New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-03
Social Srifnte.
Popular Ignorance upon Social QRes-
fioas-O. a. Rrowusoa.

The November and February Numbers OF the
Democratic Review contain articles from the pen
of o. A. BRowssoN. which manifest upon some
points of Social Science an ignorance singular,
that we consider i, duty to point them out, and
recommend to Mr.. B. the study of a Doctrine which
ne rnisrepresents in gross manner.
The laws and principles which govern the So,
cial existence of Mankind, or human Societies,
should be reduced to q Science as fixed and posi-
tive as Astronomy or Chemistry; but, SO far from
this being the case the greatest confusion and un-
certainty exists in this department of human
Knowledge. Every Country entertains different
views of Government and the constitution of So
ciety or OF political and social principles, and in
each Country different parties advocate different
and conflicting principles. In Politics aad social
Science, all is confusion, doubt and uncertainry;-
as the case in Astronomy, before the discove-
ries OF CoPERSIcUs and NEWTON, when As,rology
occupied the attention of Men; or in Chemistry,
before it was reduced to Science, and when Al
chemy was IN vogue.
Within the last Fifty years, some Men of genius
have endeavored to Constitute Social Scieace; ;
or, in other words to reduce the laws and princi-
piles which should govern human Society to fixed
Science. These men should have received the
thanks of the World for their Efforts; but, like
Pioneers in all new Sciences, they have been con-
demned by popular Ignorance and Prejudice, which
believe that each age has arrived at the ultimate
term Of human knowledge.
Among those Men we find in Germany, KRAusE; !;
in France, ST.. SIMON, BALLANcHE and some others;
and in this Country, CHAsSING has entered partially
into the field of Social Reform. But above all these,
rises man OF genius who after having devoted forty
years of labor to the discovery of the laws of
Organization OF Society, and having sunk into the
tomb, is now beginning to be appreciated by sose
of the leading Minds of Europe and other parts of
the World. Tha, maa IS CHARLES FOURIER.
FOURIER discovered the laws which should govern
the Social existence of Humanity upon Earth, or q
true system of Sscety,-as CoPERNIcus, keller
and NEWTON discovered Ihe laws which regulate
the movements of the Planets, or true system OF
Astronomy. FouRlER's discoveries embrace a
broad field OF Scientific investigation; he has en-
planned the laws which govern the Moral and In
tellectual World, he has defined and explained
the Rights of Man, and the great question of hu-
man Liberty; ne has pointed cut the Destiny of
Man upon Earth; proved, scientifically, the i'm
mortality of the Soal and explained with detail
the mechanism and constituent parts of q true So
cial Order, which can be tested on moral scale
by single Association, and, if found good and
true in practice, can be spread and rendered unis
versal The readers of The Tribune, who take an
interest in social questions, have been able to form
some idea Of that part of FouR1sR's System which
relates to the practical organization OF a single
Association.
II is very excusable in The Herald or Morning
Post to ridicule or attack the Doctrine OF Asso-
citation, because they have not time nor inclination
to study il, but when man like O. A. BRowSsoN,
who claims to be thinker, aa Investigator OF new
princi pies, and to discuss profound questions OF
Social Science, betrays the complete ignorance
which he does Of one of the most remarkable sys-
tens which the genius of Man has produced we
consider il an imperative duty to expose his I'm.
warrantable mistakes for he slanders q great
Man and misleads Public Opinion. In the No.
vember number of The Democratic ReU;ew, he
saws that he has no. been able to submit to the
drudge of fully mastering FoURtER's System,
{ we feel certain that he has not read one line OF
FouR1ER's own works, and then goes on to say
80 His Theodicia, or Theodicy Ia, if we understand
il, nothing but material Panthesm, polite name
q for Atheism.
The Heather word I" Pantheism,' as The Lon
don Pka1anr justly remarks, is never used or i'm
piled by FOURIER. All creatures in the Universe,
whatever be their magnitude, are finite. They are
generated, born, live and die. to live again as
creatures finite and immortal but they are no;
gods "There is one God, and none other but
He" Mark k:-" The Everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth, fsile.h not,
neither is be weary. ."-( Isaish.)
In MS Work, FOURIER demonstrates beautifully
that God governs the Universe by Love or Attrac-
tion, and regulates it by Wisdom, or laws of eter-
nal and mathematical justice, and thGt ne does so
with conscientiousness, and is personality-int-
mite in Love aud Infinite in Wisdom. The whole
system Of FOURIER is based upon the Uhiyersality
of Ged's Providence, and integral [or genuine and
thorough, faith in his Love and Wisdom. Besides,
FOURIER labored, silently and unknown, for forty
wears for the happiness and elevation Of his fellow
nen-fui6iling at least the second grca. Command
nent, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. .
How Enthusiastically and ignorantly unjust
10 accuse before Public which is religiously dis
posed like that of this Coun,ry-a great, benevolent
and deeply-re.igious Mind Of A,heism! Has Mr.
Baowssos any respect for bis own reputation?
Does he wi.h to draw upon himself the contempt
of large numser OF rejecting Minds in France,
England and this Country, pho knoU what Fou-
HERS r;eus are9 We are the friend of Mr.