The Sun.
London, England, 1824-01-21 00:00:00

MR. OWEN
AND THE OPPONENTS OF THE NEW SYSTEM.

TO TEE Etstint OF THE 11LAMSOIV CHRONICLE.

SlR,—Since the publication in your Paper of
the eight letters which I wrote in reply to the attack upon my
proceedings by the Presbytery of Lanark and the General As-
sembly of the Church of Scotland, various writers have given
their sentiments to the public respecting the principles which
I entertain and advocate : or, to speak more correctly, they
have directed their observations, not so much against the prin-
ciples themselves, as against the notions which they have re-
spectively imbibed concerning them. Having been detained
some months at a distance from home, by important public and
private affairs, I have not had an opportunity until now of de-
riving from those communications all the benefit which the
authors of them wished me to receive.

The opponents of the New System seldom write against it
without conveying to me some useful information. They
almost always disclose the state of a portion of the public
mind, and thus aid me to remove a part of the misconceptions
that are unadvoidably produced, when subjects, novel to the
mass of the people, are first promulgated. And the present
subject I admit to be most new and strange to them, and one
not to be understood, without a steady application of the mind
to the evidence from which the principles of the system ate
derived, and an attentive investigation of the consequences
which must necessarily follow• from their adoption in prac-
tice.

To do justice to such an inquiry, demands more comprehen-
sive powers of mind, and 'More accurate habits of thinking,
than any of these writers . have yet evinced. It may be, and I
have no doubt that Mr. Al'Oavin is, a very well-meaning,
good, honest marsift his own way; but even those who are but
imperfectly acquainted with the subject which he undertook to
discuss, must have discovered, by a few sentences in his first
letter, that he had entered upon a task greatly beyond his pre-
sent attainments. The subject comprehends whatever relates
to the pertnanent well-being of ssociety ; and • for a discussion
and investigation of this nature, it is evident that Mr. M'Gavin
does not possess the requisite experience. or mental qualifica-
tions. He may continue to write, as he has commenced, for
years, but I fear he will never develope any useful knowledge
respecting human nature to his readers ; and, as I have mat-
ters of far too great moment before me, to waste any part of my
time in trifling, I must leave him to write for his own geed&
cation, and for such part of the public as can be amused or
edified by his productions.
Another writer, calling. himself The Edinburgh Christian
Instructor, has volunteered his opposition to what he terms
Owenism.' If this writer be really a Christian instructor, and
truly teach the doctrines, and evince the disposition and cha-
racter which christianity inculcates, then indeed am I no chris-
tian, nor would I ever wish any of my fellow-creatures to be-
come one.
This Edinburgh Christian Instructor, as he calls himself,
has done more to degrade Christianity in the minds of those who
have a real desire to discover truth, and to benefit their fellow.
creatures, than all the writings of all the infidel authors who
have preceded him ; and I therefore suspect that he cannot be
a Christian. And if he is not a Christian, then I have nothing
to say to an anonymous writer, under a feigned and a false
title. He will, of course, continue to pursue the same course,
until he becomes conscious of his errors and I trust the time
is not far distant when these will be made manifest to hire.
Since, however, he designates the simple exposition of the
laws of nature, relative to the hisumpaonwerractne,
rebpyrestehnet
theseterrn
Owenism,' and has done all in t
laws as being in opposition to christianlty, I deem it necessary
to give the public some explanation on these points.
In the first place, I protest against the term Owenism' being
applied to a system which simply Jams facts and laws of
nature which have ever existed. have on a former occasion
stated that the application of names to systems never produces
good, but always evil, for they can only serve to sanction error.
" No name, not even Deity itself, can make that which is true
false, or that which is false true." Truth requires no name for
itr support; and I feel particularly desirous that those who
think with me, on the important subj
,eets upon which I have written or may write, should do all in their power to prevent the
name of any individual from being
employed to designate the
new system, which they are about to introduce into practice;
for, if they do recognise the use of any name for this purpose,
that single circumstance 'night create a difference amongst them.
