New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-22
VICTOR CONsIDERANT.

VICTOR CONSIDERANT.
The following notice, which we translate
from the AHgemeine Zsitung of this City, pre-
sents an interesting sketch of the position and
labors of that distinguished leader of the Asso-
ciatve School, who is now on visit to the
United States:
The overthrow Of the St simonian School at Paris,
was the point is well known, from which the preva
'lence of Fourierism commenced. With the failure Of
its external success, the whole Of the ST. Simonian
School came to an end both what true in it and
what was false The person, who was the first, and
that ter period of nearly twenty years, to take
lively interest in the ideas of CHARLES FOURIER was
Jusr MuIRoY, who in the year 1914 attempted to ap-
ply them to the " Communal Compton" He was sin
cere ond devoted but did not possess the qualities to
promu gate and defend the system Of society. 1t
could no. succeed unless q found, combining
profound conviction with ardent ZEAL and the gitt OF
eloquence demanded by ideas in order to secure
the attention of the public to the question proposed
Such aman was VIcroR CoNsIDERANr His education
in the Polytechnic School had accustomed him not
merely 10 follow rigid calculation but to appropriate
its results actual truths the demonstration in figures
for Fouriers of the subyerion Of the pres
ent social institutions regards the total production
was not 10 be set aside.
1t was then but single step TO the idea Of Agr
cultural Association, leading the practical side OF
Fourier's theory Considerant convinced; he
formed personal relations with Fourier himself; ideas
were exchanged; and the chief points OF the school,
then in its infancy, were established Alter JULES
LEcuEvAIrrR NOW an exile in London) and ABEL
TnANsoN were brought into the School the former
lecturng upon its principles in Paris and the other pro-
A. atrolf IN
Metz where he delivered a course the theory of
Fourier. and subsequently became of the most
tive contributors TO the Phaansere Rorne Ialastr
eHc, which appeared at the beginning OF 1892.
After the failure of practical experiment at the
time of which RHYBAUD said There silence
corning Charles Fourier the chief Of the later Asoca-
tive School took bis stand with fresh energy the head
Of affairs collected the-scattered remains, and opened
new epoch for the doctrine. Victor Consderant re.
turned to Paris. Young bold, a feryent and impusiye
speaker he could not persuade himself that the
which he had embraced ard protested as the faith Of
his whole life was doomed to 60 down soon, and
with little effect He went TO work and wrote the
book from which the revival Of the Social School is
dated, tic DeiRe S0eiGe EXPOSITION Eemea,qire COM
pe de Ia Tkeore Sociaire In this he first of all takes
hold of the present condition of Society showing that
the peTversion OF its institutions the cause OF all
misery and that there no hope Of solving the pres
CIT problem but in q total transformation of Society
This work contains Fourers theory in cornprehensi.
bic shape but surrounded and fact penetrated BY an
acute and powerful criticism OF the whole social indus
trial and political condition Of France Consderant
thus started the Social School anew and from him
dates the progressive importance Of Fourierism
On the llth of Dec, 1885, he delivered before the
congress Hhtonque his celebrated lecture on the
True position OF Fourersmin pect TO the Religious
and Philosophica Convictions Of the Time" which be
Afterwards cent forth from the press, and which, at
tina, time, caused much sensation. The Gazette de
France and the UEirrs attacked it with extreme yio
lenee The discussion pervaded by the spirit of
progress, without being absolutely tied down 10 the
dogmas Of Fourers School This direction has ALWAYS
maintained by Considerant and /, il this which been
gained an always Increasing number of adherents from
among the best youthful ntelects to the hgher and
more abstract portions ofsocal science Entering upon
this held II contains germ, which though still az
distance from lie true development is alone able 10
secure its future.
NOT less important Is the second side, which the
social School prevents in relation 70 the times Bv
the hevoiuiisn OF July not merely the political
condition. but also the political conscousne,s os ,ha
French people was thrown into confusion on all .des
Each man followed only himself claiming the liberty
70 enforce his convictions by every variety of method
Thus arose the secret unions of Republicans and
Communists amidst the public relations of the
ever changing struggle of parties which were
soon turned into factions yag with each other for the
possession Of power. Nowhere was peace. nowhere
securiy-he most important interests were neglected
for questions Of party-the welfare of the country wa.
VIGOROUSLY turned into game Disturbances arose at
several points as at Psr, Lyons, Muhhsusen. Then
tne PUBIC sentiment gradually began to react against
nese mercy political movements and to become weary
% 'ne feope no longer wanted Revolution, and adj.
ufeseeu themselves to other problems The idea of
n'A.A ~e,.fe emerged from the back ground pre-.
senns lis claims in opposition to political
But those who took up this direction were in wan. ~
an organ, Possessing an independent life and reure.
sentative Of material necessities among the new n,r,;s.
demanding Republic, Legitimacy, Constitution and