well devised methods, and the
long ages of darkness disappeared in the blaze of light which was let
in upon the world."
"And from this," I said, "am I to infer that you think America is
about ready for such an uplifting of the masses? Your description this
forenoon of the Transition Period of this country, would pass as an
accurate delineation of the present condition in my own. The belief
is widespread among thoughtful people in the United States that our
country is on the eve of some great change. Persons of an optimistic
turn of mind believe that we are near the beginning of a higher, nobler
and purer civilization than the people have ever enjoyed before, while
the pessimistic are equally sure that we are destined to go back toward
barbarism. I want so very much to be able to disseminate the light that
will dispel this darkness from our future."
"I think," said Norrena, "that you have no cause for alarm. From what
I can learn the optimists of your country are largely in the majority,
and a general expectation of something better for humanity, is a
powerful psychic force, to produce something better. If your people
earnestly desire better things for the masses and at the same time
believe that better things are in store for them, your future is most
hopeful, as the people cannot fail to find out how to attain the object
they are seeking."
"Thank you," I said. "But where is the light, and what can I do to shed
it broadcast among them?"
"The light," said Norrena, "is latent in every human soul and is
manifested in the readiness with which all classes of people render
assistance to those who are placed in peril or are suffering from
some great affliction. This is the light that is manifested in your
charitable institutions and public hospitals for the relief of the poor
and the physically infirm. When those who provide these institutions
for the relief of suffering humanity learn how the sufferings which
now appeal to their sympathies can be avoided, this latent light will
be developed into a flame that will enlighten the whole earth and the
darkness will disappear as if by magic."
"But this," I said, "does not tell me how that latent light can be
developed into such a flame. Human sympathy has always existed,
but as yet in the outer world it has not succeeded in removing the
suffering which appeals to our sympathies. By what means can this be
accomplished?"
"By the discovery and application of the principles of equity in all of
our relations toward each other," said Norrena. "To assist you in this,
I suggested that we take a look through this Museum. In the relics
of past ages which you find here, you can trace the operation of the
fundamental laws of human progress. On this floor you have the works of
man in his lowest condition. On the floor above, you find relics of a
higher civilization. These have been classified as nearly as possible
in their natural order, from the lowest to the highest, with a view to
teaching the progressive development of the race in the most effective
manner."
"I realize the importance," I said, "of such a collection to every
student. But all this comes before your Transition Period and I do not
see its bearings upon the great problem of the present day in my own
country--how to secure the same conditions which I find prevailing
here."
"As yet," said Norrena, "you have only seen the relics of barbarism.
This museum is twenty stories high above the level of the bluff on
which it stands, and each story bears its record of the onward and
upward progress of the race. The first were erected soon after the
Transition Period, but others have been added since that time, to make
room for the evidences of our progress. We will now ascend to the one
devoted to the Transition Period."
We stepped upon the elevator and in a moment more were ushered into one
of the upper stories, and I found myself confronted by a display, such
as would characterize a first-class exposition of the present day in
the United States; with this difference, however; it represented the
poverty and misery of the hovel as faithfully as it did the grandeur
of the palace. Everything seemed familiar and I felt as if I had been
suddenly transported to New York or London. Every feature of the
competitive system of production and distribution was appropriately
illustrated, together with the inevitable consequences to the people;
wealth beyond the dreams of avarice for a favored few and hopeless
poverty and degradation for the many.
The clothing of the workmen in contrast with the gorgeous apparel of
the fashionable bon ton; the furnishings of the hovels of the poor and
the mansions of the rich placed side by side; the coarse and homely
fare of the wealth producer compared with the dainty viands of the
non-producer; all told more plainly than words the story of undeserved
poverty, and in millions of cases, the abject want and misery of
the most useful classes of society, in striking contrast with the
unearned abundance of the idle, and for all practical purposes, the
useless rich. The manner in which the wealth created by the toiling
millions, passed through the channels of trade, into the possession
of a few wealthy speculators, was illustrated by pictures and printed
explanations, in almost endless variety, so that even the most obtuse
observers, could not fail to get a clear idea of the practical workings
of a system of commercial exchange, under the operation of which,
interest, profit and rent were always added to the market price of the
product, every time it changed hands.
One of these illustrations was entitled, "Thirteen Usuries on One
Hog." It represented a hog passing from the farmer at one end of a
long bridge to the workman at the other. From the time the hog starts
from the producer on the farm until it reaches its destination in the
workshop of the consumer, its size (price) has become colossal.
