New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-04-07
THE LABOR REFORM IN FRANCE.
The Agricultural Association at Condo.
P.rs Coff.spo1o.nc- Of Ih- TTlb0ne
PARIS Feb. = lrsq

worthy of description, that may perhaps be able to
ell a column Of The Tribune without nrudng on the
province of your regular correspondent Have you
vet heard Of the colony commenced BY small band Of
hopeful phssnste at Conce Sur ve'gre' little vii
lsge some forty miles from Parisi gentleman who
10 about to escape from the cty-to unite bis efforts
with theirs for the success Of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
sed TO accompany visit TO the place, and feel
Ing some desire to witness the commencement Of an
undertaking which deemed more worthy Of attention
than others Of greater iginsng in
part at least from the convictions and Efforts Of actual
Lsborers-l determined to join him. Our road lay
through Versailles, and portion Of the day was devo'
ted TO wandering through the grounds and galleries Of
the Chateau. Its fine gardens, filed With beautiful
walks and ornsnented ioun,sns and statues the long
galleries and the piles Of building seemed to my com
psnion the realization Of scomPlee Phalanstery-the
realization principally, Of the ornamental snd beau'i'
ful in such an essblshment-but the picture which
presented itself TO bic mind Of groups OF wo.smen dis
persed through the ground sending forth the hum
of labor from the halls of the castle was per
not less beautiful Versailles is one of the most In
teresng monuments Of France both from ts present
beauty and from the associations which connect II with
the past snd the well directed efforts Of the late King
have contribute much 10 its restoration and preserva-
ton Whatever the faults Of Lous Philippe as ruler
may have been he displayed great deal OF generosity
and public spirit In his sbors for the improvement and
perfection Of the public monuments OF France. Yer
ssies itself has become unostentstiOus monumeHt
of his exertions, and could but observe
that nearly all the personal memorials Of him had dis
appeared Blu, the French not ungrseful and they
will probably return.
long ride in the diligence brought me late at night
TO Conde where spent the next day at the colony
Many years ago NJ Dalary, personal disciple Of Fou
rier erected edfce this place In the hope of
sliziDg his ideas of Social Organization; but the
times were yet ripe and before long be disposed
of the edfce and farm lie did not, however give up
his exertons hs hopes He has continued TO reside
the spot and within short time under his aus
pieces this colony has been commenced short notice
of its constitution will be sufficient TO explain the prin
cipes of its operation.
The objects of the Society the foundation OF an
Agricultural end Manufacturing Association, and the
division among the members In right OF capital or labor
Of the profits resulting from It's operations The capital
10 fixed at 100000 francs, divided into shares OF 500
francs and in order to admit shareholders those of
limited means these shares diysble into coupons
Of 2j francs But shares incapable Of subdivision
by sale or inheritance and heirs are required to select
arepresents,ive of their claims Lsberors admit
ted and receive from the Association certain
of necessaros at valuation Of some GOO francs. They
entitled to specified share Of the annual divd ends
and TO the prizes distributed to the mertorious and
their part called upon to fulfil the general obsa
lions of membership. The children TO be educated
at the expense partly OF their parents partly of the So
ciey And In proportion the of the Institution
allow young children and elderly persons Ia need Of
assistance to be received. After the annual ex
penses of the establishment have been betrayed, the
profits are to be applied fret 20 the creation of
served fund for unforeseen and variable expenditures
This fund is to receive one fourth of the annual profits
as long they do exceed four per the cap
itsl-one hall when they rise TO six per cent Secondly
10 the payment Of dividends TO labor and capital in the
following proportions viz: At so much per franc for
the value invested. The value of capital IL determined
by the amount of shares. The value of labor s reck
oned COO francs for the advance aforementioned to
each sborer to be augmented yearly at the rate of POO
francs The control of the Society is intrusod to Di
rector TO a Council Of Administration and Committee
of Surveillance The Director is the Executive Agent,
under the control and advice OF the Council his duties
are not unlike those OF the Presidents of Railroad
Companies The superior power in the administration
of affairs belongs the COuncl-whch in its turn. 10
10 watched n the exercise OF it's duties by the Com
mt,ee There arc to be annual sssembles-to receive
reports and accounts, TO approve reject propositions
Of the Council or Committee, and 10 modify add 10
the Statutes.
The student of Fourier will fnd nothing in these
provisions Bu, those who have fascied everything in
Socialism to be theoretical and ideal. will perceive
simple and economical oIganizston-~hich secures 10
its members a comfortable support and the means
of the Association augment opportunities for ntelec
tual Improvement, while it recognizes the neglected.
claims OF Labor. without "mskng property"
SIN well aware that many, perhaps the majority of
phaanseran disspprove of attempts Ike this fearing
that the probable failure Of Association based
insufficient capital will be- likely TO harm the and
prefer TO wal, until experiment be attempted
upon a suitable foundation but they cannot refuse to
follow with their good wishes this to develop
some Of the ideas Of social organic alton ave
conscious" says the Coonists In the
Of their undertaking." We conscious Of the obsts
ces to DO and of the darkness through which
we must grope our way. But have faith In
work sud the courage which faith awskens. Our hopes
are vast but individual pretensons are humble
We lsborers who wish prepare ourselves for the
future by founding not teachers but pupils, the
practical school Of Association by sssocistng together
the different classes of and by identifying the
interests Of the different classes Of the Society thus
made pledge OF concord reconciliation and harmony,
and We await with confident hope the time when all
good men--when all whose hearts s ,hrob with love
for common humanity, shall lend their aid to the
work"
spent the day a, Conde sitting in the workshops,
converslng with the workmen and waking shout the
grounds All that saw pleased me. ! saw Industry,
eheerfulness and harmony. They seemed TO have the
sauce which makes the dinner of herbs better than the
stalled and In their conversation much intelligence
and cultivation manifested In the establishment,
all was ye, the house entirely finished. the
grounds laid out tu; their lsbors have commenced,
and tho colony will soon be in fpl operation leiI
them. although not a fellow disciple, with sincere
wishes for their success While rafting the paved