Equality

by Edward Bellamy

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  "THE PARABLE OF THE WATER TANK."

  "That will do, George. We will close the session here. Our discussion, Ifind, has taken a broader range than I expected, and to complete thesubject we shall need to have a brief session this afternoon.--And now,by way of concluding the morning, I propose to offer a littlecontribution of my own. The other day, at the museum, I was delving amongthe relics of literature of the great Revolution, with a view to findingsomething that might illustrate our theme. I came across a littlepamphlet of the period, yellow and almost undecipherable, which, onexamination, I found to be a rather amusing skit or satirical take-off onthe profit system. It struck me that probably our lesson might prepare usto appreciate it, and I made a copy. It is entitled "The Parable of theWater Tank," and runs this way:

  "'There was a certain very dry land, the people whereof were in sore needof water. And they did nothing but to seek after water from morning untilnight, and many perished because they could not find it.

  "'Howbeit, there were certain men in that land who were more crafty anddiligent than the rest, and these had gathered stores of water whereothers could find none, and the name of these men was called capitalists.And it came to pass that the people of the land came unto the capitalistsand prayed them that they would give them of the water they had gatheredthat they might drink, for their need was sore. But the capitalistsanswered them and said:

  "'"Go to, ye silly people! why should we give you of the water which wehave gathered, for then we should become even as ye are, and perish withyou? But behold what we will do unto you. Be ye our servants and ye shallhave water."

  "'And the people said, "Only give us to drink and we will be yourservants, we and our children." And it was so.

  "'Now, the capitalists were men of understanding, and wise in theirgeneration. They ordered the people who were their servants in bands withcaptains and officers, and some they put at the springs to dip, andothers did they make to carry the water, and others did they cause toseek for new springs. And all the water was brought together in oneplace, and there did the capitalists make a great tank for to hold it,and the tank was called the Market, for it was there that the people,even the servants of the capitalists, came to get water. And thecapitalists said unto the people:

  "'"For every bucket of water that ye bring to us, that we may pour itinto the tank, which is the Market, behold! we will give you a penny, butfor every bucket that we shall draw forth to give unto you that ye maydrink of it, ye and your wives and your children, ye shall give to us twopennies, and the difference shall be our profit, seeing that if it werenot for this profit we would not do this thing for you, but ye should allperish."

  "'And it was good in the people's eyes, for they were dull ofunderstanding, and they diligently brought water unto the tank for manydays, and for every bucket which they did bring the capitalists gave themevery man a penny; but for every bucket that the capitalists drew forthfrom the tank to give again unto the people, behold! the people renderedto the capitalists two pennies.

  "'And after many days the water tank, which was the Market, overflowed atthe top, seeing that for every bucket the people poured in they receivedonly so much as would buy again half of a bucket. And because of theexcess that was left of every bucket, did the tank overflow, for thepeople were many, but the capitalists were few, and could drink no morethan others. Therefore did the tank overflow.

  "'And when the capitalists saw that the water overflowed, they said tothe people:

  "'"See ye not the tank, which is the Market, doth overflow? Sit ye down,therefore and be patient, for ye shall bring us no more water till thetank be empty."

  "'But when the people no more received the pennies of the capitalists forthe water they brought, they could buy no more water from thecapitalists, having naught wherewith to buy. And when the capitalists sawthat they had no more profit because no man bought water of them, theywere troubled. And they sent forth men in the highways, the byways, andthe hedges, crying, "If any thirst let him come to the tank and buy waterof us, for it doth overflow." For they said among themselves, "Behold,the times are dull; we must advertise."

  "'But the people answered, saying: "How can we buy unless ye hire us, forhow else shall we have wherewithal to buy? Hire ye us, therefore, asbefore, and we will gladly buy water, for we thirst, and ye will have noneed to advertise." But the capitalists said to the people: "Shall wehire you to bring water when the tank, which is the Market, doth alreadyoverflow? Buy ye, therefore, first water, and when the tank is empty,through your buying, will we hire you again." And so it was because thecapitalists hired them no more to bring water that the people could notbuy the water they had brought already, and because the people could notbuy the water they had brought already, the capitalists no more hiredthem to bring water. And the saying went abroad, "It is a crisis."

  "'And the thirst of the people was great, for it was not now as it hadbeen in the days of their fathers, when the land was open before them,for every one to seek water for himself, seeing that the capitalists hadtaken all the springs, and the wells, and the water wheels, and thevessels and the buckets, so that no man might come by water save from thetank, which was the Market. And the people murmured against thecapitalists and said: "Behold, the tank runneth over, and we die ofthirst. Give us, therefore, of the water, that we perish not."

  "'But the capitalists answered: "Not so. The water is ours. Ye shall notdrink thereof unless ye buy it of us with pennies." And they confirmed itwith an oath, saying, after their manner, "Business is business."

