Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-10-28

have anticipated in this direction. So far from
the representations of the political economists
as to the universal level of MISERY being accom-
plished, it is proved practically that The miseries
Of poverty are purely artificial. For five mon hs
l lived with my family at public table spread
with necessaries, and even many luxuries, supe-
oil to those enjoyed by the average of the middle
classes in England, at yet and prices within the
means of the mechanic, and even of the agricul-
tural labourer. Moreover, the spacious and even
elegant dining hall of the association was, many
I a time during the winter months, converted into
a ball and assembly-room, where, at cost with
in the means of the poorest, entertainments were,
enjoyed, such as in real, significant beauty,
have seldom seen surpassed.
I The followers of Charles Fourier, who are in
/ this country very numerous, seem to be chiefly
. Of two cIasses-those who regard the failure of
. this attempt and It's forty defunct predecessors
as owing 10 their material poverty, and those
who attribute it to the inherent vices of the or
ganizaIion. Facts are entirely the side Of the
latter. Both regard the assumption of the name
Of Phalanstery" by this little association with
feelings akin to Indignation, and certainly not
without reason for the general course of life at
the North American Phalanstery Is a able
caricatre of the fary-lilie conceptions of the
nlaericlist Fow,isrites while the more rational
social Ieforrncrs may well be iT1itatcd the pub
lie odiurn brought reform in general by the
absurditics and inconsistencies practised in It's
name.
The intelligent portion of social reforrncrs are
nearly all looking in the direction of . Modern
Times" The identity of this movement with
the Phalmstery of Charles Fourier, in the most
essential principles, is beginning TO be recognised
by the most advanced social reformers here. The
essential conditions of associative industry, as
conceived Of by Fourier, either exist or may be
reasonably expected to grow up spontaneously. /
in the . Equitable Village" The organization of
domestic industry, and the various economics
which constitute the very staple of The previous
rcformatory attempts, will here be based on their
natural--perhaps only possible-foundation
while, in regard TO the social relations this move
ment has advantages which must inevitably give /
it the predomnance over ell narrower schemes |
The fact is, that in this country ii is just here
where the rsal difficulty lies. In the United I
States, generally ,labour is well paid-abundantIy
paid. Although l have never visited the South /
ern States, am we'll satisfied that even mclu-
ding them, there is no country in the world where
the men and women whoactually do the hard work /
Of society receive for their own consumption so |
large an amount of its produce. And, further. I
in no country in the world do :hosc into whose
hands society commits the charge ofits vast mas
ses Of accumulated wealth, employ those masses
more for the general welfare and progress of hu- /
manity. They are satisfied with that which ex-
lists they will not hear ofany other. From time
to time efIecting practical ameliorations, many
of which contain too the germs of grand ulteri- t
or developements, they feel themselves already |
the most highly fayourcd people in the world and |
fatter themselves, not without good reason, that
they cannot better serve humanity than by seiz- |
ing every occasion for extending the area over /
which floats proudly the banner of the stars ard
stripes-emblem of freedom, industry and plen- /
y.
The field, then ofindustral organization, is al |
most closed against the reformcr. But turn your
glance towards social relations, and the picture
will be very different. This is inrcaty the dark
side of American life. I have been here now over
two years, and [ know strangers cannot pene-
trate so far. l do not hesitate TO say that no.
where in the world is there widespread domcs-
tic unhappness as here in the United States of
America, especially among the more wealthy
classes. True judge mainly from what know
Of the great cities, not being Acquainted ,,crson-
ally with the country r the .reat States of the
West The more general symptoms, however,
are Nc. confined to any locality. The Won en- S
Rights Conventions are attended as well in Ohio
as in any Eastern States. And they not the
only symptom sPirit-rapPing itselfis, am well
assured from what have seen, indicative of So
cia disease especially in relation to the domestic
circle.
Social reforms, then, which limit themselves
to industrial organization, and studiously ignore
the existence of thedeepest and most wide spread
social disease and the social want thereby indi
Gated, may we'll be failures. They have been,
they are, they will be. 1t is upon this rock that
the North American Phalanstery has split; the
same will shatter the Raritan Bay Union, with
all its business-like management and practical
talents The Modern Times Reform alone at
tempts 10 grapple with this master difficulty,
and it does it in the way at-once manly and phi
losopFical-of boldly guaranteeing to woman her
natural right and highest duty, that of supreme
sovereignty in her own legitimate domain-that
s~of the affections.
\ want of profound sincerity is, / believe, the
essential cause of these associationist failures
Commencing by an attempted eXpurgation of the
Immoral portions of FouTiers doctrines, the move
ment only drew upon itself double suspicion :;
the imagination supplied the latrGaSidted portions
of Fourier's works while the attempt at conceal
ment became an inefaceable Impeachment both
unon the manliness and integrity of the entire
cause. The incipient vice propagated itself thro'
II ~ ,rbSoouaot stages. and the most striking