In exchange for the hog a plow starts from the shop to the farm, and
the size (price) increases in the same proportion. Every time any
commodity passed one of the commercial toll gates established between
the producer and the consumer, the price was increased for the benefit
of speculators who contributed nothing to its value. All this was of
course to the manifest loss of the producers. The long bridge was
labeled, THE PROFIT SYSTEM.
In contrast with this was a short bridge labeled Equity, over which
products were passing both ways from the producer to the consumer,
without changing size. Over this Equity bridge the product passed
directly from the producer to the consumer by the shortest practicable
route, and was only handled one time. Over the Profit bridge,
goods became shelf-worn and deteriorated in value, by the frequent
changing of hands. These two bridges, Profit and Equity, were given
as symbolical representations of the Cause and Cure of poverty. There
was no mistaking the lessons taught by them; neither could there be a
doubt of their truth. Under the Profit system of exchange the managers
are self-employed and it is legitimate that they should have a profit
for the service rendered, and the larger the profit, the larger the
number who can make a living out of it. Under Equity, the managers are
employed by their customers and it is to their interest to see that the
business of exchange is carried on with the smallest possible amount
of work in handling the product. Hence the Profit system necessarily
entails poverty upon the masses who have no interest in the exchange,
while Equity secures abundance, because the exchange is effected by
their own agents at the least possible expense. Hence, under Equity,
the product passes from the producer to the consumer without changing
size, and the cost is fixed by the amount of labor expended in its
production, superintendence and transportation; and all parties to the
transaction, get the exact value of their services; but under this
system there is nothing for the money king, the profit-monger and the
landlord.
"You see," said Oqua, who had been unusually silent and pre-occupied,
"that this symbol of the two bridges, tells the whole story of the
difference between the profit system of exchange and the equitable;
between the old system with its widespread poverty and the new with its
abundance."
"I see the difference," I said, "but it is not so clear to my mind just
how the people can pass from one bridge to the other; from PROFIT to
EQUITY."
"That is very easy," said Oqua. "Change the PURPOSE for which business
is transacted. Instead of exacting profit from the producer and the
consumer, conduct business for the purpose of establishing equitable
relations between the producers and the consumers. When this is
done the profit system will have been removed and equity will bring
abundance to the household of every producer, and poverty will be
abolished."
"I can well understand," I said, "what the effect of a change of
systems would be, and it is equally clear to my mind that the money
kings, trust barons and landlords could, if they would, easily
introduce the change, but how could the poverty stricken people make
such a change in the business system of the world? If it is done at
all, it must be done by the very poor, and under the profit system the
very poor are helpless."
"That, 'under the profit system,' is well put in," said Norrena,
laughing. "It is undoubtedly true, that 'under the profit system,' the
producers are helpless; and it is equally true that as long as they
remain under this system, they will continue to be helpless. It is also
true that the selfishness of the wealthy managers will never consent to
the change so long as they can prevent it."
"Then, indeed," I said, "to my mind the condition of the laboring
millions is hopeless. They CANNOT establish equity and the rich WILL
NOT."
"Why hopeless?" asked Norrena. "Do you think they would refuse to make
the change from profit to equity, if they had the opportunity to do so?"
"Not that," I said. "But the question is, How can they make the change
while bound hand and foot under the profit system?"
"Whatever has been done," said Norrena, "can be done, and you have
only to look around you to see that the change from profit to equity
has been made in this country and can be made in yours, notwithstanding
the fact that the people are bound hand and foot and will continue to
be so bound as long as the profit system continues."
"Please do not mock me," I said with some spirit. "How can a people who
are bound hand and foot, save themselves?"
"By using their heads," said Norrena. "The hands and feet may be
bound while the head is left free to think. Let this freedom to think
be exercised in the right direction and their physical bonds will
disappear."
"I am sure they do think," I responded, "and what is more, they have
been thinking for a long time."
"Then," said Norrena, "let them continue to think and they cannot fail
in due time to find out just what is the matter."
"Oh, many of them have found that out," I said, "and realize that they
are impoverished by the exorbitant profits on investments which go to
the wealthy classes."