  "'But the capitalists were disquieted that the people bought no morewater, whereby they had no more any profits, and they spake one toanother, saying: "It seemeth that our profits have stopped our profits,and by reason of the profits we have made, we can make no more profits.How is it that our profits are become unprofitable to us, and our gainsdo make us poor? Let us therefore send for the soothsayers, that they mayinterpret this thing unto us," and they sent for them.

  "'Now, the soothsayers were men learned in dark sayings, who joinedthemselves to the capitalists by reason of the water of the capitalists,that they might have thereof and live, they and their children. And theyspake for the capitalists unto the people, and did their embassies forthem, seeing that the capitalists were not a folk quick of understandingneither ready of speech.

  "'And the capitalists demanded of the soothsayers that they shouldinterpret this thing unto them, wherefore it was that the people boughtno more water of them, although the tank was full. And certain of thesoothsayers answered and said, "It is by reason of overproduction," andsome said, "It is glut"; but the signification of the two words is thesame. And others said, "Nay, but this thing is by reason of the spots onthe sun." And yet others answered, saying, "It is neither by reason ofglut, nor yet of spots on the sun that this evil hath come to pass, butbecause of lack of confidence."

  "'And while the soothsayers contended among themselves, according totheir manner, the men of profit did slumber and sleep, and when theyawoke they said to the soothsayers: "It is enough. Ye have spokencomfortably unto us. Now go ye forth and speak comfortably likewise untothis people, so that they be at rest and leave us also in peace."

  "'But the soothsayers, even the men of the dismal science--for so theywere named of some--were loath to go forth to the people lest they shouldbe stoned, for the people loved them not. And they said to thecapitalists:

  "'"Masters, it is a mystery of our craft that if men be full and thirstnot but be at rest, then shall they find comfort in our speech even asye. Yet if they thirst and be empty, find they no comfort therein butrather mock us, for it seemeth that unless a man be full our wisdomappeareth unto him but emptiness." But the capitalists said: "Go yeforth. Are ye not our men to do our embassies?"

  "'And the soothsayers went forth to the people and expounded to them themystery of overproduction, and how it was that they must needs perish ofthirst because there was overmuch water, and how there could not beenou
gh because there was too much. And likewise spoke they unto thepeople concerning the sun spots, and also wherefore it was that thesethings had come upon them by reason of lack of confidence. And it waseven as the soothsayers had said, for to the people their wisdom seemedemptiness. And the people reviled them, saying: "Go up, ye bald-heads!Will ye mock us? Doth plenty breed famine? Doth nothing come out ofmuch?" And they took up stones to stone them.

  "'And when the capitalists saw that the people still murmured and wouldnot give ear to the soothsayers, and because also they feared lest theyshould come upon the tank and take of the water by force, they broughtforth to them certain holy men (but they were false priests), who spakeunto the people that they should be quiet and trouble not the capitalistsbecause they thirsted. And these holy men, who were false priests,testified to the people that this affliction was sent to them of God forthe healing of their souls, and that if they should bear it in patienceand lust not after the water, neither trouble the capitalists, it wouldcome to pass that after they had given up the ghost they would come to acountry where there should be no capitalists but an abundance of water.Howbeit, there were certain true prophets of God also, and these hadcompassion on the people and would not prophesy for the capitalists, butrather spake constantly against them.

  "'Now, when the capitalists saw that the people still murmured and wouldnot be still, neither for the words of the soothsayers nor of the falsepriests, they came forth themselves unto them and put the ends of theirfingers in the water that overflowed in the tank and wet the tipsthereof, and they scattered the drops from the tips of their fingersabroad upon the people who thronged the tank, and the name of the dropsof water was charity, and they were exceeding bitter.

  "'And when the capitalists saw yet again that neither for the words ofthe soothsayers, nor of the holy men who were false priests, nor yet forthe drops that were called charity, would the people be still, but ragedthe more, and crowded upon the tank as if they would take it by force,then took they counsel together and sent men privily forth among thepeople. And these men sought out the mightiest among the people and allwho had skill in war, and took them apart and spake craftily with them,saying:

  "'"Come, now, why cast ye not your lot in with the capitalists? If yewill be their men and serve them against the people, that they break notin upon the tank, then shall ye have abundance of water, that ye perishnot, ye and your children."

  "'And the mighty men and they who were skilled in war hearkened unto thisspeech and suffered themselves to be persuaded, for their thirstconstrained them, and they went within unto the capitalists and becametheir men, and staves and swords were put in their hands and they becamea defense unto the capitalists and smote the people when they throngedupon the tank.

  "'And after many days the water was low in the tank, for the capitalistsdid make fountains and fish ponds of the water thereof, and did bathetherein, they and their wives and their children, and did waste the waterfor their pleasure.

  "'And when the capitalists saw that the tank was empty, they said, "Thecrisis is ended"; and they sent forth and hired the people that theyshould bring water to fill it again. And for the water that the peoplebrought to the tank they received for every bucket a penny, but for thewater which the capitalists drew forth from the tank to give again to thepeople they received two pennies, that they might have their profit. Andafter a time did the tank again overflow even as before.

