The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-11-19
From the Harbinger,
How Stands the Cause I?


celved in this country, by so many earnest
seekers after light respecting the true social
destiny Of man; since the first memorable
conventions in New York and Boston, and
the impulse thereby given to thousands who
rushed into practical experiments in various
Y parts OF the land much, no doubt, has hap
pened to moderate expectations, much has
been suffered, and a new aspect has come
over the movement which it requires some in
sight to define. Practical trials in almost ev-
, cry instance have been failures as those best
, acquainted with the true principles and con-
) dltionS OF the associative organization could
have predicted, and indeed did predict. But
Association is like Christianity itself, it tri-
, umphs in its failures where it is trampled
upon, there it most effectually plants ITSELF
and its seeds are now silently taking root even
in the hearts Of those who outwardIy reject it.
The world has been gradually growing up to
this conviction, reached it may be but by few
minds now; while all minds, consciously or
unconsciously, are on the way to it. In
France, where Fourier wrote, the working
classes are too ignorant, too utterly ground
down, to have intelligence or energy of mind
to seize upon so great hope; besides which,
public meetings and popular lectures and dis
cussions are prohibited by law. The other
class, the mobiles and the savans and the mon
eygetters, could not be supposed so disinter-
esJed as all at once to think of exchanging
their present advantages for the chance Of in
creased prosperity to all, through a more
equitable and more productive system. And
yet, remarkable as it may appear, the atten-
ton Of statesmen and philosophers in France
is now more earnestly turned to the great So
cial problem, than in any other part OF the
,,i nj +I,o Il
are rapidly gaining ground among many of
the most influential minds of that nation, to
the extent that they already are beginning to
influence politics. The Associative School
there wisely wait their time; they have accu-
mulated large funds for systematic promul-
cation Of their ideas through the public press,
and are preparing the convictions Of the best
men and through them Of the government, at
the same time they are raising by gradual
and steady increase the requisite material and
means for commencing Model Phalanx, in
some suitable place, and on che proper scale
In Germany, socialism is rife but the phi
losophic mind Of that country, which gener-
ally goes to the bottom Of every matter has
not yet fastened upon the Social Science as
it will do, and with incalculable results. In
England, the popular restlessness is growing
wiser, and there is a tendency, though not in
name, Of every popular movement to grope
the way out into the full LIGHT of Associa-
ton
But here, in the free land of America, is
the true home and the first land of promise
for this grand movement of Humanity. Here
the whole tendency of thought and of the
practical working of our institutions is towards
it. When its light first broke upon few ear
nest minds, already thoroughly persuaded of
the vicious circle in which civilization travels,
and of the impossibiity of attaining to any
thing like real freedom and equality, real OPP
portunities Of education, fortune, influence,
congenial labor and society to all, without
radical change in the whole social framework
then for tine that light was almost too
strong to bear; enthusiasm overlooked the
bounds of practical restraining wisdom
glimpses (however incomplete) of truth were
taken for clear knowledge, and nothing was
esteemed too great to undertake or to eXpect;
the remedy of all old wrongs, the conditions
Of universal happiness and elevation, in
word the divine order Of society seemed I'M
derstood and practicable at any moment
Then the movement had its Pentecost. And
since then it has had its trials. Multitudes of
! little Associations, commenced without sci
ence, without money, without men, have
struggled through their little day and peacea-
bly, subsidized The skeptcal world bestows
smile of mingled triumph and compassion on
the predicted failure, and still goes its way
But how is it with the actors in these expert
ments? Their faith in the principles and in
the reality of the movement is stronger by ev-
cry effort and by every failure. The convic-
ton has taken root and withstood the droughts
and winds Of Encouragement. The specula-
tive idea has acquired the weight and ear
nestncss of an idea which men can work for
and suffer for, and wait for through long pc
riods Of apparent failure and defeat. 1t has
spoken all the more eloquently by this fact to
others. The necessity of change has not
been refutcd by any of these failures, and
more and more have turned hopelessy away
from existing politics and philosophers and in
stitutions and have been compelled to exam
inc this one only solution ever offered to the
whole length and breadth and depth of the
social problem. We verify believe that no
moral movement in the history of man has
ever made such progress, in a few short years,
as has this doctrine Of Association in the minds
of all classes of men and women in the Uni
! ted States. Our failures we account as moth
ing; the experience we have gained by them
i is pure success. They have drawn attention
! to the subject as no other method could have
done at this stage of the movement They
have knit lasting bonds of union between hun
dreds of earnest souls, who though they could
not in all cases contrive materially to hold to-
gethcr, are yet pledged to one another, and
to this most holy cause Of Unity, while life
lasts, Each of these little practical attempts
at true societies has been nucleus and raj
lying point for minds possessed with this idea
each has been a centre of discussion and
study, where ono enlightened urged and slim
ulated another,and the result has been an in
calculablc increase of knowledge and of faith
We all know better what we want, what the
cause demands, and what are the preliminary