New-York daily tribune., 1844-03-16
what is this Asaociation!


sadly perplexed to know what this doctrine of
Association is, which its friends and adversarles
are making so much pother about. Some tell
them Ii is a new Religion; others that it is utter
Irreligion some declare it Owenism, Commu-
n.ty Of Property, general Licentiousness, &c. &c.
All this is not surprising. In the first place, the
peculiar views and theories OF the adrocGtes of
system almost always blended with their ar
guments in lis favor; then it is difficult to set
forth new and vast idea without using new
terms or oFd terms in an accommodated sense,
which is liable to even honest perversion. Thus
when MIR. Brisbane asserts that the PASSIONS
meaning the impulses, affections, desires of men
may be so trained, disciplined and directed as to
produce good and not evil-there are enough ready
to insist that he teaches that Angler Hatred Nal
ice, Envy, Lust, are good in themselves, and may
be made to produce the best results. !Hnd then
again, there are thousands Of the influential and
honorable among us who deserve their wealth,
power and consequence from usagcs and prac-
tices which Association would interfere with,
and they arc even more embttered and uncon-
qucrable enemies Of the idea So the world wags
on the mass Of those who abuse the theory confess
ing that they have never read, and never will
read, ten pages on the subject; and many honest
but feeble persons frightened out of the d!sposl-
ton to inquire by the tumult Of oboquy which
is kept up against the new doctrine
The following extract from Mr.. PARKE
! nd FIR
Democracy,' (Which has been published in The
Present and The Phalanx,' and Will very soon
be issued in cheap tract by Burgess and String
er) presents the gist Of the mattereo clearly and
simply that we hope it will commend itself to the
consideration of all candid inqulrers and even
of thousands who have been honestly preudiced
against the idea OF Association, viz:
PART II.
In the first part Of the Essay, we came to the
conclusion, that the only remedy for the existing
dstresscs of Society, and particularly of the
working class, could be found in some plan for
the uniting of material interests. We sad that
it was possible for the intellect of man to devise
means by which Labor, Capital, and Talent
should be made to work together, and for each
other, instead Of against each other and through
which every man would labor for his nelghbor.
But thus far, our argument has been mostly
critical we shall now attempt to make it con-
structivc
I.-Organization.
One fact, as much as any other, strikes US,
when we consider the material creation of God.
1t is, that this whole universe IS made according
to a law of organlZ alton; that there is nethlng
nitincoherento or at loose ends that from the planet
to the plant, from the stars which are the suns Of
worlds Of uni:naginable magnitude, to the insect
whose BODY is three million times less than a
visible point, amid the endless variety of forms
and existences that link by link supply the in
terva, there is an organic law pcrvadlng the
whole. Beginning with the rude masses of the
mineral kingdom, which seem like mere acci-
dental conglomerations-the primitive clements
out of which the higher kingdoms are to grow
we soon see in its tendency to crvsahzatlon, the
mute faint prophecies of the more definite orga-
nzation of vegetable nature At the summit oil
the vegetable series, we again discover the out
lines of the more intricate and finished structure
of animals. While in man, the crown and Chief
of the material world, we behold the consumma-
ton Of an organism perfect IN all It's parts, and
perfect as whole. It would be delightful to In
quire into this law of organization, and to show
how, by the organic series, the Creator has dis
tributcd the harmonies of the universe; but 1t Is
sufficient for present purpose, to point out Its
existence. This immutabe and eternal fact, is
impressed on all we see, that nothing is perfect
which is not organized.
II--Moral Organization.
Men appear to have been aware of this law, IN
the efforts which they have made to carry into
effect their various religious, literary, and social
projects. At least we infer SO from superficial
reading of their history, from the earliest time
down 10 the present moment. Nearly all the con-
troversies which have shaken the world, have
related to the question, as to what was inc Dest
mode in which men could organize themselves,
either as State or Church. The question of
Government. which has been the bone of con-
,ention at all times and with every people, re-
solves itself into question OF organization, that
is, how the political relations OF mankind can be
best adjusted into a system which would give
the largest liberty to the individual, and at the
same time preserve the unity and strength OF
the community. The question OF the outward
establishment of the Church has been mere
question as to the right method of organizing The
spiritual relations OF priests and people; and IN
Decd nearly all the enterprises that men under
take, seem to centre and end IN an effort after
more complete organization. when man,
sect or party have any new idea to propagate,
it is common to begin by organizing some oody
which is charged with the task. " we might
rather say, that the very existence of sects and
parties is proof of the strong tendency OF the
human mind toward combination and organic
effort. Thus we have armies, instituted for
works of destruction, which do their work most
effectually we have missionary societies, winch
send their agents to the remotest regions OF the
earth, regardless of tropc heats or actlc colds
we have academies of music In which are de-