The Sun.
London, England, 1823-11-14 00:00:00

Ma. OWEN
AND TM: CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

' (LET TF. It'VlII.)

itt
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GLIM; ) W CHRONICLE.
Si It.—At the conclusion of ststlittOr 1 Ltd.,'
Wired to the extritOrdifitify ' resources whiCh—sOclar TM ac-
quired through the inventions, discoveries and improvements
of the last half century; I stated -also that the practical means
being known by which these powers might be applied to melio-
rate essentially the general character and condition of man-
kind, human nature could not much longer submit to remain
in its present state of sufrering and degradation.
- - --

Some of the more enlightened and powerful states must now
take the lead in directing a change which is imperatively call-
ed for, by the new circumstances in which we_ are placed, and
of which, even if it were possible to oppose it with effect, it
would be the most unaccountable impolicY to attempt to resist

the introduction.
The free constitutions of Great Britain and the United
States of Abierica, and the consequent enterprise of the people'
peculiarly fit the inhabitants of these countries to be the
first to enter upon this career of improvement. The Govern.
ments of both emanate from the people, are supported by
the people, and they cannot retain sufficient power for the
due administration of the laws, in .opposition to the will of the

people.
If within the lase 50 years, Great Britain alone has derived
from mechanism and chemistry a new scientific power, which
now exceeds the manual labour of some hundreds of millions
of adults, and to the further extension of which, no limits can
be assigned, and if the population of the British isles does not
yet amount to more than 23 millions of souls, how comes it
that the great mass of these people, whose condition ought to
have been improved in proportion to the increased power, thus
obtained, not only have not been benefited, but in many respects
have experienced a retrograde movement, since its introduction?
If the United States, as well as Great Britain, are in possession
of a territory, incalculably more than sufficient, when we con-
sider the late extraordinary progressin all the arts and sciences,
that conduce to the easy supply of the wants of life, to maintain
in full comfort and enjoyment, twenty times their present
population, why have not measures been adopted to secure this
comfort and enjoyment to the small number who are now scat-
tered in their widely extended dominions ? These are questions
which the British and American.people will necessarily ask,
and to which answers must as necessarily be 'Tiede.
• •On the part of the Governments, the only reply can be, that the
existing arrangements of society, in both countries, contravene
the natural and beneficial application of scientific improvements)
and preclude the great majority of the people from participating
in the benefits to be derived from the progress of human know-
ledge, and that, before this highly artificial and grievous state
of things can admit of a remedy, the public must declare itself
prepared.for an entire change of syStem.
To this alternative society must come, sooner or rater,
over the world, and as no ,one indiyidual is really benefited,
but most vitally injured by the continuance of the present sys-
tem, and as, on the contrary, none will be injured, but all will
gain essentially by the change, no good reason appears why
any time should bg, lost, in adopting preparatory measures for
its commencement in both countries.
Let the example be set by Great Britain and America, and
there can be no doubt that its influence will soon extend over
the whole of Europe. The South Americans are quite ripe for
the change, and it is niost necessary to tranquillize their divided
and distracted country.
Many of the leading individuals both in Europe and Ame-
rica, to whom the new principles have been communicated,
are convinced .of their truth, and have expressed themselves
friendly to the pioposed ameliorations, and some of the pre-
sent Sovereigns on the Continent have transmitted to me the
kost decided marki of their approbation of the course which

I have pursued.
My intention therefore is to recommend, as a preliminary
proceeding, the establishtnent of a certain number of commu-
nities in Great Britain, Ireland, and America, the regulations
for the conducting and governing of which, should be founded
on principles which have been explained in my former letters.
I have already; on many occasions, submitted to the public in
detail such arrangements as, with reference to the workingiclasses
at least, appeared to me to comprehend a combination of cir-
cumstance most favourable to a right application of their indus-
try, and to a substantial and permanent Improvement of their
general condition, physically, mentally, and morally. lam how.
ever far from assuming that these arrangements are not suscep-
Lillie of amendment. On the contrary, lam aware that expe-
rience will point out many defects, and suggmt.many beneficial
attractions. But I believe that whatever modifications the
plan may require in Its details, in principle it can admit of no
innovation.

