New-York daily tribune., 1845-01-23

we cherish hlgh respect 10, Nr. owen per-
sonally-a respect founded on the simplicity and
benevoeuce OF his character. aud the extent ard
pa,isnt persistence OF his sacrifices for what ne
undoubtedly believe. tho highest good oe Man
kind. For his System of Society, however, We
entertain no such regard, and the attention we
have been able to give 10 this volume has 10;
tended TO modify cur dissent from bis views
Only as criticism on existing Society and as
aforcing hints for better, can we esteem it of
any value, while 10 weak heads and psrverss
spirits it seems likely to prove extremely pernici-
ous. There are VIGOROUSLY thousands Ill around
US burning with unhallowed p.opensities-lustful
sppetites-overbea,ipg inclinations to commit
acts forbidden alike by Public Sentiment, by
Law, by Religion, and regard for the general
well.being. Say that their pssverse appetencies
are the work ofSociety, or Of whatever you please,
yet their existence is TO less fact, and as such
to be respected. They are deferred from prac-
teal descent into Aagranuy evil courses by their
regard-blihd and superstitouS, il you please-for
what they with the world recognize as Virtue,
Religion, and hence Public Opinion. But they
meet with, study and put faith in Mr.. Owens
teachings, wherein this aforesaid Public Opinion
is held TO be al wrong, this Religion wicked
fraud, and this Virtue mischievous deiusion-
all TO be supplanied very speedily by the en|ight
encd aud Just sentiment of a Rational Society, Of
which the world has till now lived in utter igro-
nance. Is there not manifest danger that such
persnns will accommodate Mr. Ovens theory 70
their perverted passions rather than their passions
tot-that they viii say Chastity is an absurd
'delusion, Religion designing mummery, Virtue
an empty or nisapplied name-I will henceiorth
scout them ali and live to my own liking?' 1t
seems TO us this danger attends ali speculations
as bold and as positive as Mr. Ovens, and is one
which every Reformer should most vigilantly
contemplate and guard against. a profound OBJ
server he's asserted that every great change in the
opinions or mental habitudes of community is
usually followed by general disqualification
that such was the case in Germany directly after
the Reformation, in this Country upon the heels
Of tho Revolution, &c. &c. How far this may
be true we do not say, hut there is an obvious
danger in cutting mon loose from the fastenings
10 RecGtude, rude and imperfect though they
seem, by which they have hitherto been held, j
held at ala danger not to be 5raved on light
grounds, nor without clear and definite pur-
poses and assurances of beneficial results
Hence the very general and just dislike TO the
clergyman who SPENDS his own and his hearers
time in warning on other's crceds instead of com-
mending his own. Yet in this very fault MIR.
Oven greatly abounds. He Can hardly intermit
for single page his sweeping denunciatinns oi
ali existing Re igions, all Governments, ali insti-
tutons as utterly false, highly injurous to Mans
eLteing, and contrary To Human Nature
Now 10 an initiated mind it seems strange
enough that among The infnity OF races. nations.
tribes, communities on the face OF the earth not
one has ever even app-o1imated that Social Sys-
tenn which Mr. Owen is so positive IS alone basod
upon and conformed TO tho laws of Human Ma
ture. Many ot them have bcen and arc nearly
destitute Of any idea OF Religion, Government,
Money, O. any Of The Influences winch Mf o
assigns US the Cause of cur Social psrvsrsion, but
the Esouimaux or the Ncw Zcaiandsr hardly
comes nearer tho Rational Society than 90 the
English or Yankees. How is this
But we did aot propose 20 discuss Mr Ow.
EMS System. We believe, III common with him,
that very img gorlant notifications in the struc.
turc OF Society vii vt DC made, Us Man shall
become wiser aud better; but We differ altogether
as to the nature and Iueaos Of such change. We
discern no obstacle, but help toit n existing IN
s,itrtions, Government included; while TO efec;
il we icly en- the progress ana ald, not The over
throw and destruction, Of the Christian Religion.
Social structure evolved from the spirit and re
aectng the graces Of Christianity, is what the
world imminen,ly nesds, to replace the rotten
tmbe.s from tho old Pagan ediice which have
been retained and trusted in too long. Yet the
work to be done is rather of construction than
Of dcslruc,ion-it demands Faith and Love
rather than acute criticism and an icy Ration
atty. 1t demands patient, self-denying cham
pSons, cheerfully periling Reputation ond disdain
ing Comfort, rather than hoping to revel thereby
in immediate and external sources OF enjoyment.
But enough of differences. We close with
single extrac, from Mr.. Owens book, being his
synopsis of Rational Co5e of Laws. We see in
itmuch to approve and little TO condemn, though
human ccde intended TO reach and repress all
evil mus. needs bo much longer, aud tho Divine
sammary--Love God with all your heart, and
your neish shbor as yourscifis considerably short
e.. Bat here is Mr. Ovens brief:
als, That, seeing that each child IS born ignorant
and without experience, every human beins, male
sud female sball be as well trained and educated
from birth, physically, mentally, morally, and prac-
hcaly as The knowledge OF well-iormins Of the hu-
man character possessed at The time Wi! admit.
"2j. That all shall be actively well-emp!oyed,
physically and mentally, according 10 age and ca
Paey, through life idieness, being injurious TO Tie
indiyitusl, and unjust 10 society.
"3i. That all snail bo well lodged, fed, clothed,
and surrounded from birth death by superior cir
enmstsEces only 80 iar society unitediy can Gre
ale superior Circumstances.
/" 4ih. That in addition 10 the language CT It's pa
hn, tpn