The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-02-14

FouRrxRIsM IN rHR COMMON CouNc1L.-The
principal organ of the Common Council, which
participates in all the advertising jobs of that
body, and probably In some printing jobs also,
Is well known to be the Tribune, a journal which
has been for four years past the leading advo-
cate for the introduction of the religion and
social system of Charles Fourier, French
philosopher of the last century, who is consid-
cred by his disciples in Paris as the Legitimate
successor of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;
and the only one of the age who has discovered
the only mode Of enjoying human life, or of es-
tablishing the social arrangements of human
beings.
For several months past, the Common Council
have directed large advertisements OF real es.
tate in this city, to be published in certain jour
nails, the principal of which is the Tribune The
expenses of these advertisements, probably
amounting to twenty or thirty thousand dollars,
will ultimately be paid by the property holders
and owners of real estate. In distributing this
patronage, large portion of it Is given to the
Tribune, one of the proprietors of which is a
member OF the Common Council, and, of course,
is bound by law, by ordinance, and by his own
oath, not to participate, either directly or indi
rectly, in any contract, the expenses of which
are to be paid by the corporation. Here is the
section of the charter of the city of New York.
passed in 1880, directing this:-
No member of either board SHALL during the period
Tor which no was elected be appointed TO- or be eompe
ol to
paid by any ordinance act Of the Common Council
be directly indirectly interested in any eonraet the
erPsnses whereot to bs psid under
any ordinance Of the Common Council
Now, under this section, the question arises,
whether Mr.. McElrath, the alderman of the third
ward, is the same Mr.. McElrath, one fthe editors
and proprietors of the Tribune paper which is
endeavoring to revolutionise the social and reli-
gious system of the United States, and substi-
tute for the principles and practices nculcated by
Jesus Christ, those which have been invented
by Charles Fourier? One of the great doctrines
of Fourier is illustrated by Philosopher Greeley,
and his efforts have been directed to throw real
estate into some new form, by which every man
can own property, either IN detail or by whole
sale. Isit, therefore, principle of Fourierism
that vast portion of the real estate of New York
should be thrown into the market for sale, to pay
taxes, and that the sales should be advertised,
contrary to the provisions of the city charter, in
certain journal, and that the real estate owners
of New York, should be compelled to pay many
thousand dollars for such advertisements, in or
der to fill the pockets of an alderman, in direct
contradiction to the provisions OF the city char
ter? This certainly is new view of Fourier
ism, which is not yet illustrated fully in the col
.umns of the Tribune, and we wish to have some
light on the subject, and probably the people of
New York would like to have some light on the
subject too, and principally those who are likely
to lose their property for such purposes.