As soon as one community shall be established upon the
principle proposed, the inhabitants of the surrounding district
will not fail speedily to discover how much they suffer by
not adopting similar arrangements, and when such insti-
tutions shall prevail generally in any one country, the ex-
ample In like manner will inevitably operate upon neighbour-
ing nations. A rapid change therefore may be anticipated,
a change altogether different in character from ordinary
changes among men 'and nations. These have proceeded at
a very slow pace. For when• an improvement is discovered
under the old system; the individual with whom it first origi-
nates, and afterwards the nation to whom such individual be-
lone, do all in their power: for their own supposed adsiantage,
to circnntscribe the knowledge of it within their own limited
circles. Under the new system no motives can exist to this
narrow-minded and vicious policy. Every useful invention or
discovery will be unreservedly communicated to every part of
society without exception, to individuals 'and countries. As
the sun shines and the. rain descends upon all, so will the im-
prevements, Which the human mind in any quarter of the world
may achieve, be freely distributed to the whole fatally of man-
kind. And it is in this interchange of good offices, so advan-
tageous to all, that the commerce of individuals and of nations
will principally consist.
Some part of the imblic will, I have no doubt, continue to say
" The man who contemplates so vast and so rapid a change in
the state of society must be a visionary, or he trust be mad." I
am equally certain however that as soon as they shall attempt
to explain in what the vision or madness consists, they will,
like all those who have already made a similar attempt, only
farther expose the weakness and irrationality of the system
under which they have been educated.
observe that the Committee of the House of Commons,
which sat the last Session of Parliament to inquire into the cm-
pl.,y :Lent of the poor of Ireland, have, in their report taken a
very imperfect view of the measures which I recommended:, for
the permanent relief of the population of that country. They
appear not to have approached the subject as statesmen, whose
" ue to recommend
of
proceed.
minds were made up to probe to itS solve° the cause of the evils
which afflict that devoted country, and baldlyo r
sc
the only adequate remedy. A.nd anyother

ing than this is little better than tantalizing the feelings of

nearly one-third of the population of the British isles, who are
now existing in a state,of unparalleled degradation•and misery.
Ireland requires that its population should be well employ-
ed; that it should be trained and educated in betker kbits ;
f‘
that VrodUctions should more lel • Ily dillanNl,;,
!And ti it stlvld be ma iticoo re th, ;Ed nkt a
cause of wcattnesS,—tr' en" ritaitt.4 Ti e biallatioN

objects can be obtained only through systematic arrange-
ments such as I have proposed. But this subject I shall renew

at a proper season, for it iA not my intention to relinquish the

cause of Ireland, until the condition of its inhatiltattnhall bi

as it easily might be, essentially improved. That which now
'remains to be more particularly explained is the mode by
,whielt the great change which I recommend can be carried into
execution without injury to individuals or to governments. In

the first place, it calls for no premature disturbance of existing

institutions. It disclaims all violent means, as being certain
to defeat its object. Whatever forms of government way exist

