Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-12-07
NJ 7 s q u u u a n g
Fouricrism, or the System of Associated Industr,

FouricriSm, or the System of Associated Industry.
The progress Of the doctrines of FoURIE re-
speeding social and industrial organization has
become SO marked as to constitute one of the
characteristic developments of the age The
increasing number of the advocates of this
system might not argue much inlavor of it, it is
true-since Mormon;sm is rapidly increasing
too.-But there are many intelligent minds a.
moDg the recipients of the Fourier System. II
addresses Itseiito the reason i'm an open manner;
1t claims to have truth for its SUPPORT: il
proposes great reforms without departing from
conservative principles, and proclams with am
aspect of confidence the efficiency and at,ap-
tation of its plan for the introduction of an
improved social order, the elevation of the
laboring classes, the removal of pauperism,
and an enhanced rate of production In the en-
ployment of labor.
One may receive or reject system of this
SCR! according as the judgment is formed con-
corning 1t; but at all events it is worthy Of
eSamiinlion-and that the more especially
when IT'S progress is such as to draw attention
whether we would choose to consider il or
not. we have Tor our own part too imperfect
knowledge of its principles and details to
warrant any attempt at an outline even Of its
cnlei features, and we are Tree runrvss,--
whether IT be from this imperfect acquaintance
or from other causes,-that there are some
things in the system, according to our views
Of them, hard to be reconciled with lust ideas
of social organization and progress.
Association, Attractive Industry, Unity of
lnterests-these are terms denotng prominent
ideas In The system of FOURIER. The re-or-
ganizatioh of La6oar, by which competitions
opposition of interests and hostile strife, may
be replaced by associated efforts and united
Interests, forms one of the first objects III the
proposed change. The Fourierists, looking
abroad upon the present condition OF things
in civilized societies, and beholding multitudes
anxious for the privilege of toiing for bare
subsistence that may enable them to toll on
multituGes in constant anxiety lest starvation
should come upon them--cut off from all
means of intellectual enlightenment, and in
many cases subject TO influences which make
vicious practices almost MISUNDERSTANDING
these things, they come to the conclusion
that there is something wrong in the general
system which produces such results. They
contend that Labour or Productive Industry is
too much in bondage to capital and to selfish
| shrewdness Of intellect; that there is too
much individual isolation, i'll respect both to
economy in the aggregate and to that general
sympathy which ought 10 exist among men
as members of one great human family, or as
component parts of one society or communi.
ty,
But leaving these considerations as belong
ing TO part of the subject upon which we do
not wish to enter, and upon the practical char
acter of which we can form no definite opin-
ION, 1t is more to our purpose to refer to the
progress Of this system i'll various parts of the
Country. We learn from the "Phalanr," a
weekly journal published in New York, and
devoted TO this system, that there are in Mas
sachusetts three associations upon the general
fundamental principles of the Fourier System.
In the State of New Y ork there are two As
soclations upon larger scale than those in
Massachusetts, one at Watertown, Jefferson
county, the other in Herkimer and Hamilton
counties. A larger Association, TO be called
the Ontario Phaanx, is now organizing al
Rochester. small Association has been
) started i'll Berrien County, Illinois; and one
!, upon large scale is in progress in Lagrange
County, Indiana. At Ann Arbor, in Michigan
an Association is projected to be called the
Washtenaw Phalanx. The largest Assoca-
ton yet commenced has been recently started
III Monmouth County, New Jersey. 1t is 10
be called the North American PhalaDx. The
ASSOCIATION has purchased a tract of six hun
, dred and seventy-three acres Of land, the cul-
: tlvation of which has been begun upon the
+. Fourier plan. The New York Watcrtowu
Association owns from twelve to fifteen him
dred acres. An Association has been formed
near Cumberland, Ohio, by number of far
mers in one neghborhood, who have united
their farms together. About one hundred
families are interested in this movement.
, "A Fourier Convention was recently held a
tIttsburg, at which HORACE GREELy, ESQ. O
the View y ork Tribitnc, presided. There ap
pears to be an Increasing interest on the Sub
Ject Throughout the whole Middle and North
r ern section of the Union We receive many
western papers which devote column o
TWO to fourlcrism-keeping it distinct; how