The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-09-20
ADDR ESS of ROBERT OWEN
To THE
PeOnle IF the limited States.

x0VpA0 VI Tic Ou1I0u OIdG0os
A Great Mental, Moral and Practical Revolu-
tion TO be Effected In Peace, and most Bene-
fcially for Rich and Poor.
AMERICANS =
! have come to you a missionary from the other
side OF the Atlantic endeavor to effect, in peace,
tor the permanent advantage OF ALL in every coun-
try, the greatest revolution ever yet made IN hu-
man society.
The general excitement and misery OF the mass
in all nations demand il, and the signs OF the times
Indicate Its approach
But you will naturally enquire, who is il that is
bold enough to undertake this task and what are
his pretensions? He is an old man, in his 4th year,
who has read and studied the various writings OF
the human race for five hours day on an average
for twenty years. who has been man of exten.
slve practice in the great department Of life tor
more than halt century; who has travelled, seen,
and heard much;Swho has been tor many years
visited by parties IN search OF knowledge from all
parts OF the civilized world, and who has had but
one object during his life, that is, to discover the
cause or causes OF human error and misery, and TO
find the remedy Tor both. But this old man, be
cause to effect this object. he has been obliged in
good faith to oppose all the preudices OF the hu-
man race, has been more abused, vlllhed, ana his
sentiments and views more ialsifed, by the public
press, than almost any other individual on either
side Of the Atlantic; and especially has he been
msrepresented on some of the most interesting
and important subjects, having reference to the
permanent happiness OF our race through all future
ages.
1t is necessary, therefore, that he should now
set himself right with the public upon these mat
tiers, that his views and paus for the general anne
Iteration OF mankind should be no longer msun-
derstood, or from want OF full information, coun-
teraced, when it is the interest OF all parties that
they should be made TO succeed in the shortest
possible period. The subjects deemed Of the deep
est interest, and upon which he has been the most
msre, resented, are those relative 10 religion and
MARI age. As our opinions and feelings are al
ways created for us, being instincts of our nature,
there cannot be, nationally, individual merit or de-
merit for either but in the present Of society,
1t is necessary that the opinions Of public men,
who come forward TO propose TO change the very
foundation on which society has been placed,
should be known.
The impression made upon the mind of thi old
man, respecting religion Is, that upon this subject
the world has been IN error from the beginning,
but that it is natural and unallenable right IN
man to have the most unlimited religious liberty,
provided he does not interfere with the liberty OF
others. That all that is really known on the sub
jec, of theology from the beginning OF history Is,
that OF necessity, there Is an eternal uncseated
power which accOmplishes whatever has been, Is,
or may be done throughout the universe, and that
civilised nations, SO called, have agreed 10 call
that great first suncreated power, God, TO which
term there can be no rational objection. But what
God is, no man knows; 1t IS mystery pas. human
penetration to find out; and the quarrels among the
human race on the subject of this power, on theo-
logy, or religion, are proof how far the nations OF
the earth are yet from being rational in their
thoughts or conduct. "Can man by searching find
out God 7" "or can man do any good to God Z"
Scan he glorify infinite incomprehensible power?"
" Can he do any thing contrary 10 the laws OF that
power?" Is it not then madness in man to differ
and quarrel and ight and massacre each other on
account oil particular imblbed notions respecting
the supposed will OF power altogether incompre-
hensible 10 man! Evidently the first step towards
ratlonality in lae human race, will be 10 abandon
all angry, unchartable and unklnd feelings Tor
each other, account OF their oplElons and feel-
nj u "A
ly incomprehe aslble 10 the human race Unul
this effect shall be accomplished, no solid founda-
ton Can be laid tor The attainment OF permanent
peace, progressive prosperity and happiness among
mankind and this first and most important step
can be alone gained, by all agreeing To allow all in
the spirit of charity the utmost religious liberty in
Speech writing and action, SO long as the same
liberty In others shall not be diminished or IN any
manner lntertered with.
therefore give to all Others and claim for SELF the
most ample religious freedom, MS the oundaonstone Of
all true, efficient and rational liberty OF mankind and
without which any form Of government whatever may
be called 10 despotism.
Upon the subject lof marriages, Is necessary to be
equally explicit The object Of human society is TO in
happiness OF each individual TO the greatest
tent practcabehatis consistent with the greatest hap
piness Of the whole and the external laws Of humanity
are in connection with the association Of the sexes that
must like that which is most agreeable to him. and
dislike that which s most dssgreeabe to him. All hu
laws Of marriage should be based these divine
natural laws and parties fer the benefit OF ALL should
be compelled to associate husband and wife after the
natural anec0ns ana mpathlee Of neir nature nave
been far separated that probability remains OF a.
ecng reunion Of them. And until an advanced state
OF society be attained and superior arrangements can
be formed in perfect state of rational association
the following were the form and ceremony and mode Of
marriage and divorce given by the writer to the world
at most numerous public meeting In London held for
that purpose on the first May, 1888, and unanimously
proved
Many persons grossly mistake the views which re-.
commend OF the subject OF the union Of the My
object is 10 remove the causes Of the immense and most
melancholy and deporabe amounts Of sexual crime and
misery and and mental
which require to be discovered and implicitly obey ed
there being other which produce health virtue
In the present absence Of real knowledge derived from
experience, and with the exciting Irregular and misd
reced feelings Of the population Of he world created by
a false education, propose that the union and dsunion
Of the should take place under the following regula
tons Persons having affection for each other and
being DESTROYS TO form union shall first such
intention publicly in our Sunday assemblies THE in
tenton remains at the end OF three months the parties
living in the mean time singy as before make second
public declaration, in similar manner which declare
tion being registered and witnessed and entered in the
book Of rational society will constitute their rational
marriage In the world about be introduced
risgss will he solely formed promote the happiness of
the and this end be not attained the object Of the
union will be defeated Should the parties, therefore
after the termination Of twelve months at the soonest DIS
that their dispositions and habits unsuited 10
each other and that there is little prospect Of hap
pness being derived from their union, they to make
public declaration, before to that effect after which
they return home and live together six months longer at
the termination Of which IL they still find their qualities
dscordant and both agree TO make similar second de-
claraon. both Of which being duly registered and wit
messed will constitute their legal separation.
The above apply only when both parties unite in
the declaration. Should one alone forward upon
the last declaration and the other object to tho scpara
ton they would be required to live together another six
months to try their feelings and habits could be made
to accord to promote their happiness. But at the
end OF the second six months II the Directing party shall
remain of the mind, the separation Il then to be
final and the parties may, without diminuton Of public
opinion, form unions more suited TO their DISPOSE
tons.
As all children in this rational state OF society will
be trained and educated under the supernendance and
fhe society the separation OF the parents will not
produce any change the condition OF the rising genera
ton.
Under these arrangements, there can be doubt
much more virtuous end happy state Of society will be
enjoyed than any which has existed at any time any
part OF the world
These arrangements now recommended to those
who co pmence communities to form rational state OF