New-York tribune., 1842-03-30
progre.. of the Doctrine of Association.

Of its truth by u knowledge of the principles on
which it is based. Our defective systems of Edu-
cation accustom so little the minds Of children to
think, that any intellectual exertion becomes
a turthen hence people will not take the trouble
10 examine new principles and doctrines y very
anal minority, impell-d By ardent scientific
curiosity or thirst for knowledge must first do
co. and present them TO the public mind by degrees
.nd ia clear and plain manner. The public then
iDoucs who these few are ard regulates its opinion
byther intelligence. learning and standing rather
than by lis own Judgement.
Ifth-y who arc engaged in propagntng A $50
ciaton in this Country stood alone this noble
doctrine might be looked upon sgh,inglv, for
,hey are not numerous; but fortunately. it has
now enlisted in Its cause large body of learned,
ardent and intelligent in various, countries on
the Globe, and in Europe in particular persons of
high standing and superior talent are among its
disciples, The doctrine of Association has spread
during the last ten years with rapidity which is
unexamplcd in history, where reason alone and
! violence has seen the means o. propagation.
The great Scientific discovery OF Fourier appeals
so powerfully both to our Reason and to the Scn-
ment Of Truth which is implanted within US, tina, it
requires but to be examined to be accepted with en-
,hl,astic delight. 1t combines the highest phi
looPhy with the most practical affairs and interests
ofliie does remain an abstiuc theory floating
regions above the earth and useless to Man like
al philosophical systems which haze preceded it,
but ii descends to the earth and LAYS down the
principles upon which a true Organization Of So
ciety should be based, and points to the Human
hace the means OF attaining their Destiny and Hap
s piness.
lhe Theory OF Fourier is much more vast than
is generally supposed. 1t contains an explanation
I OF the terrestrial Destiny of Man, or the function
8 assigned him TO perform upon this earth; of the
Laws which govern the Harmonics of the Uni
i verse; the nature and action of the Passions, so
I long and enormously condemned as inherently
I vicious; the relation of Aind,,o Matter. and of
( God to the Material Universe; the cause OF Evil
aud Scientific demonstration Of the Immortality
Of the Soul While it treats upon these grand
questions of iversal interest, it descends TO the
affairs Of this EARTH and explains to us the prin-
cples and system of true Social Order in which
Industry can be ennobled and rendered attractive;
the Passions usefully employed and harmoniously
developed; Unity of Interests aud Action estab-
8 lished among men; Production or real Wealth so
/. greatly increased that an abundance can be Sc
cured to All; Liberty rendered Social aud real;
equal chances of superior Practical and Scientific
Education extended to every child, and other inn
! portant results attained. This combination of the
Scientific and the Practical of the Sublime and the
I Useful this deduction of true Organization g!
Society and Industry from universal Principles, or
/ from Principles which produce Order, Harmony
and Justice in the whole Creation, cxcitcs the
most powerful interest in, aud carries the deepest
Conviction to- the mind that will study and COM
] Wehcnd
I Blu; to return to the progress Of the doctrine OF
+ Association, which is the subject Of our prescn,
article. We became acquainted with Fouricr'S
! works in 1882, and with Fourier personally in
! 1892. At thnt time there were bat about i, dozen
! OF us,-moStly young men, collected around him.
. Hls name and writings were not known spoken
3 Of; his doctrine. being too deep and vast to be
understood without patient study, had received
neither the favorable nor unfavorakte notice Of tbc
Press and reviewers III general. * So ltttt+fc was
tourcr's System known to the world, that we
were nearly four years in Europe, and most of the
time in France and Germany exclusively engaged
. IN the study OF the Social and Philosophical
theories of those countries before we discovered
MS writings.
In 1882 Weekly Paper was started at Paris
devoted to the Cause, and from this epoch may be
dated the public propagation of the Doctrine of
( Association I, gained converts and an influence
I gradually, but did not spread rapidly until 1887,
when Fourier died. The departure of the master
/ 'pirit threw an immense responsibility upen nj,
! Disciples, which aroused corresponding energy
them Since then the Doctrine has made
gigantic strides. When VIC look back to 1882,
and remember the few persons whe were eel
ltc,ed around the venerable man, who had at that
sno devoted ,hir,y-iour years of intense intel
ectua labor TO working out the details OF his
Systau and then reflect that there at present
Papers published in Paris and London devoted
! escusively to Association that there are over
twenty Papers in the Departments of France
Which favorable to it, that the principal Paris
/ faper-La Phalange-is gradually forcing the
I'd Political Press of that great and nAucaial
'apaai, which is harping away at stale and worn-
ut Political controversies, to examine Social
eoeslions and the great Problem of Social Re-
on; when we reflect this, several Thousand dis
t.p!es have been gained TO the Cause in France
woe, among whom are men who rank high IN the
ATS and Sciences. and in the Civil and Military
s uePa'tments of Government; that there are dis
oPIes IN England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal
- South America and that g very considerable
lumber are now scattered through the United