SOCIALISM IN PRACTICE.* ONE of the most interesting of the
many new books dealing with Socialism is a description of the recent Socialistic experiment in Paraguay. The story is written by Mr. Stewart Grahame, who was for a considerable period a resident in this remarkable settlement. His narrative is supported by extracts from letters from other colonists appearing in the newspapers and from the official reports of the British Consul. A more convincing illustration of the failure of Socialists to make good their theories could hardly be diacovered. The idea of the settlement sprang from the brain of Mr. William Lane, an Australian journalist who bad obtained great influence over the working classes in Australia by his socialistic writings. He succeeded in persuading a large number of working men, and also shopkeepers and members of other classes, to join in his experiment. The majority of them honourably carried out the primary condition of member- ship by paying into the funds of the association every penny they possessed, though a few appear to have held back small sums. Before the expedition started great care was expended in selecting a suitable settlement, which was found in the State of Paraguay. The Government of Paraguay treated
• Where Socialism Failed. By Stewart Grahame. London: John Murray. [6e. net.]
the settlers with extraordinary generosity, handing over to them free of all charge 600 square miles of land which appears to have been about the beat that could be found in the whole State. It possessed almost every advantage obtainable in semi-tropical countries, and if these Australian Socialists, who were, individually, men and women of an extremely fine type, had been working for themselves instead of for the associa- tion there is little doubt that the settlement would have been a remarkable success. But from the outset these courageous enthusiasts were hampered by their Socialist creed, and disasters dogged their footsteps. The story is told in straight- forward manner, and should be read by everyone who wants to see how Socialism works out in practice.
Previous page
