The New York herald., 1850-01-28
soci~lrsm .t Home ana Abroad.

pulC anu NlVlu style, udceu Tie pIogIess Vi So-
calism, and shown how near 1t came to bathing
all France in blood, and upsetting the whole struc-
ture of society
This unprncipled party attempted to overwhelm
the new republic, and produce general massacre
of good citizens and it was only by the most un-
sleeping vigilance and dauntless heroism of Lamar
tine and Cavaignac, and other true friends OF liberty,
that France was saved from the most frghtful
scenes of bio ood and disorder. There have always
been crack-braned philosophers, novellsts and
poets, in every part of the world, but France has
abounded with them. The revolution of 1889
changed the state Of society; and the long period
of peace which followed the downfall of Napoleon,
was characterized by greater intellectual activity
In every part of Europe, than had ever been known
before since the period of the revival of letters in
the fifteenth century. Paris, under Louis PHI
lippe's reign, became the most brilliant and fire.
quented capital of Europe, and literary clubs and
coteres, without number, assembled nightly In
that metropolis, where statesmen, bankers, am
bassadors, philosophers, novelists, poets, and ex
qusite ders, of all descriptions, gathered to while
away the tedious hours, and enliven them by wit,
satire, and enchantment. France has never been
considered remarkably moral country, and Paris
has always been considered the centre of luxury
and vice. 1t has always been distinguished for
the licentiousness of its manners and opinlons;
and since the time that Dumas, Eugene Sue, Paul
de Kock and Madame George Sand held their
first coteries, and made them brilliant with their
bon nots, and afterwards struck off into fashion
able novels the substance of the conversations of
French drawing rooms and literary societies, the
poison began to be difiused through Paris, and the
off her tba hafc Df
conversation throughout France. In many of their
writings the grossest immortality was carefully ella
borated into system, and boldly defended. Those
ideas which men had formerly entertained about
the.sacredness of the married relation gave place to
the most abandoned and rotten lcentiousness.
The next doctrine proclaimed was the one which
prevailed in Rome, under the name of agrarian-
ism, and which had been, at subsequent Pc
RODS, occasionally revived by philosophers Some
of the most celebrated winters in France began to
promulgate the principle, that there was no such
thing, in justice, as rights of property that the
labor OF a mans own hands was no more his than
his neiehbors that, by the act Of marriage, he
acquired no right to the exclusive possession of
his own wife; tnat all associations and organiza-
tions of men, ior the prosecution Of business
war spon society; that it was the duty Of the
government, If any should exist at all, to make all
it's citizens or subjects happy and prosperous, and
that the criminal code should be utterly abolished,
and no restraints fixed to the usts the appetites,
the passions, or even the villany of men.
These villanous and disorganizing principles
were very widely difiused through Fraace, and
infected the mind Of large portion of the people.
The consequences have been far more fatal than
even yet appear. They were difused to great
extent over Europe. Founerism and Socialism
for they are the same thing showed themselves In
Germany, at the very period the cause of lndepen-
dence was being gained there, and powerful con-
federation was about to be established, which
would have erected bulwark of republicanism IN
the centre of Europe. All good men IN Europe be-
came alarmed. Anarchy, confusion, chaos, and
blood seemed TO open in the future A reaction
suddenly took place and men pre- ferred to return
to the ancient state of things, where, at all events
however intolcrable the burdens of despotism
might be- they did secure order in society, rather
than TO risk the terrible consequences Of the riot
Gus reign of RIGHTEOUSNESS on the continent. The
ffightul principles Of Fourierism were the main
arguments which despouss laid hold Of to save
is-lf in the hour of danger. Millions Of men who
had been ione,og for the emancipa,iea of Europe,
for the destruction Of Its thrones. and the estab
hshment Of well administered and stable republics,
suddenly relaxed their exertons and the recoil
soon annhilaed the hopes al the friends OF liberty.
and gave to iyrants another lease Of the liberation
Of mankind. 1t was perfectly natural tina, this
should be the result for the cemmonest reader OF
history can trace, on every page sf il, this great
Lesson. namely that men will choose protection, If
i, comes even with the most n,olerable despotisms
81. r.. ohta a.J
disorder in society. After all, mans home is his
most sacred place, and his family his dearest ,rea-
cure. For several months there was not we'll
ordered, quiet, respectable family in Paris, that did
not feel the most painful apprehension, when they
barred their doors and went to their beds The
recoil in France was so rapid, from the warmes,
and most enthusiastic republican feeling, that the
ardent friends Of well ordered republic submitted
with scarce a murmgr 10 the usurped dcspo,ism Of
Nspolson. There s now in France less liberty
than there has been for many years The form Of
the republic lasts, and the love Of republicansm is
still deeIly imbcdded in the French character but
there can be no doubt that, so great is the ap2re-
hensIon Of the consequences of socialism upon
society, al riPhi-minded men are afraid Of any
charge, for fear those terrible punciples should
gain the ascendant.
There If something more practical IN all this
than some Of our readers may imagine. We our
selves, IN this country. have been for many years
slowly imbbng the French poison; and, under
The guse Of a pure morality, and puritanic cry Of
reform, the Nuc York Tribune has been gradually
sarplrg the morals Of considerable portion Of the
communiiy. For many years 1t has unblushingly
and continually advocated the worst doctrines of
Fourierism; and that school now numbers no In
considerable portion of our population. il has its
its preachers, iis poets its orators,
Is propagaiors and it's disciples, IN every part Of
be nation. There is scarcely village IN New
England. or in any Of the Northern States, with
out ats little Madame George sand blue stock
NJ, hardly out Of her teens, learnedly discuss.
NJ the great problem Of living without labor
where the re is not some small Paul de kock.
listening with delight to her dissertations, and
lurking like the devil in the garden of Eden.