The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-02
Strange Doctrines OF the Fourierites.
LETTER FROM AIR A. BRISBANE.

L
visited Belgium and Holland, and ca',e up the Rhine
to this place.
have seen Holland and enough Of Ger many to
form an idea of the state of this portion OF Europe
As to Holland, it is ina state Of utter degradation
10 almost hopelessly demeraized and sunk in the
basest maerialsm by the commercial spirit and stock
jobbiDg. Holland presents o lamentable example Of
the oorrupting and debasing influence of the CONNER
cial spirit upon people The condition ofthat coun
try surpasses any thing describe to and the
hatred snS disgust which have been aroused Ia me
against anarchicsl commerce. and the vile Worship OF
gold which epgenders in society," by observing their
extre effects as exhibited in Holland, are deep and
ineradcable
England too, is far gone in the career of
mercal iniquity, Of ruin and national degradation;
same direction 1t is the fashion new a.days to glo-
fy and to praise to the skies the most
potent agent of civilization and progress; but in my
opinion commerce nor conducted is The pest of all
pursfs IL is the most debdsing ii calls out The great
est degree Of sefshness the iowest scheing aud cum
ming; indeed, IL thoroughly perrerts and corrpfs The
human heart Modern civilization lie in danger of per-
dition under its powefu and despotic grasp. The
Dutch people have reaped the fruits Of giving them
selves wholly up to it They are gross stupid, de-
graded and poverty stricken people few are rich
tunes exists Wholesale pauperism More than
halt of the population of Of their cities actual
for time by commerce, has died out, and stupid
apathy and torpor cover the land.
My visit to Holland has shown me how much supe-
rior the military is to the commercial spirit.
that the military spirit has been the salvation of
and of the civilized world to noble Destiny and that
notwithstanding it Is horrible thing, has a
develOpeS
biton. Ambition excites the sentiments of personal
pride and dignity; it eeyates the Thoughts and prin
ciples Of men The pc asant made soldier, becomes
man; but commerce transforms a man into cowdrd
am also iucliued to think that the a,isocracy of
England bad ii u.s. The ennobtng and sarng prin
eiP!e Of that country and that if It were destroyed,
and the Bourgeotse-the traficking Bourgeoisie
their hands that the nation would inevitably sink,
like Holland, into the lowest deep of degradation:
Since ! have been In Germany l have visited as
maHy Of the noted rsormers possible in the
cities. ! them particularly in Dusseldorf and
place have attended the clubs and public meetings
and the conventions or Congress Of Delegates as they
hs % nS
the German, have been able to inform myself accu
rately regarding the nature of the political and social
movements here It seems to that have lived q We
years, instead Of five months only that have elapsed
since left America many grand nts have passed
The instinct of the masses of nations struggling to
effect reforms Of time grown abuses, affords in
great which have agated all Europe
Offer sublime spectacle Of the instructive and onward
these of s
which, and declare its progress and its
Without doubt in the historic era that has
yet marked the life of humanity on earth Considered
in this h the of witnessing the great
AZ regards Germany, there is much to be said but
will be brief in my statements The republican feel
strong 9s sna ns youP aS men OF
geose, smiddle classes conservative and
tionary But republican ideas and feelings are spread
ing with great rspdty the free press, the clubs and
public meetings are doing wonders In disseminating
doctrines Of reform Quite large proportion of those
who become republicans also become socialists at the
fame time. Socialism, consequently, IL spreading
widely among the people. All the intelligent and
republic They have said to me often" We do not
wish bourgeois republic as you have It In the United
Composition ruins the isborins ciasses-where you
distinction of classes In society the
No. we want the social republic with reform In the
false institutions of society particularly in labor edu-
cation commerce and the ystem of taxation"
Although socialism is spreading rapidly among the
people-tb peasants and the operstves-who receive
IT, as it we're, by kind Of instinct becau.e offers to
them, and appeals strongly to the benevolent and
social Sc ntiments which distinguish the German peo-
ple still social science is in its infancy in Germany;
It Is yet in a vogue and undeveloped state Fouriar
and the o her French socialists ars known only by
s "n The s %o
plane, no theories or measures marked out In detail
fact they are opposed to systems they wish to fol-
forms plainly practicabe adapted to the Mt
condition Of the people They say that man 1. who
kind Of ececcism in reform, which, although it does
not go deep, renders the comprehension Of social
strikes me- is the entire absence Of definite plans and
attachment to any particular system. This is social
of friendship fraternity, and leads to vagueness,
tolerance and promiscuity; but, at the same time.
is scarcely any difference of opinion among the social
lists here, as there Is In France There the different
The highest idea entertained in Germany is that of
guaranteeism. They have no notion of domestic or
passionai association The deeper problems OF so1a,
serial organization fabor not understood by the
most advane ed reformers The idea OF families living
separately prevails among the socialists the phaan-
stery seems to them only military organization, asys
tenn Of barracks They wish to have vast farms or do
mains, cultivated by the combined force Of large
pulation in scientific manner they advocate the plan
Of large common Kitchens and Of combining various
domestic but maintain the system Of
houses for every family placed near to each other
While the reformers of Germany advocate the sepa-
rate family household system, they condemn The present
insifufion Of marriage; they call IL, as IL now easfs,
system Of legal prostitution. and criicse II severely
They have no dea however, Of what should be put In
made In this respect they vague and uncertain
they in regard to social reforms generally but
who cannot agree and wife, to be made perfect
1y easy under some simple divorce regulations, and to
ALLOW thote to unite whose amnies attract anem 70
we'll as phi ysica or what they term, trse marrsge
This the substance Of German views upon this sub
ject. But It may be stated as Fundamental charac-
teristic Of the German radical mind that IL sntertains
complete doubt Of all erisng social institutions phich,
up Of the old social world now going on everything is
put under the ordeal OF unsparing crtci,m without
ead e S sSss "'@ sn 80 81 T@ Of
soul eren, IS generally regretted and absolute atheism is
not uncommon. So much for doctrinal and moral
tiers; now let me give summary Of the practical
sures by the progressive and republican par
ty Of Germany. The leading measures proposed are:
First. The unity Of Germany.
Second The establishment Of . universal repub-
lie. The ultra radicals wish 1t and indvisble;
others fedeIative.
Third The establishment of thorough system Of
education by the state, free to all children.
Fourth. he establishment Of . system Of free
Justice, or courts Of law, without expenses.
Fifth The limitation of the right Of Inheritance to
heirs Of the first degree-to children. parents, and
brothers sisters and in time total abolition Of
the right Of inheritsnce.the doctrine being held
that property shoud be social instead Of individual
the land workshops and other OF wealth be-
longing to the collective body the State and made
free to the of all.
Sixth. The establishment Of national workshops or
the orga nzation of by the Statea min
lister Of industry to be appointed in he government,