The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-23
NEW YORK, FRIDAY MORNING, MAY %. 1915.
Movement I'm Favor OF n Social Reformation
In Europe and this Country.

Movement In Favor or a Social Reformation
In Europe and this Country.
]. G.. BENNETT ESQ
criticisms OF Association, and the manner in which
II has been COMPOUNDED with doctrines of a commu-
nifty OF property, infidelity, &c. &c., with which ii
has nothing In common. Your paper, with its large
minds against it, and desire through the same me-
dunn to explain what Association really is, its aims,
and the principles upon which it is based.
Association aims at Social Refomaton-at
reform which shall 60 to the root OF the evils that
alct the great body Of mankind the rich as well as
the poor, and offer some etfectual means of eradca-
ting them. Association declares that these evils are
far more social and industrial in their nature than
pollhca particularly In this country, and that politi
cal reforms do little or nothing towards remedy
ing them.
We believe that this movement in favor of So
cial Reformation IS true and just one, called for by
the suffering condition of millions of our fellow crea-
lures, by sound reason and by true charity and JUS
tice. II would seem, in fact if the time had arri-
we'd in the history of the race, when the most adj
vanced uations should undertake intelligently and
through, they have, SO many political, Legislative,
religious, and other reforms: it would seem ii
Providence, in ITS mercy, had length decreed that
man should emerge from the long career Of suffering
this faith that explain the reason why this great
problem is beginning to be agtated at the present
time, tar and wide, among the civilized nations OF
the earth. Let us glance at the progress which it is
making, and its condition in some Of the nations of
Christendom.
In France, where many political reforms have
been tried and with such fruitless or disastrous
results, independent and investigating minds have
become convinced of their impotency, and have
gradually had their attention drawn to deeper re-
tom-to reform in the social organization
itself, instead of in the government and adj
minstration EThe idea of social reformation
spheres Of bic life in Franceinto the press, into
politics and legislative deliberations into the teach
ings of political economy, and into literature. In
Paris, two daily papers, In Democratic Pacifque.
views, are devoted to the cause edited for the most
part with great ability, and advocating and pressing
this great question upon the attention OF the people,
In the sphere OF politics, where naturally less free
dom exists, the fundamental part only Of the ques-
ton, and that in the shape of the organization of
labor and an industrial reform has come up this,
however, IS the true and practical commencement
OF social reform, land it is exciting the attention Of
among its advocates many Of the leading minds of
the nation. BY the last arrivals of the French pa
pers, we observed in the Journal dcs Dcbats, even
the principal conservative paper Of Paris and minis
terlal organ, four long columns upon the subject,
thing unthought of ten years since, and M Ledree
Rodin, member of the Chamber of Deputies, lately
presented petition, covered with forty-one thou
sGd or an into the
which got up by the friends of the organic alton
of labor. These are trihes, but they show that
the question s taking hold strongly of the public
mind. In political economy, Blanqui and Michel
Chevaller, who occupy the two principal chairs de-
voted to this science in the Universities of Paris
discuss the questions of Association and an Indus
trial Reform, with perfect freedom, and with ia
lent that remarkable, and is giving new direc-
ton to the investigations of political economy. M
Cheyalier, who has lately been elected member Of
the Chamber of Deputies, made in one of his late
courses, the following declaration, which sums up
his views upon this great question, and which is
prophecy as profound as it is concise.
GAS the question of Liberty" said he,, (" has oc
cupied the attention Of the world for the last fifty
years. SO the question of Association and the Orga-
nization Of Labor, will occupy it for the next fifty
years to come"
And this is true /; political reforms have engaged
the attention Of the world, and with absorbing
tensity for the last half century the results which
they can produce have been fully demonstrated in
the United States, and although great in many res
pects yet insufficient Now comes the time tor the
study and discussion of Social Reform, as the
continuation and completion of all past reforms, and
its application in such ways as the genius OF different
In Literature this great problem has found in
France some powerful allies and advocates; one OF
Its noblest champions is Eugene Sue. 1t was under
the inspiration OF this new social idea that he wrote
the Mysteries of Paris His first effort in this d.
rectlon, and its success, well that of the Wan
dcrng Jew, in which the ideas of Association, the
organization Of labor and a social reform, are more
fully developed, shows how broad field the grand
conceptions OF mere just and fortunate order OF
things and higher and happier destiny tor man on
earth throws open to literature A kind and gener-
GUS heart beats in the bosom of Eugene Sue and his
pen and his intelligence are hereafter gained to the
sacred cause OF social reformation, and the eeva-
ton of the human race. We have not space to en-
ter further into the social movements in France but
the little which we have said, shows its magnitude
and that 1t IS not based upon visionary idea, but
trslI rf frsyfh and and
which gains;to Its cause the allegiance Of minds of
practical as well as poetical character.
In Germany, the people OF which appreciate so
well universal principles, thus new social movement
is interesting the higher philosophic and literary
minds on the one hand and to some extent the lead
ing industnalists or master-workmen on the other
II is also beginning to excite the attention of portions
of the religious world.
classes or proita,ies, and the employers, is not so
profound as in France and England certain de-
gree of sympathy and union exists between them
the confli It OF interests, the jea
ouses and rivalres which the competition system
engenders and this sympathy and union do great
honor to the humane, honest and social character OF
the German people, This feeling is arouslng the
leaders in industry, who see that free competition
monopohzed machinery, and other principles Of mo-
dern ndusrlaism, are to bring the people into
the restitution and pauperism that exist In England
where the system has been longer at work, and they
looking with deep interest to the question of the
ueVOuOn OF the laDoTlnB Glasses, anu IeioIAH cdl
bic of effectng this result.
In the sphere Of philosophy several distinguished
minds are devotng their labors 10 this social move
ment, and also in the sphere OF literature In the
latter, will mention only the celebrated Bettina
Anime, known more in this country for her cores
pondence with Goethe, and certainly one of the
most remarkable women Of the age. She has lately
written a work on the subject; and occupying, as
she does high place in society, and being cele-
brated for her genius, che has all Germany for her
nublir Another distinguished author, Heinrich
Hcine, the Steme of Germany, has written IN his
peculiar manner upon the question, and Is arousng
enquiry, and exciting thought.
The Germans have never taken much interest IN
the shallow political reforms, and the Legislative
controversies OF the modern liberal party In Europe
The profound instinct OF the people has taught them
that something deeper to be sought for-that far
more thorough and organic reforms must be under
taken to effect any really great and beneficial re-
salts. In this grand question OF social refo rmation
they wikfnd, as they did, in their religious refor
nation, an understanding worthy Of their deep SIN
cerity and philanthropy, and their devoted enthu-