nny country, it is not only not necessary, but it would be
highly impolitic, to attempt any inroad upon them, before the
minds of the great mass of the people shall be prepared to re-
ceive and appreciate the ameliorations which ore intended to
be introduced. It is in this particular point that all projected
modern reforms have failed. The promoters of them, however
good their intentions, commenced at the wrong end. They be.
ran by seeking to destroy the old fabrics before they laid the
foundation of any other, or before they knew where the foun-
dation ought to'rest. Such' has been the error of the attempted
revolutions in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and South Anie-
ricii. Every vile passion has been called into frightful acti-
vity; millions of innocent victims have been eacrificed, and
yet how little real good has been attained!
The reform now proposed demands no victim of any tle.
scription. , Every government in the world will find it to ne its
interests to adopt measures for its introduction. No change of
the individuals, at present 'administering governtnent, will be
necessary or will be desired by any party. The priests ard
clergy of all countries and denominations, will retain the ad-
vantages and privileges which they at present possess. Nothing
more will be required from them than to teach and preach those
principleswhich enlightened men of all, ages have ever considered
es the eeeepce of every religion. They will train the rising
generation and instruct the adult population In, those divine
precepts which, whetidisencumbered of all disputed and doc-
trinal pointa, cannot fail to bring down, heaVen upon earth.
They will therefore teach and preach only' love, charity, peace,
' and good-will to the whole human race ; and when they do this
with sincerity and truth; as every motive will then induce them
to do, they will be surprised and gratified to find' how soon
these virtues will univerfally prevail. • It
.is the disputed and
doctrinal points of all religious which necessarily produce all
the bad passions and feelings which now pervade society. Rut
for these mankind, with the aid of the resources which they
now possess for the easy production of whatever can conduce
to the enjoyment of life, would immediately live in peace and
harmony and good-will together, all co-operate for the benefit
of each; even those who are now the most inveterate enemies
I of each other would speedily become sincere And affectionate
friends. And can it beemagined that any'clergyman or priest,
professing any faith or doctrine, whether disputed or not by
others, would swerve from his duty were he to make it his chief
object and constant practice to teach love, charity, peace, and
good-will to all mankind ?Is it possible, in the nature of
things, that men can possess the ability to perform any other
real service for that great incomprehensible power which ani-
mates. and directs the universe, than to contribute to the ut-
most of his faculties, :tO .the happiness especially of all those, I
his fellow-beings, whom that power has brought into existence ?
This, and this alone, is true religion, pure and undefiled,
and will remain untouched, its such to the end of time; nor,
according to the belief which has been deeply impressed on my
Anhui is there, tiny other of the least practical. utility.
This, then, is the only faith and practice which will be re-
quired from the members of the new communities, in addition
to which, provided it shall permit them to practice the virtues
of love anti charity, withiaut exception, towards all their fellow
beings, they may prole s; and follow the ceremonies of any
faith whatever. No fellow creature will be blamed or found
fault with for his belief, whether lie be Jew or Christian, 11la.
hotnetlan or Hindu() a discipline of Confucius, or a Pagan, let
him in his practice 'but uniformly evince love, cheeky, peace
and good-will to all his fellow-creature, and he will he freely
admitced into this new church, of which it is not only hoped
but confidently expected that all the churches in the world will
ultimately become only so many brunches.
Here, then, contest ends. difilettldes in the way of
never-ceasing improvement terminate. The path to union,
permanent and universal, is opened, and all who can acquire
sense end understanding will pursue It with ardour.
The funds appropriated to relieve distress in all countries,
now misapplied, are wufficient under proper direction to pro-
duce the desired change in a comparatively short period. Rut
the most easy and. certain mode of affecting it will be by na-
tional loans, granted at fair interest to the individuals who
shall compose each community ; the capital and interest to be
secured on the laud and buildings belonging to the association,
which, by the united industry efficiently applied, of all its
members, would annually enhance the value of the fixed pro-
perty, until in a few years it would become--equal to any na.
tumid security that the most powerful country could offer.—
Thus would the redundant wealth of every country that which
is now the most useless, be directly appropriated 'in the best
manner to employ, train, and educate the poor, the ignorant,
and the vicious, to regenerate as it were the great mass of man-
kind, whose character and conditions, it is evident, must be in-
proved before atiy real advance can be made in human society.
It is not, therefore, by what is called charitable subscription'
and donations, which generally tend to injure the giver, and
degrade the receiver, that the proposed amelioration is to be
effected, but by the well-directed industry of those who are
themselves to enjoy the first benefit of their exertions, and who
will feel disposed cordially to co-operate in every step of the
proceeding.
Who then shall stay this change ? who, when the value of
it shall be known and understood as it soon must be, can pos-
sess the power or the will to prevent its rapid course through
every country and clime where human beings can be found?
Toe governors and the governed, the teachers and the taught,
the church, the state and the people, are all involved in one
great interest, by the promotion of which the individuals corn.
posing these hitherto separate and opposing powers, will dis-
cover that each will obtain individual advantages, that no
church or state ;Jr people could yet bestow upon the most highly
favoured persons.
I have thus endeavoured to fail, as far as the limits of this
mode of communication would admit, the promisee which was
madein the first letter of this series. The principles have been
developed on which the new system is mounded. It has, I trust,
been proved that it is vain and hopeless to expect intelligence,
virtue and happiness, from any of the prevailing systems of so-
ciety—also, that the new system is the only one by which the
great objects of human life can be attained—and lastly, I have
endeavoured to explain what has been and what is intended to
be done, in order to enable all classes of persons and all nations
to understand in what manner the change may be effected with.
out loss, disadvantage or inconvenience to a single individual.
The new principle being now before the world, I repeat, that
if they contain error hidden .from ine,, I shall indeed feel my.
Self deeply indebted to the individual, whoever he may be, who
shall make that error manifest to my understanding. Nor
shall it he so male for one hour before I take measures to re.
nounce it in the most public manner.
t n
u m b
e ther odeserves.
discussion
a peperiodical
o d witheal publication,
theb l
iea dignity,tion ,
has,
hase,
temper, and the honesty which it
t
It gives me pleasure to find that my friend Mr. 3PGavin has
turned his attention to this important subject. The public has,
doubt trli
ia n t
A a
I believe, great confidence in his zeal and integrity ; and I have
no b he
ereweielnl pursue
I sin informed, taken up the question in a manner that indi.
cotes a total absence of that spirit in which elmie any investi.
gation of this nature can be rationally conducted. Whether
this be the case or not, I have but one reply to make to those
who, from a defectiiie training and education, have unfortunate.
ly acquired a propensity to indulge in puerile personalities ; and
in whose minds, therefore, a desire to discover truth for the
benefit it may confer upon our species, can hardly be supposed
to predominate.
The reply is, that personal cony • ersations are of no vat in
my estimation. They may say whatever they like ue
of Robert
Owen,—in my view of the subject he is nobod
mere sound, anti whatever he has been, is, or 37—nothing—a
consequence to the public, still less can • may be, is of no
which is now before its tribunal. it concern the question
s may sit
believe, that he is worse than all the 17 y, and perhaps
gone before him. Be it No ; and if it shallhuman betuga, vvho have
that he is even worse than auy other please them to add
become, be this also admitted, if
the
admission human being can ever
any satisfaction. Rut all this afFeete will atfard them
truth or error of the principles which not in any manner time
the world. And • I do not mean h have been submitted to
mere transitory existence of a singletat a name designating a
!awed to divert the public attention individual shall be al-
!awed
the happiness or misery o from a subject which in-
generations. It is of the hi e •this, and of all succeeding
certain the truth or errorimportance to society as-
answer no purpose whatever the system proposed, but it can
sity, to hear any thineither except to gratify useless curio.
g Pod or bad of

New Lanark., 2d Nov, 1823.

ROBERT OWEN