"Then, indeed," said Norrena, "the day of their deliverance is drawing
near. They have already learned that it is the profit system that
is pauperizing them. If they continue to think, they cannot fail to
learn that the profit system could not continue without their constant
support. That when they withdraw their patronage from profit-mongers,
the profit system will disappear. If I read your literature correctly,
your people are very near the hour of their deliverance."
"They may," I said, "be driven to the violent overthrow of the present
system, but I do not see how they can speedily break their bonds in any
other manner."
"They can do it," said Norrena, "by the exercise of the same spirit of
manly independence, intelligently directed, that they now exercise in
their worse than useless strikes. You have the competitive system which
is self-destructive and hence weak. Your producing classes can organize
as consumers and take advantage of the sharp competition between
dealers to sell goods, and by a wise use of their combined power to
purchase, introduce an equitable system of exchange."
"What is that?" I asked. "Would they expect any such sweeping results
from selling their trade to the firm that would give them the largest
rebate on prices? Would not the tendency of such a movement be, to
still further curtail the demand for labor, by depressing the the price
of products?"
"Yes," said Norrena, "such a system of selling their custom for a
rebate, would have just such an effect. But you lose sight of the fact,
that wholesale dealers are competing with each other for an opportunity
to sell goods. They sell to retail dealers who can find customers for
their goods. Organize your ability to purchase, select a competent
business agent, and go into business for yourselves, and be sure not to
undersell other dealers. Your exchange will have a decided advantage
over every other dealer, because your trade will be organized and your
sales will be certain. The wholesaler will be quick to see this, and
will be anxious to get your trade, as his pay will be certain."
"But," I said, "where would be the inducement for the people to
organize their trade, with the certainty that they would pay just as
much for the goods as they did before?"
"The same inducement," said Norrena, "that people under the money
system have for depositing their earnings in savings banks. Every
time they purchase an article in their own exchange they are making a
deposit to their own credit, where it will do them the most good in
times of disaster. The profits will belong to the organized customers,
and by leaving them in the exchange they will accumulate a sample stock
of goods already paid for, from which any order can be filled. After
such a stock of goods is secured, they might at regular intervals
declare a dividend to the organized customers, leaving a percentage
on deposit with the exchange to be used to educate the people into a
comprehensive understanding of business methods and for the creation of
a fund to purchase land and give employment to their members, in order
to eliminate rent on land and save the profits on production."
"But," I said, "I do not clearly see how starting stores and saving
retail profits would enable the people to escape the demands of
interest and rent."
"The store by itself," said Norrena, "could not do this, but the
financial power that can always be secured by wise business methods
could. To the extent that the use of money can be minimized and
debts paid, of course interest will be saved. And to the extent that
consumption can be organized and concentrated, a smaller number
of business houses will also be needed and thus rent saved to the
customers who in the last analysis pay all the expenses. And just in
proportion as business houses are not needed, they will be for sale to
people who can use them, as landlords could not afford to pay taxes on
property for which tenants could not be found. This property would
all be needed by the organized consumers who, with their continually
accumulating fund from pooling the savings of profit, interest and
rent, even on a comparatively small scale, would always be able to
buy. The profits on distribution will constitute an ample fund for
socializing the land and furnishing employment for a continually
increasing number of people."
"But," I said, "to be able to hold our own against the world-wide
profit system, would require a world-wide organization."
"Do not be too sure of that," said Norrena. "The benefits of equitable
exchange in a single locality, would be most decided. Of course it
would be more effective if extended over a wider field. But the
distribution of literature, such as the accumulating profits would
enable you to make, added to the far-reaching effects of a successful
object lesson, could not fail to make the organization world wide. All
that is necessary for this purpose is a practical demonstration, that
by this system, the productive laborer and not the money king is master
of the situation."
"Is this the same plan that you outlined in your address?" I asked.
"Just the same," he said. "All that is required is such a business
organization as will cover the entire ground demanded by absolute
justice. It must look to the elimination, as rapidly as possible, of
the elements of interest, profit and rent. To avoid the payment of
interest it is necessary to minimize the use of money, and as soon
as debts are paid, refuse to use it at all. To avoid profits, you
must purchase your supplies and sell your products through your own
exchanges. To get rid of rent, use the profits to socialize the land."
"This is certainly sweeping enough," I said, "but it seems to me, that
it would be an almost endless task to induce the masses of the people
to unite their trade to such an extent as would be necessary to secure
the full measure of relief demanded by absolute justice."
"It certainly would be," said Norrena, "if you did not prosecute a
vigorous educational work, and at the same time offer inducements that
the profit system cannot afford."
