The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-09
For the Union.

SV"e'"'""i sPP""Fe1 ~'eps~ VIC sonSHuso" " VAC
Stale.
0EsrlEaEN You have been elected by vour fsl-
low-citisens 10 perform, in the present advanced
state of society, perhaps the most important duties
that could be intrusod TO any association Of men.
You are required 10 revise, amend and, IL need
be, 10 reconstruct constitution in principle and
practice for the State OF New York-a State which
may well be termed the Empire State" because
in population, agriculture, general education, com
metce manufactures, and the useful sciences III stands
pre-emnent amidst so many rapidly progressing
sister States, whose constitutions arc also based
equal rights and just Equality for all.
This task has deyolyed upon you after more than
half century of experience in the results Of those
constitutions in practice, an experience invaluable
as guide for your proceedings.
The problem TO b worked ont in practice, ey-
identity intended by the founders Of the constitution
Of the United States, Is the elevation Of the whole
population in perpetuity TO equal rights and the most
beneficial practical equality.
Ia the then state Of public opinion, and without
practical experience to aid them, they made great
er progress towards The attainment of their object
than could have been anticipated. The constitu-
tion was devised and adopted by the Stated.
But equal rights and a just equality have not been
yet obtained, and Il is now for you TO what
further progress the great advanced state Of public
opinion in the civilized world will permit you to
make towards the solution Of this problem.
mas proven lndl Win inc FUNDAMENTAL
errors on which our early ancestors based society,
equal rights and Just equality" could moi be at.
tanned In practice.
The great question for the calm deberation OF
the convention now 10 ascertain IL, whether the adj
yanced mind Of the State Of New York is prepared
TO abandon the fundamental errors Of their nexpe-
enced ancestors, with the injurious prsctces which
necessarily smanaie from those errors; and whether
they have moral courage and honesty TO openly and
boldly recommend the adoption Of fundamental prin-
ciples which will OF necessity lead straight onward
to the highest permanent prosperity and most ben
eheial practices.
To abandon these errors, and adopt those truths,
the turning point 10 gain tho advance in CIV
zalion; for without this change no permanent good
can be expected; and without you can effect this
abandonment Of false and adoption of true funda-
mental principles, all you can otherwise obtain will
be Of small benefit 10 the public, and dlsappoint
your expectations.
The dme is near at hand n h be not already come,
when the authorities Of the world will be, by the
irresistible voice Of public opinion, called upon to
abandon those false fundamental principles on which
alone society has been based, and the irrational
character Of men has been formed, and TO replace
these false notions, derived solely from the inexpe-
rienced imsginalions Of half sayages, for eternal
truths--for laws Of God-unknown TO change, and
which, in practice can produce good only TO the hu-
man race. For it will be now ascertalned that, in
all past ages, men have been solely governed by the
same false fundamental notions, varied only by the
irrational preudiceS arising in the peculiar attitudes
and longtudes of each division Of our race. And
10 such extent have these been carried, that
the latitude and longitude Of the birth and training
Of any individuals being given the general language,
religion, habits, manners, and pre- udces Of that In
dvidual are thereby also given.
The universal fundamental errors are, that each
one forms his own individual qualities, opinions, and
feelings, and therefore, that they should be made
responsible FOR what they may be to their equally ig-
Moran, fellow-men. Upon these universal errors are
engrafted the peculiar Of the respective at-
rudes and longitudes in which each one has been
placed and instructed and thus has each one been,
unknown to himself forced to become most rration-
al in thought and action, opposed TO his own haPpr
ness, and the happiness Of his fellows.
The change required to make mon into rational
beings is TO prevent this veil Of gnorahcc which is
prepared for each new generation by the existing
matured generation, being formed, as at present
for them from their birth, to their full maturity Of
mind and body and instead thereof, a new charac-
ter must be created for them from infancy, based
the knowledge that no one can create his own quail
ties of body or mind, OF his own opinions, or bis
own feelings, and that for men to MARE themselves
responsible TO one another for that which they could
not create is to act to the utmost limit Of folly and
inconsistency; to mar and destroy the principles Of
nationality and happiness; to create universal false
hood and deception, and to render charity and kind
ness from mar 10 man, and nation To nation imprac-
ticable.
In addition to this fundamental change IN the
character Of the infant from birth, TO give him the
language of truth and the coaduct of Straightforward
honesty in look, word, and action he must be well
employed, well placed, and well governed, and to
attain these results, he must be surrounded by an
entirely new combination Of external objects, pre-
vousy calculated to have their irresistible influence
in making each one intelligent good kind, and chart
table, or, in other words, to become FULL
FORMED SUPERIOR RATIONAL BEING.
That these principles are true, and the practice
most desirable, all who have been enabled to over
come the prejudces their attitudes and ongitudes,
will now admit; but the difficulty which presents it.
self TO them is to know how TO effect the change
from the false principles and injurious practices SO
long established throughout society for the true
principles and their beneficial practices.
This difficulty arises ir their mind from want of a
knowledge of the practical affairs of life upon scale
sufficiently extended to enable them to comprehend
how such change can be effected without the vio-
encs Of revolutions, much less without injury to
any one, and great benefit 10 all. The means by
which to accomplish this change in practice beneh-
ciay for all, shall be explained in future communi-
cations. " 10y -'
ROBERT OWEN.
WAsHrNoroN, June 8, 1916. .n'."