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Title: Acraciápolis Author: Vicente Carreras Date: October 1, 1902 Language: en Topics: utopia, fiction Source: https://www.libertarian-labyrinth.org/working-translations/vicente-carreras-acraciapolis-1902/ Notes: La Revista Blanca 6 no. 103 (October 1, 1902): 223-224. Working Translation by Shawn P. Wilbur
In the vast territory of Brazil, after crossing countless impenetrable
forests inhabited by enormous serpents, tigers, lions and countless
other beasts that endanger the lives of people who dare to cross them,
you may find a beautiful town called Acraciápolis, whose inhabitants,
numbering 5000, are worth of a careful study as of result of their uses
and customs, or rather of their way of life.
This town, which has existed for about two hundred years, owes its
origin to a party of 100 explorers, men and women, who, after crossing
endless, unknown terrain, travelling among forests and ravines, facing
and overcoming a thousand dangers at every moment, found a beautiful
meadow with fertile soil crossed by enchanting streams of crystalline
water, and surrounded by numerous wild fruit trees, which supplied the
necessary food to the wandering travelers.
There they decided to establish themselves permanently, far from a
corrupt and criminal society, and to that end they began to construct
some temporary barracks for shelter, while they were constructing
beautiful houses that provided them all the comforts.
They did not lack engineers and good workers among them, nor the tools
most essential for the first labors, and this, helped by some mines that
exist there, provided them with the means to make machines of all kinds
and to promote with rapid impulse a new city formed by them, to which
they gave the name of Acraciápolis.
They all lived in the greatest harmony, none of them considered
themselves superior to their companions, all working together to provide
mutual well-being and to satisfy the necessities of life. In these
conditions years and years passed, multiplying the inhabitants of that
new city, without discord or selfishness ever taking over among them.
The only selfishness that existed was the natural incentive in the
sciences to achieve a work or make a discovery that would benefit
everyone, for which the author obtained the praise of the community in
general.
In these conditions two hundred years have elapsed, each day increasing
the population to the 5,000 inhabitants that today it counts, without
ever having felt the need to create a government, without written laws,
without money, without priests, without judges, without soldiers or
police, without jails or gallows, without thieves or prostitutes, in a
word, without any of the shoddiness and vices we have in our society.
With the aid of machines, which are common property of the whole
village, the work is executed in a few hours and in pleasant conditions.
There are no catastrophes in the mines or sad accidents in other jobs,
because they try to apply all possible safety conditions.
As time is left and the necessary means are available to all, at the
same time as material work is carried out, the arts and sciences are
cultivated, providing the greatest degree of well-being and recreation.
Alcoholic beverages and adulterations in food are not known there, for
there are no unscrupulous businessmen who try to enrich themselves even
at the cost of poisoning their fellow men, as is the case in our
society.
The unions of different sexes are spontaneous and by true love, without
the intervention or sanction of any third person, since there are not
the egoistic sights of the interest.
The children and the elderly are educated and cared for by the
community, without this being considered charity, but instead a duty.
The essential, but heavy or repugnant labor is carried out voluntarily,
with each taking turns, since all benefit from it. Such is, in brief and
described in broad strokes, the social organization of the population of
Acraciápolis.
To those who read this description and like the sound of it, I say only
that the way there is well known: always follow the road of social
revolution.
On the journey you will encounter many obstacles and dangers, but do not
falter; if you have courage and perseverance, you will arrive. Have no
doubt; you will arrive.