The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-05
The rganiZatiOn of l. Dor.

NUMBER Xxx.
1t was not without design, that have chosen in
the preceding number superstition, In one OF its
lowest forms, in juxaposon with the doctrines OF,
the so-called, progressive state of society, whose
fallaces plainly appear in the absence of any posi-
tive good The former is like the rude soil from
which more rational condition may be produced;
the latter is barren spot, unfit for any cultivation.
Faith, belief of any Sort is the SYM athletic cord
for uniting, combining, harmonizing; the absence
of it, like wintry sunshine, may exhibit beautiful
pictures, but nothing life-giving will grow. We
love to see a handsome painting, but, if necessi-
tated, will part with it for bread but we cling to
an apparent living truth, and can part with it for
nothing. We are amused with an amable fallacy,
and exchange it for any other; but we cannot
exchange the conviction of the heart for the
splendid rhetorical flourish from the bar or pulpit
Laborers, like all other men, will work for wages
only; and if they work for something else, that
something must appear, in their eyes, more valuable
than wages and do you think your philosophical
exhibition of the serial Order to be that thing?
1t is specious reasoning with most all national,
political and social reformers, that all men love
pleasure and hate pain; ergo, they will seek the
first, and flee from the latter Again, all men love
riches and fear poverty; therefore, they will labor
for the Grs and try to escape from the latter. Or
hence they will aim at power, if it can be had, and
shun servihlde, if it can be avoided. You may see
that all their schemes for selfaggrandiZement are
based on these propositions, which, indeed, are true
in the abstract but false in reality, as has been
shown in former numbers. Besides, almost every
day news arrives of the failure of Organization
based on such views. And If in our days there
should arise prophet proclaiming doctrines quite
the reverse of these, 4. e. that pain and suffering
were superior to pleasure; poverty more desirable
than riches to obey better than to rule; our pho-
sophers would at once proclaim the man insane,
and foretell his rejection by all rational men. Yet
they would be as certainly and as widely mistaken
as O. S. Murray in his calculations, to produce
more favorable social relations - for the man would
not only make proseytes, but would keep them, in
spite of adverse circumstances by the force OF red-
the truth contained in his doctrines. But if it can
be shown, that all the Organizations of Labor
which are in prosperous condition at this day,
are based on these truths, and all those who have
failed have done so for the want of them, what
objection will then be made to this assertion!
To exemplify what is said here, | shall make an
extract from my daybook, January, 1922, on jour
ney to Vncennes on the Wabash, for it was on this
Journey that saw Rapp's Community, or the Or
ganization of Religious Industry
For the first time enter higher mental sphere
The character which now appears Is an organizer
indeed, not of labor, but of laboring For the
first it would have been sufficient to create crcum
stances, ny WHICH,, dCCoFuiiiS W II. ONcH, ihcH
become what they are, good bad, wise or foolish
but for the second, it was necessary that motive
should be created for men to form these circum-
stances themselves Owen resembled, in some
measure, the Elohim Of the antedeluvians, who
prepared a paradise and took red men, from the
dust of the ground (from the uncultivated SOLD to
guard, to dress and to keep it. What wonder that
his Indians began with plundering the fruit trees,
instead of protecting them, and that they stripped
their fig trees of their leaves for aprons instead of
planting hemp and cotton for trousers Elohim,
however. soon perceived his mistake, and sent back
the savages to the ground from which they were
taken situation far better adapted to their cond-
had intended to raise them too soon; while Owen
still persists in his endeavor of creating better
circumstances, though sad experience might have
taught him that it was in the school of adversely
where they would learn to form these circumstances
for themselves A truth which Rapp had discov-
cred before he began to form his community. And
which it would be well for Reformers to consider
before they begin the Organization of Labor "
Ovens sentiments are we'll known" man is
creature of circumstances, he deserves neither
praise nor blame for his doings." What the cir
cumstances were, which directed the doings OF
New Harmony, my readers know. 1t blew up "A "A
few words may explain the circumstances pf va
Harmony. &C., said The worthy old Pahiar1cn ~
me, and see uhether you can find IN tts maole w.
lage soul that poid go to bed ao'th san or ." coz.
science" What that sin was my rsdders may suess
perhaps only superstitious pdIlonIpul ha AI1 ~
was hat notion which hpd formed, and heid TO-
gethsr, for SO many ysaf, ,.T .rs Rnsag.anpp VI
Labor Sa"isfAA' D'"SnAASA"'