"I fear that this would be impossible," I said. "The dealers with
millions of money could beat us in offering inducements to catch the
trade of the unthinking."
"Do not fear that," said Norrena. "They could not do that without
abandoning the profit system, which is all that you would ask. As soon
as you have organized trade and have a sufficient stock accumulated to
meet its demands, you will be saving interest to the extent that you
can transact business without money, and to this will be added all of
the net retail profits. This will enable you to pay a little more for
farm products than dealers can who are on the profit basis. You can
safely continue this rise in prices until you pay as much as you can
sell for. This will give you the entire trade of the farmers, and the
usual profits on all they purchase will be a net gain to your exchange,
less the slight advance on the price of products, equal to the profits
of the speculators. The price you receive for farm products, will be
exchanged for goods on which you will make a profit, and if you can
always make one profit on the exchange you will be on the high road to
success."
"But this inducement," I said, "would only reach the farmers. It would
be necessary to offer some other kind of inducement to secure the
trade of the city workmen."
"That is easily provided for," said Norrena. "Your farmer's trade,
notwithstanding the fact that you pay as much for the product as
you can sell it for, will net one profit on the goods for which you
exchange it. With all this farm trade secure, you can begin to furnish
employment to city workmen in various ways, converting the raw material
into finished products to supply your increasing trade. This will
enable you to make valuable customers out of all the workmen for whom
you can find employment. Another inducement will be, to return one-half
of the net profits on their trade in the shape of a check which will be
good at the exchange for products. This will still leave one-half as
a contribution to the educational and land purchase fund. I believe,
however, that with a vigorous and comprehensive educational work, but
few would ever draw anything in the shape of a dividend out of the
business, but leave it as a permanent investment to enable them to
secure homes, or as an insurance fund to support them in sickness and
for the benefit of their families in case of death."
"You seem to have unlimited faith in this plan of organizing business,"
I said.
"And why should I not have?" asked Norrena. "These principles have
been tried in this country and we know by experience that they cannot
fail, wherever they are intelligently and honestly applied, on a scale
large enough to constitute one good object lesson as to what can be
accomplished. The system, in practice, will demonstrate that money
is not a necessity. Money however, will still come into your hands,
even more freely, and as long as you have debts that must be paid in
money, you will have use for it. But when the debts are all paid, money
might cease to circulate, as you would then have learned by actual
experience, that you would get along better without it than with it."
"That puts me in mind," I said, "that in your lecture you stated that
the people in this country, in their movement to establish equity in
business, established banks to manage their money account. If the
movement here was started by the very poor, how did they get money for
the necessary cash capital?"
"By the accumulation from cash purchases made in their exchanges,"
said Norrena. "Their exchanges were a system of banking products, but
they issued checks on the deposit of money as well as products. As
these exchanges offered superior inducements, they received their full
share of cash trade from the beginning, and nearly all of it when their
exchange was complete. Hence they found no difficulty in establishing
their own banks under the law, and as they never loaned their deposits,
their banks could not break, and people who had money to deposit,
brought it to them for safe keeping. As the tendency of this locking
up of deposits was to curtail the circulation of money, the exchanges
provided against any oppressive stringency, by loaning on good
security, without interest, checks which were redeemable in products at
the exchanges. It was estimated by the statisticians of that time, that
every dollar locked up in the exchange banks, brought six dollars of
trade per annum to the exchange stores on which the regular customers
at these exchanges made an average of ten per cent., or sixty per cent.
upon deposits."
"Were these exchanges incorporated as joint stock companies?" I asked.
"They were," said Norrena, "but not always. The real object of the
order was to ultimately eliminate the stock corporation and substitute
the equal co-partnership. Hence when incorporated, every regular
customer was a stockholder to the same amount, and the stock might
be paid for by turning their dividends back into the business as a
permanent investment. In other words, they might pay for their stock
out of what they were able to save in their cost of living by their
abandonment of the profit system. And further, in order to protect
themselves from the danger of a constructive indebtedness in the shape
of dividend exacting stock, no certificates were issued, and the stock
paid for was always redeemable in exchange certificates payable in
goods at the option of the shareholders, or by order of the directors
of the corporation, for failure to patronize the exchange whenever
practicable. As governments were especially friendly to corporations,
it was deemed best by many, to incorporate and secure these advantages."
