Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-07-12
To be continue
For tn e, TIE legraph.
PR OPERTY.

For the TIE legraph.
PR OPE RTY.
There seems 10 be growing sense that
the great question between right and wrong,
progress and stagnalion. love and force, or
by whatever other pair Of terms il may be
designated, will be brought 10 issue practi-
callY upon the justice of holding property
So obnoxious 10 human good has that node
Of holding property called private or individ
ual been found that there is general ten
dency in all possible cases to adopt collect
i've or joint stock properly. But il is very
tuition, this new mode Of il in some respects
renders it more oppositive 10 moral progress.
BY this means the miser, the grasp-all, the
selfish spirit is not abolished; he is merely
hidden. This plan affords facility for the
holder Of property 10 screen himself behind
an impersonal tile, and to obtain the graft
fication of his most unholy wishes under the
pretences Of patriotic motives or the promo
ton Of scientific improvement. Some tho't
ful minds have progressed so far as 10 pro
pose the attainment of all the good which
competitive society can offer, but 10 qaell
the lust for gain by community OF proper
Y.
Undoubtedly the soul would be much re-
lieved by being rid Of the horrors Of individ-
uai accumulation yet i; is difficult TO see
how the human being can retain. that cease
less viVacity which belongs to individuality
without running into the spirit Of clanship
which is little or no better. Amongst recent
instances that of the Shakers appears TO be
the most successful ia a commercial sense,
but, speaking from hearsay evidence, ] fear
they are not good specimens 1.-THE universal
spirit in man. Besides that they | ave mol
solved this intricate question of properly
Being wealthy they may be said rather &c
have made the matter worse.
The whole Of The earth is now seized b.
some individuals or corporations; and there
would be no more amendment in principle
and probably no more in practice by trans
ferring that right of possession wholly to new
scientific corporations than in transferring i
to new individuals. The freedom Of tht
earth is what is wanted. And how shall i
be secured II is not state of things 10 b
enforced, either by brute power, logical ar
~ ;optiGo oil Whafau
er is done towards this desirable consumma
lion must be Of natural growth, it must, a
il were, come ofilself Scientifically design
ed schemes for human progress are less sue
cessfu than prophecies regarding the wealth
err. While am grati6ed by the public dis
cussion of Fourier's views of society | see n
reason TO anticipate their adoption, nor I
expect much advantage from few expert
meats, even if they should realiz. ever
thing which The hopeful projectors design
They would leave The entangled question 6
properly in much The same place as we no,
fndil: claiming for its holders all the right
, and all the wrongs they now retain.
i A word or Two on this subject from you
own pen or from your thoughtful correspond
ents would be very acceptable at this csisi
| As far a, have observed no one has clea
t ed il up. Many complain OF the present a
E rangement aud several parties propose ne
: plans for society, but no one, grapples full
/ and fairly with this subject, 10 do wbic
would be of essential service TO mankind
the judgment Of your respectful friend.
Harvard, Mass, June, 1913. Z. L.