Private Enterprise Regained; H. Hazlitt

[ 9 ] So the colonists, he continues, "begane to thinke how they might raise as much come as they could, and obtaine a beter crope than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in miserie. At length [in 1623] after much debate of things, the Gov. (with the advise of the cheefest amongest them) gave way that they should set corne every man for his owne perticuler, and in that regard trust to them selves And so assigned to every family a parcell of land . A Great Success "This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more come was planted than other waise would have bene by any means the Gov. or any other could use, and saved him a great deall of trou ble, and gave farr better contente. "The women now wente willingly into the feild, and tooke their litle-ons with them to set corne, which before would aledg weakness, and inabilitie; whom to have com pelled would have bene thought great tiranie and op pression.

"The experience that was had in this commone course and condition, tried sundrie years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanitie of that con ceite of Platos and other ancients, applauded by some of later times;-that the taking away of propertie, and bring ing in communitie into a comone wealth, would make them happy and Horishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this comunitie (so farr as it was) was found to breed much [ 10] confusion and discontent, and retard much imployment that would have been to their benefite and comforte. "For the yang-men that were most able and fitte for labour and service did repine that they should spend their time and streingth to worke for other mens wives and children, with out any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in devission of victails and cloaths, than he that was weake and not able to doe a quarter the other could; this was thought injuestice ....

"And for men's wives to be commanded to doe servise for other men, as dressing their meate, washing their cloaths, etc., they deemd it a kind of slaverie, neither could many husbands well brooke it .... "By this time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plentie, and the face of things was changed, to the rejoysing of the harts of many, for which they blessed God. And the effect of their particuler [pri vate] planting was well seene, for all had, one way and other, pretty well to bring the year aboute, and some of the abler sorte and more industrious had to spare, and sell to others, so as any generall wante or famine hath not been amongest them since to this day." The moral is too obvious to need elaboration. [ 11 ] SHOW ME ANY OTHER COUNTRY. t'J &tt'J-Knowle4JJunt AMERICANS, in general, regard socialism as something alien and unrelated to America, and would never consider joining the Socialist party. Yet, they clamor loudly for every piece of socialistic legislation which is offered-so long as it is sugar-coated with an American label or wrapped in the American Hag.