"This," I said, "was certainly the full measure of justice to be
secured by a stock corporation, but how were others which were not
incorporated, organized in order to secure the full measure of justice
to members?"
"There was," said Norrena, "no patent on the application of the Golden
Rule in business, and among business men there was a large number who
really wanted to see equity established in human affairs. Hence there
was nothing to hinder a merchant from entering into contracts with
organized consumers, to sell his business to them, and retain the
management at an agreed salary, under such rules and regulations for
the conduct of the business as they might adopt. By this means many
were enabled to exchange a precarious profit for a permanent income. In
cases of this kind, the merchant was benefited by securing a guarantee
against bankruptcy and the organized consumers by securing the services
of the necessary business talent to establish Equity in Distribution,
by paying equal dividends out of the net income to all regular
customers. As contracts for a lawful purpose were held sacred by the
courts a very large number held that the contract between the customers
and the manager secured greater advantages than the stock corporation
in obtaining equality of dividends."
"But," I asked, "why this equality of dividends? Was it fair to those
who purchased large quantities of goods, to require them to share
equally with those who purchased on a small scale?"
"It certainly was," said Norrena, "as it took the UNITED purchasing
power of ALL to establish a business that enabled them to effect any
saving at all, so that there would be something to divide. The large
purchaser through these exchanges got something back, while under the
profit system he would have made nothing at all. To him this equal
dividend was a comparatively small item, while it was a most important
increase of purchasing power to one who was barely able to procure
the necessaries of life. Persons in affluent circumstances were thus
enabled to help their poorer neighbors, and at the same time secure
a dividend themselves. This system of organized consumption with an
equal distribution of the net profits, was the first introduction of
the fraternal features of our altruistic civilization. It was, in its
application, a system of universal insurance against poverty for all,
who, as consumers, withdrew their support from the profit system. In
a peaceful, just and orderly manner, it enabled the poorest to take
a seat at the table which our bounteous Mother Nature has prepared
alike for all, and from which they had been excluded by human greed,
which the founders of the old religious system had characterized as the
'Mammon of Unrighteousness.'"
"Then it seems," I said, "that this was something of a religious as
well as a business organization?"
"Yes," said Norrena, "it may indeed be regarded in that light as
it was the practical application of the teachings of Krystus. This
equality of interest in the distribution of that which had hitherto
been lost to the producers of wealth under the profit system was the
first recognition, on a broad scale, of the Brotherhood of Man in the
business relations which existed among the people. This great business
organisation appealed to the enlightened self-interest of all classes
of people, and drew them into closer relations with each other as one
family, and cultivated feelings of fraternal regard for each other that
will be imperishable. With an abundance for all, the inordinate thirst
for gain had been eliminated and the application of the Golden Rule in
business had at last been established to bless mankind."
"I am deeply interested in learning more about this organization," I
said. "From your explanations I think that I have a tolerably clear
idea of its general principles, and now I would be pleased to know more
of its origin, history and experiences. As an organization it must have
passed through many trying ordeals before it had accomplished its work
of freeing the people from their thralldom to triumphant greed."
"It did have a history," said Norrena, "but it was a history of signal
and sweeping victories. Its difficulties and trying ordeals were all in
its efforts to get started right. Even the leaders of the great reform
movements of that time, many of whom had given years to the study
and discussion of economic questions, did not comprehend its scope.
The people had been so thoroughly blinded by the universal system
of doing business on money basis, that they had never even tried to
formulate plans for changing to the labor basis unless they could get
money enough to purchase everything necessary to start up the work of
production and distribution. This class of co-operators frequently put
their means together, purchased lands and established colonies. Many of
these proved quite successful, but they did not bring the benefits of
co-operation to the millions who could not pay the necessary initiation
fee to say nothing of the other millions who were forced into idleness."
"This reminds me," I said, "that Iola told me the district where I had
been making my home, was a community or colony of this kind, but she
said that the colonists were from among the very poor."
"That is true," said Norrena. "District Number One, was originally
composed of that class of people in the great city Kroy, which the
money kings regarded as dangerous, and hence they were permitted to go
upon lands for which there was no market. The leaders were people of
high culture and knew how to use their opportunities. But the colonies
of which I speak were not founded by the submerged. These colonies
demonstrated that co-operation contained elements of vital power that
was irresistible, whenever it was fairly tested. The able literature
sent out from these colonies, backed up by their experience, was a
powerful educational influence which prepared the way for universal
co-operation."
