New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-04
Doctrine of Association.
Progress of Association.
ICommunicated.l

u 49,
Country, and able advocates are actively engaged
in the propagation of its principles and doctrines.
We learn from The Washington Banner, pub,
lished at Allegheny, (opposlttee Pittsburgh RAJ
that distinguished member of the Bar OF Plus.
burgh has been ecturing, and, as we have noticed
in other papers, writing upon the subject OF Asso-
citation. The Banner Of the oath instant says:
This important subject exciting considerable at
tention. II. Van AMRyScE Esq. gave Lecture thereon
before large auditory Monday evening last Liberty
Hall Pittsburgh HIS positions re think 'oere mPTeg
nab!c."
At Canton, (Ohio,) another gentleman of the
Bar, eminent in his profession E. P. GRANT, Esq.
has contributed greatly to the successful intro
duction Of the principles of Association among
the people Of that State. Through the columns
of TIE Ohio Repository, weekly paper pub
lished at Canton, he has presented to the public
comprehensive exposition of the System of AS
ISOLATION and the interest which is now taken
in it in that region of the country may be judged
of by the following article in the last number of
the Repository:
PRACTICAL OPERATIONS.
Perhaps the world has witnessed like that
which is presented to it in the rapid diffusion and
reception of Fourier principles Of Association When we
commenced work of inviting public attention to them
through the columns of this paper about four months since
did not dare to anticipate that such deep aud general In
;eres manifested this subject in OHIO would
be excited i'll shorter period than or two years and we
thought possible that the community were too cal
lous responding lie aroused at all But dis
appointed. On every side, and throughout the whole West
the public mind or less awake and confirmed
in belief that Society onthe eve oil upendous Social
Refor. ,ation
We Have not the concet arrogae ourselves any
siderable influence producing this result Our efforts have
been too trivial perhaps to be named among the causes which
have consped TO produce IL The great IS the uni
yesal and increasing conviction thct Society is radically
,crong. The injustice oppression and crime which the
prevalent Social arrangement engenders papab!e
and mischevous conceal themselves from the OF
those who will give the subject the slightest unpeludiced
examination There those, indeed, who tell that al
this misery is ordained of God, and that it duty 10
acquesce in the irrevesble decree of fate, awaiting pa
teEty can, the compensaons of another world Let
such remain they arepehaps they little aware Of it as
they others may be, exeng wholesome influence IN
promoting the cause the progress OF which they vainy at
tempt TO resist.
A great number of Associations either commenced
contemplated IN different parts OF the country we regard
this circumstance point Of view, an encouraging
indication for have doubt that it the ultimate
prevalence OF and better organization OF Society But
considered with reference immediate results must con-
Tess these experiments without Sc
rious apprehension Most of them undertaken without
adequate pecuiary without adequate numbers and
without adequate variety of tastes talents and fortune
and fear also without sufficient knowledge OF the con-
dtions repaired render Labor attractive The
quence probably will be- that most of these imperfect Asso-
Citations will be unsuccessful will least fail of providing
for the the of the highest physical aad moral
development Still; the least successful of them may be all
Improvement upon the existing of disorder and conflicts
and doubtless will be unless internal discussions arise OF
which think there is great danger until Industry shall be
stripped of its present repulsive character. We should
therefore, exPeca brilliant aud satisfactory result much
speedily if the friends Of Social Reform would unite
their strength their aad their intelligence upon or
experiments, which, successful would furnish pat
tens which might be Indefinitely copied until tins country
rbrlo snht
Organization.
While upon this subject viii take the liberty
late what Fourier himself says in his New Industrial World
Asr reproacng his couu,rymen the French with their
propensity imperfect experiments and affirming that
he expects them proceed trial with 900, perhaps
with 600 persons, one-a one-thd of the proper number
he proceeds
81 wish them bear in mind that in reducing the size OF
machine its action unless preserve all It's parts
large clock may be reduced to the compass OF small
watch of only inch in diameter but the watch contains
all the parts which pertain the larger piece of mechanism
and hence the plan, though reduced scale, continues in
other respects unchanged.
The same reduction not possible in the organization
of the Passions To reduce the scale Of their appropriate
mechanism in the proportion as we reduce cathedral
clock TO the dimensions Of watch would require In
miniature Lilliputians half foot high and animals and
vegetables Of corresponding dimnutveness would then
indeed be easy to form miniature Association oil l9oO
pIgmies occupying puny edice and cuitlvdnS tract OF
land 600 toses t20 rods square The mechanism OF such
Association would be complete; it would have its full
assortment Of characters it would operate as perfectly as
But if diminish the number, reduce IL from the COM
ement of 1900 persons 900 600 erange or
less the mechanism OF industrial attraction, and disturb
the equilibrium Of the Passons and thereupon the action
of the machine is embarrassed and its power weakened
in the compound ratio Of the dimnuton of numbers
So that if the numbers in three Associations are re-
The stimulus, or force Of industrial attrac-
tisn, which gives activity TO the Passonal
Series, will not be in the ratio Of .ls---9-----6
But nearly in that Of. ......... ls-6---3
Fourier remarks, in continuation, that as the
stimulus of attraction will be greatly diminished
in small Association. number Of hired lqborers
will have to be employed to perform works of a
very repulsive or irksomc character. a small
Association Of 900 persons will not be able to In
troduce that variety in the branches of Industry,
and organize its Groups and Series so perfectly,
as to make ali its labors attractive; and, there
fore, hired laborers will have to be employed in
the beginning to an extent proportonate to the
want Of attraction. Mr.. GRANT proceeds:
1t would tha, the eproach which Fourier addressed
TO his counrymcn would have been applicable in
harsher FORM the Amercaus for the latter talking OF
organizing Associations with perhaps than 100
200 400 of various ages tastes and fortunes
aud of both the least number which the laws OF
the Groups and Series be applied We well excuse
friends for being impatient escape the evils
of the present Social System bu cannot refrain from
earnestly recommending general concert of action for the
accomplishment of their great object By this means they
viii realize hopes much speedily than they do
BY the ncohesen formation of multitude Of little Societies
each OF which feeble by itself the great end
Of rendering Labor ATTRACTIVE.
IT. however the psrmcnence te. zeal be depended
uponifthey willing struggle for Of years
laborng according the present until their numbers
and wealth shall reach the point required FOR succesand IT,
the time they Of preserving themselves from
a internal dscorwe will discourage their efforts.
These conditions being fulfilled they will sooner OF later BE-
rewarded with success
Having referred to the North American Phalanx
as the most brilliant experiment which has been
nrnnnsed In this Copntrv,' the article proceeds