In the second place, the laws of nature relative to man, which
form the basis of this system, constitute that knowledge by
which alone true religion can ever become universal. The
knowledge of those laws cannot fail to produce as all, without
exception, who shall be properly instructed in them from in.
fancy, charity and affection for their fellow-creatures--a realand
ardent desire to do them good—and thus create a society in
which peace and good will must permanently reign. If these
results are not in accordance with Christianity, then indeed is it
time that Christianity should cease to be considered
, as a part
and portion of the law of the land ;' but the world
il
bably hesitate before it sanctions the notion, that what twheEl o-
dprin-
burgh Christian Instructor denominates Owenism, is opposed
to Christianity.
I know not that in any of my writings I have ever exnress-
ed one sentiment adverse to Christianity. I have said and
written, upon many occasions, that to me there appeared to be
many and grievous errors in all the religions of the world, as
they have been hitherto taught ; and this is still my most con-
scientious opinion—an opinion which I did not create for my-
self ; nor can I destroy or modify it, until conviction of its
error, if it be erroneous, be brought to my mind. There
exists, then, no hostility between the laws of nature to which
I refer, and real christianity, if the latter is a religion of love
charity, peace, and good will to mankind.
During the progress of the late discussions, new opponents
have very unexpectedly arisen, in my absence, among the po-
pulation of New Lanark, when, for more than 20 years, the
most harmonious procedings had previously existed. This
opposition has been fomented by some persons who probably
imagined they were doing God a service, by arousing hostile
feelings towards their employer, in a few individuale, whose
ignorance prevented them from understanding the advantages
which they and their families derived from tneir situations.—
But as the alleged grievances of these persons have been made
public, it is necessary that the tyranny with which I am charged
should be explained.
I entered upon the management of this establishment with a
fixed determination to improve the condition of the people, as
much as the circumstances of a cotton-spinning manufactory, 1
conducted for the profit of commercial men, would admit.—
And on pursuing this object on sound principles, I was ne-
cessarily obliged to act, tn many instances at first, in oppo-
sition to the habits and prejudices of the people. But as every
change that was introduced led to many practical benefits to
whole population, dissatisfaction at my proceedings gra-
oually subsided.
In order to improve the condition of the working classes, they
must be well instructed, and rendered independent of all elee-
mosynary aid, and particularly of parochial relief. I therefore
formed tero,fundamental regulations, to which all who were
employed and were resident at the establishment were to con-
form. The first, that every child should be sent from in-
fancy to the village schools to be instructed ; the second,
that a fund should be established among the work-people,
sufficient to enable them to support themselves in sickness and
in old age.
With regard to the system of instruction, 1 wished it to be
the best that could be devised for human nature ; and arranges.
inents were formed to lead the children, step by step, from a
nominal to a real education. The parents of these children
could not be supposed to understand a subject which but
now in its infancy, even among the most intelligent of those
who possess the most knowledge and experience in the world ;
much less could it be expected that they could pay for such an
education. But that they might have no feelings of depend-
ence on this account, a charge of three pence a month for each
child was collected ; making an annual payment of three shil-
lings for an education, better for all the purposes of human life
and society than any education that has yet been given to any
class of children. There has been received from the parents of
the children for their education in the last three years 33e le. fsci.
In the same period, the Company have expended on this ac-
count 3,0341. 2s. 4d. ' • in additica to which they have also paid
3741. Bs. 2d. for clothing for the children in the school. Of this
expenditure 1,3101. Ms. has been in;: proportion.
In this manner have the superior education and clothing of
the children been provided, and the independent feelings of
the parents been maintained.
As the explanations which it will be useful to submit to the
public, respecting the funds for the support of the sick and
aged, and other matters, would extend this letter to too great a
length, I will reserve them for your next publication.
ROBERT OWEN
New Lanark, 10th January, 1824.