"But this organisation of equitable exchange, as I understand it," I
said, "was a business organization adapted to the general public,
which enabled the people to get possession of the machinery of
production and distribution. We have successful colonies in the outer
world and I am familiar with their methods, but how to bring these
benefits of united action to the whole people, is the question in which
I am especially interested."
"I have described its workings," said Norrena, "as clearly as my
knowledge of your language will permit, and if there is any matter
concerning which you are in doubt I will try to make it plain."
"I have no doubt of the principles," I said, "and from what I have
seen, I am persuaded that the methods could be successfully applied
wherever a nucleus of earnest reformers could be found who would make
a careful study of the situation, and adopt the same business methods
which were used so successfully in this country. I want some of the
particulars concerning the history of this organization and a concise
statement of its purposes and business methods that would serve as a
model for a similar organization in the United States."
"The first organization," said Norrena, "was effected at this place
which was then the site of one of the larger interior cities of that
day. This was the center of business for a large population of farmers
on one side and miners on the other. It started with the guaranteed
trade of one hundred families and was a success from the start, as the
result of the ample provision for educational work along the lines
indicated. Every member was supplied with a paper which was devoted
to the education of the people into a comprehensive understanding of
business methods and commercial equation, as promulgated in theory
and illustrated in practice by the Patrons of Equity. This paper
contained the official reports of the business exchanges established
under the auspices of the order. The educational work had been carried
on for a long time by a few devoted workers, before it materialized
into a self-supporting business. After that, the order spread rapidly.
A percentage of the profits was used to employ organizers and every
organization added to the trade and increased profits without any
corresponding increase of expenses. When this movement was inaugurated,
the number of commercial travelers in the country was estimated at
about 250,000. These were persons of energy and business talent. They
were quick to see the advantages which this system of commercial equity
offered to men of ability, to establish themselves in business for
which they were especially qualified, and they started out to find
locations where they could organise business on these principles."
"But was there not some danger that designing people might get control
and defeat the purposes of the organization?" I asked.
"Designing persons did get into positions," said Norrena, "but there
could be no danger to the cause from this source, as in order to secure
positions they had to adopt methods of business that could not fail to
overthrow the profit system, and as fast as business was organized,
the official paper of the order was sent regularly to every member.
If at first they did not understand the principles well enough to
protect themselves from knaves, they soon learned; and if anything was
going wrong it was soon understood by the customers. As the business
extended, the oppressive power of money decreased, and the power of
labor increased. The enthusiasm of the people was aroused to the
highest pitch, and the magnates of the old system were correspondingly
depressed. The old system was essentially weak, while the new was
peculiarly strong, and as the hosts of wealth producers came together,
and utilised the actual values created by their labor as the medium
by which exchanges were effected, prices went up as the result of
the increase in the currency, and there was no use for money except
to pay debts. Under this system, the purchasing power of labor and
products was steadily increasing, while the purchasing power of money
was decreasing. As long as money was needed to pay debts, products
were exchanged for money at the increased price fixed under the labor
standard, but when the debts were all paid, the purchasing power of
money was gone and poverty had disappeared with it. Every debt had
been paid according to contract, and in the payment of these debts the
debtors had transferred their poverty to their creditors."
"We have gone over this ground," I said, "until, as I understand it,
the great potency of this organization, was in the fact that all its
methods were especially designed to ultimately eliminate the use of
money in the transaction of business, but it occurs to me, that much
could be done in this direction, without the organization of business
exchanges, which issue certificates on the deposit of money and
products to serve the purposes of a currency."
"You are right," said Norrena. "And much was done along other lines
when the people came to understand that the prime factor in the
overthrow of the profit system was to avoid the use of money in the
transaction of business, in every manner possible. In some localities,
farther east, the use of what was known as New Occasion Notes was
introduced to facilitate exchange without money. The shoemaker, for
instance, would give his note, payable in shoes, for groceries. The
physician would give his note for groceries payable in professional
services. The grocery man had no personal use for either shoes or the
services of a physician, but he needed coal, and the coal dealer needed
both a shoemaker and a physician, and exchanged coal for the notes.
