New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-04-04
The Revolution n Social novement-its effects
in England.

The Revolution n Social HIovement-fts effects
! in England.
! As general attention has been directed in this
country TO the Socalistic character of the French
Revolution, whether by the proclamation OF some
journals of the dangers to which the new Republic
is exposed from its resolve to proceed beyond the
mere forms Of negative Hepgblicansm to the
guaranty Of fundamental right of Man, namely,
the Right 70 Labor or by other journals which,
feeling themselves bound 10 admire the Revolution
aud the Republic are sghast at all that passes be-
yond the old routine Of politics and srenuousy aver
that there is not shadow Of Socialism 10 either We
have no doubt that the following letter will be
read with interest apart from its remarkable abili-
ty. 1t was written by distinguished scientific
man Of London, to the HarbtRger newspaper,
whose Editors have kindly furnished it to Us in ad
vance Of their own publication. The fact with re-
gard to the intimacy ofM Lamartine with the Asso-
ciationists Of Paris stated at the conclusion, we
presume will be noticed by those papers which
have spoken positively of a whitening re
buke' administered by him to that body Of mel :
and Of his having no sympathy with their ideas
Facts being facts may as well be known.
LONDON March 10, l5i5.
My DEAR FRIENDS: Since last wrote you, Eu
rope has become the theatre of such great events
that presume you will expect me IN tell you some
thing Of the march of circumstances here, Is well
as Of the opinions Of intelligent Engshmen at this
crisis in the destnes Of all civilized nations.
First and foremost, must apprise you that the
great organs of the public press in England. concur
in giving TO the change in France the character OF
q Social Rey0iutOH. Starvation, they say aud pc
rennial want were the ultimate causes OF the up
hesval, and not doctrnal preference OF republ-
can 20 mOnarcbical Institutions. AS the hrst and
second Resolutions were desperate protests ainst
the selfshness of monarchy and aristocracy, so is
the third an appeal to Heaven against the selfish
ness OF the middle classes against the one sided
view Of property as distinguished from labor' In
these respects al an intelligent friend remarked TO
me, we are three Revolutions behindhand in Eng
land
This peculiarly of the late Revolution being ad-
mitted it has caused the greatest fear and dstrust
ia all the journals and accordingly they rave about
Communism, and charge the French people with
ignorance OF the very elements oil political econo-
my At the same time | have seen 1t granted, that
il the French do strike out any new path through
the desperate sea of our troubles they will earn
well the gratitude Of the world and all future time
This il about the brightest expression OF hope
which recollect in the late English newspapers
For the rest the journalists are profoundly una
ware that there any better harbOr or refuge pro
consequently they speak without taking note OF
the greatest fact Of the time. The Times indeed
mentions Fourier with knowing shrug, es much
as to say that it could say more, If 1t would; but
TIE Times always follows the nation when mosti
appears TO lead il aud certainly its writers either
know, or show, nothing of the principles OF true As
ISOLATION. Nevertheless The Tunes was the hrst
10 recognize the social tendencies Of the French
Revolution-and would be the first to recommend
the Organization of Labor if the stream OF events
and public opinion should set IN 10 that direction.
SO much am impressed with the share chat the
Social ideas have had in the earthquake which has
shaken the European thrones that should not hes
itate TO aver that Fourier IS 10 this Revolution
what Voltaire aud Rousseau were TO the trsti and
if this be true what change for good do we see IN
the altered influences OF this New Time.
One thing which the writers note very especially
is the absence of appeals TO the Future which marks
the documents Of the Provisional Government OF
France the death of the old wstchwords or as
they saw the extinction Of faith and hope. This,
which The Tunes regards as an evidence OF deep
despair and materiallsm, look upon 10 be merely
the refusal Of mankind to enter upon distractions,
whether philosophical or political; distractions,
which whenever they have descended from their
high places, have preached nothing but despair to
the masses. The true POINT dGppui OF both soul
and body is the assured decent minimum, and ii
this be materalism, the Maker of men is the guilty
party; for dinner, by His law, is far more necesss
than any axiom OF mhsntIuHtIc5s
You may easily imagine that a nation which no
longer cares oRe zig for patriotic toasts snd senti-
ments unless there be something 10 eat at the
same time. oilers no handle 10 the politicians, who
have been accustomed to WELD the popular ele'
ment by some unintelligble phrases which begin
from nothing aud end in nothing; aud that the new
demand for bread in the first place, instead OF IN
the last, is exceedingly perplexiDg to even good
men, such as those who compose the Provisional
Government of France, but who have not been
familiar to this line OF Augmentation. For hithefto
indeed, the process has been directly the reverse
First the masses were to believe In the good oil
Civilization and by constant submission. and toll
whenever needed TO support the State from year
10 wear; and in the second place, they were 10
have hope aud faith that their worldly privations
would end in Heaven on the one hand, and IN
slowly lettering state OF things even upon earth
by which their remote posterlty might be raised
few degrees higher than themselves in the Social
scale Thus by the most beautiful and impercepti.
bic graduation had the parsons, philosophers and
politicians led the way from their own gaseous mat
ters TO more solid things, and Faith and Hope me
words were TO serve as inns on the road, ana 10
take the pilgrim nations in Alas these lmpolite
Frenchmen have insisted upon the solids iirst and
the fancy work afterward and the most beautiful
sliding scale of theories in the world is blown to
the winds.
IL must be owned that this is circumstance OF
tremendous import and portends struggles and
probably blood but the ruling classes In France
are doing whatever they can 10 satisfy the popular
wants in the material sphere. Joint Stock Asso-
citation is becoming the common principle oil ousi-
ness, and every where firms giving their work
mon shares in the concern. So lar SO good ou, IN
the present state OF Europe business IS, Tor the
time. annihisted and it is therefore very doubtful
whether even this concession OF property VIII do
ANYTHING toward insurisg the decent asHtmHm.-
For shares are only valuable where there IS divl'
dend to share 1t strikes me that property must
not confne itself to passive goodness, but II II
would enact its part in the redemption must strike
ont boldly in the track OF genius and initiate active
experimentation. How can anything short OF AZ
ricuitural Association insure the minimum, which
manufacturers and other works run the blessed
chance Of making into Haorimuml hapPiiy the
disciples of this doctrine are some OF the most IN,
Auental men in France, and enjoy the respect and
confidence of the Provisional Government.
Yesterday was ssking friend on whose ln'or'
nation can fully rely, what he thought would be
the effect Of giving bis workmen about 100 IN mum
ber,l a share in his business he replied that
some three or four Of the men would probably re.
tain their shares, and be the better for them, out
that the greater part would sell the chance tor
mere trihe, probably for quantity Of liquor on the