  "'And now, when many times the people had filled the tank until itoverflowed and had thirsted till the water therein had been wasted by thecapitalists, it came to pass that there arose in the land certain men whowere called agitators, for that they did stir up the people. And theyspake to the people, saying that they should associate, and then wouldthey have no need to be servants of the capitalists and should thirst nomore for water. And in the eyes of the capitalists were the agitatorspestilent fellows, and they would fain have crucified them, but durst notfor fear of the people.

  "'And the words of the agitators which they spake to the people were onthis wise:

  "'"Ye foolish people, how long will ye be deceived by a lie and believeto your hurt that which is not? for behold all these things that havebeen said unto you by the capitalists and by the soothsayers arecunningly devised fables. And likewise the holy men, who say that it isthe will of God that ye should always be poor and miserable and athirst,behold! they do blaspheme God and are liars, whom he will bitterly judgethough he forgive all others. How cometh it that ye may not come by thewater in the tank? Is it not because ye have no money? And why have ye nomoney? Is it not because ye receive but one penny for every bucket thatye bring to the tank, which is the Market, but must render two penniesfor every bucket ye take out, so that the capitalists may have theirprofit? See ye not how by this means the tank must overflow, being filledby that ye lack and made to abound out of your emptiness? See ye not alsothat the harder ye toil and the more diligently ye seek and bring thewater, the worse and not the better it shall be for you by reason of theprofit, and that forever?"

  "'After this manner spake the agitators for many days unto the people,and none heeded them, but it was so that after a time the peoplehearkened. And they answered and said unto the agitators:

  "'"Ye say truth. It is because of the capitalists and of their profitsthat we want, seeing that by reason of them and their profits we may byno means come by the fruit of our labor, so that our labor is in vain,and the more we toil to fill the tank the sooner doth it overflow, and wemay receive nothing because there is too much, according to the words ofthe soothsayers. But behold, the capitalists are hard men and theirtender mercies are cruel. Tell us if ye know any way whereby we maydeliver ourselves out of our bondage unto them. But if ye know of nocertain way of deliverance we beseech you to hold your peace and let usalone, that we may forget our misery."

  "'And the agitators answered and said, "We know a way."

  "'And the people said: "Deceive us not, for this thing hath been from thebeginning, and none hath found a way of deliverance until now, thoughmany have sought it carefully with tears. But if ye know a way, speakunto us quickly."

  "'Then the agitators spake unto the people of the way. And they said:

  "'"Behold, what need have ye at all of these capitalists, that ye shouldyield them profits upon your labor? What great thing do they wherefore yerender them this tribute? Lo! it is only because they do order you inbands and lead you out and in and set your tasks and afterward give you alittle of the water yourselves have brought and not they. Now, behold theway out of this bondage! Do ye for yourselves that which is done by thecapitalists--namely, the ordering of your labor, and the marshaling ofyour bands, and the dividing of your tasks. So shall ye have no need atall of the capitalists and no more yield to them any profit, but all thefruit of your labor shall ye share as brethren, every one having thesame; and so shall the tank never overflow until every man is full, andwould not wag the tongue for more, and afterward shall ye with theoverflow make pleasant fountains and fish ponds to delight yourselveswithal even as did the capitalists; but these shall be for the delight ofall."

  "'And the people answered, "How shall we go about to do this thing, forit seemeth good to us?"

  "'And the agitators answered: "Choose ye discreet men to go in and outbefore you and to marshal your bands and order your labor, and these menshall be as the capitalists were; but, behold, they shall not be yourmasters as the capitalists are, but your brethren and officers who doyour will, and they shall not take any profits, but every man his sharelike the others, that there may be no more masters and servants amongyou, but brethren only. And from time to time, as ye see fit, ye shallchoose other discreet men in place of the first to order the labor."

  "'And the people hearkened, and the thing was very good to them. Likewiseseemed it not a hard thing. And with one voice they cried out, "So let itbe as ye have said, for we will do it!"

  "'And the capitalists heard the noise of the shouting and what the peoplesaid, and the soothsayers heard
it also, and likewise the false priestsand the mighty men of war, who were a defense unto the capitalists; andwhen they heard they trembled exceedingly, so that their knees smotetogether, and they said one to another, "It is the end of us!"

  "'Howbeit, there were certain true priests of the living God who wouldnot prophesy for the capitalists, but had compassion on the people; andwhen they heard the shouting of the people and what they said, theyrejoiced with exceeding great joy, and gave thanks to God because of thedeliverance.

  "'And the people went and did all the things that were told them of theagitators to do. And it came to pass as the agitators had said, evenaccording to all their words. And there was no more any thirst in thatland, neither any that was ahungered, nor naked, nor cold, nor in anymanner of want; and every man said unto his fellow, "My brother," andevery woman said unto her companion, "My sister," for so were they withone another as brethren and sisters which do dwell together in unity. Andthe blessing of God rested upon that land forever.'"