The exchange enabled the shoemaker and the physician to get groceries,
the grocery man to get coal, and the coal dealer to get shoes and
the services of a physician, and all without the use of a cent of
money. The use of these notes became so common, that to still further
facilitate exchanges, clearing houses were established where persons
who held notes payable in something they did not need, could exchange
them for notes that were payable in something they did need. This
system of exchanging New Occasion Notes grew into a general collecting
agency, and it was found that among the large number of collections
placed in its hands, a great percentage cancelled each other, and
balances could ordinarily be put in the shape of New Occasion Notes
redeemable in some kind of products or services. As a means of enabling
people to get out of debt, and at the same time facilitating exchange
and decreasing the demand for money, these agencies proved to be most
effective. The Patrons of Equity contemplated the persistent use of
every method that could be devised to minimize the demand for money
with a view to its ultimate elimination as a medium of exchange, by
the establishment of equity between producers and consumers. They had
learned that money of any kind could be inflated and contracted for
selfish purposes, and therefore it was a false measure and could not
be depended upon to mete out even handed justice to the people who used
it as a medium of exchange."
"I can plainly see," I said, "that the field of labor for such an
organisation in the outer world is practically unlimited, and I want
you to furnish me with the details of its plan of organization, as a
model for a similar one for use in my book."
"I have," said Norrena, "provided a translation of the Constitution
and By Laws of the order, together with the rules and regulations for
the government of its Exchange Department for your own use. I would
advise you, however, not to publish these in your book. Only present
the general principles, and let your people work out the details in
their own way. Start the idea to working and I doubt not that they will
discover how easy it is for them to escape from their thralldom to
greed, and when they do, it will not be long until they sever the bonds
that hold them."
"And how," I asked, "would you state these purposes so as to include
all you have given me, in the fewest possible number of words?"
"For this purpose," said he, "I cannot do better than to quote the
declaration of purposes from the preliminary constitution formulated by
the founders of the Patrons of Equity, as follows:
"'SECTION 1. The primary object of this order shall be to organize
exchange on the largest scale that may be practicable, with a view
to the establishment of equitable relations between producers and
consumers, by eliminating as rapidly as possible, every element of
cost that does not go to the producers of the wealth exchanged, less
an equitable compensation to the labor, physical and mental, that is
necessary to an economical management of the business.
"'SEC. 2. And further, as opportunity offers, to effect such an
organization of our financial relations as will enable us, as far as
practicable, to hold all the money that comes into our hands, as a
sacred trust, to be used only in the payment of taxes, and of debts in
all cases where the creditor cannot be induced to take some other form
of payment.
"'SEC. 3. To accomplish these objects, the first and leading work
of the Patrons of Equity shall be to educate the people into a more
comprehensive understanding of business methods, that will enable them
to minimize the use of money in their business relations with each
other, by an organized effort to make the largest possible number of
exchanges with the smallest possible amount of money.
"'SEC. 4. The general policy of this order, in the conduct of all
the business enterprises established under its auspices, shall be to
utilize the net profits on distribution to procure lands and establish
production, in order to provide the largest possible amount of
employment to members in good standing.'
"This declaration," continued Norrena, "when fully understood, is seen
to contain every element of a speedy uplifting of any people who are
oppressed by the power of wealth. Any person with a fair understanding
of business methods can work out the details for the application of
these principles in actual business, and any fifty families who are
able to purchase and pay for supplies to the extent of five dollars per
week, would provide an aggregate sale of over two thousand dollars'
worth of goods per month, which would be ample to start business, pay
necessary expenses and have something left. Such a business properly
managed, could, by a comprehensive educational movement, be made to
absorb the trade of any community for the benefit of the customers, and
thus create an object lesson that would be speedily adopted by other
communities, and become general. The people would be masters of the
situation, and the power of money to dictate terms would have passed
away forever."
"I should think," I said, "that everything pertaining to the
organization which won such a victory for humanity would be carefully
preserved in this Museum of Universal History."
"It is," said Norrena, "but it will be found in the story above and we
will hardly have time to extend this visit any further to-day."
"Nor to-morrow, either," interposed Oqua. "We have important work at
Byblis to-morrow, or at least there may be. Huston and Dione, want
to register as man and wife, and for some reason, Huston thinks that
Captain Ganoe will have objections, and if so, they must be taken into
account. Besides, we propose to have an excursion around the lake on
the Ice King. So we had better return to our rooms, take a rest and be
prepared to start early to-morrow morning."
"And I propose," said Norrena, "that we extend our excursion to Kroy
and complete the object lesson that records the victory of Equity over
Greed."