New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-02-17
,{ PROGRESSIVE ~ PRINCIPLE,
TOLL lICS AND
P1rICY

POLITICS AND
CONSERVATIVE IN Policy.
As Advocates of Association, and as persons
| endeavoring to establish new Social Order, we
do not belong exclusively TO any party: our de-
sire is to conciiate all parties ard all interests by
establishing Social Order which will satisfy them
all.
We do not wish tc interfere with the government
or administration for 10 not think that any re-
forms or changes in those departments, or any le-
gsiative action, can renevate Society, 50 long as
it is based on conflicts of interests and action and
on disas.ociative principles and hence we look
with indifference upon political controversies and
reforms as matters of inferior moment, which
can exercise real or permanent effect upon the
general interests of mankind or effect any really
useful and great ends.
owe believe" says the London Phalanx, :" the
present constitution of society be entirely false
and insufficient to secure the happiness OF man.
and therefore desire to constitute, by slow de-
srees another and better; but without disturbing
any class of interests or endangering established
institutions We wish to build house entirely
new and net to touch the old one or endaager its
soldity by pulling down and patching up again the
parts deemed most defective, which is the policy
of partial Reformers."
I'VE believe that it is dangerous to pull the old
house or old Social Order down, any part OF it,
before new one has been built on more enlarged
and comprehensive principles of architectural
unity; and we believe that both conservatives and
reformers are mad in their confllctlve policy re-
garding the foundations and the superstructure of
the old and venerable social mansion, which was
perhaps we'll enough in former times, but has be-
come too small and announcement for modern Pur-
poses The rich have comfortable quarters in it
STILL but all the poor have been thrust out into the
swamps of pauperism exposed to wind and wea-
ther, without any certainty Of food or shelter to
protect them from starvation; and the middle
classes are fast following the psor in this conflict
i've movement.
ssTe pull the old house down upon the heads OF
the rich who are still snugly lodged in 1t, would
not, however, benefit the poor, but 1t is quite un
reasonable to expect the poor be content to starve
outside, while all tho rich comfortably lodged
within; and this is why we deem both parties mad
in trying 10 exclude each other at the risk OF pull
ing down the venerable fabric altogether, before
another can be built, sufficiently secure and large
to lodge all classes comfortably.
"We wish, then, to invite all classes, to abandon
the idea of fighting for the exclusive possession Of
good quarters 10 the old social mansion, which is
really too small in its antique proportions, and as
list US in laying the foundations of new one, ca
pablo of lodging all the human family with ease
and comfort in its ample and majestic forms of va
rious proportion.
"And this is not visionary project for its prac-
tica developement is simple and secure. 1t can be
tried on comparatively small extent of territory
occupied by few hundred families few square
miles of land, and twelve or fifteen hundred per-
sons are sufficient to exempfy the whole in Prinei-
pie and practices and this small element of untary
combination can be multiplied by slow degrees,
without disturbing any class of interests, afording
new accommodation for those classes who are In
conveniently situated in the old arrangements of
society, and leaving undsturbed the rich and well
provided classes in their present social mansion
until they willingly prefer the new accommodation
to the old, and build up for themselves new man
sona on the unitary principles of social architec-
ture.
Thus are we at once, in principle progressive
and conservative in policy, but we are quite at va
rance with those that think that there is room
enough in the old mansion foI all parties if the rich
were less extravagantly' lodged in it. We are
convinced there is not room enough in 1t tor all
but we do not believe with pampered selhshness,
that the poor should be contented with their desl-
tute position, and die quietly, without murmur,
of starvation. A new house should be provided
for them not Poorhouse but comfortable
mansion.
:. This is our belief, and we shall act upon it as
progressively and securely as We may, regard
less of the conflict between blind conservatism and
desperate reform"
I've do not say that either party is to blame, ex-
clusiyely, but we deplore their mutual sntagonism
which only tends to make things worse instead at
better for all parties.
True principles of progress arein strict analogy
with nature in her works of renovation, and we arc
led by them in so far we proceed with the mn
ni,ely small elements of grow,hin society, limiting
our practical experiments to one small naitaFy co M
bna,ion of village, or association, which would
only be repeated in proportion IT'S truly beneficial
qualities an element Of healthy progress IN the
body polite.
!" The basis of our innovation being limited to
Industry, it cannot interfere with the foundations
OF religion or of morals or of politics as they are
now established
When we consider the Evil. engenderod by
hasty, immature, partial and fregmental reforms,