The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-09


may be exposed in hostile and almost impreg-
nable territory, are questions that time only
can solve. The conditions of military success
have besides been so much altered by the intro
duction of the electric telegraph and railroads,
and by numberless scientific improvements in
the machinery OF destruction, that it is difficult
to speculate with anything like certainty on the
eventualities of war carried on with the aid
of these new and untried auxiliaries.
| Socialism In the United Statcs-Its History,
Progress and Present Condition.
| Something like twenty five years ago. Robert
! Owen and his son, Robert Dale Owen with
Fanny Wright, q female lecturer and the ante
type of the strong minded women of the pre-
sent day, came to this country from England,
bringing with them the doctrine of English So
cialism. This doctrine was based upon the
destruction of the rights Of Individual property
and of the institution Of marriage, and taught
that the true condition of society was commu-
nifty of property and promiscuous intercourse Of
the sexes. Fanny Wright made tour of the
country, delivering lectures proclaiming these
doctrines wherever she could, and Robert Dale
Owen established papers, called the Free En-
qui,er, and the Sentinel, in which the same
ideas were advocated by himself, and several
other writer's of the same school, with great
boldness and no little ability. They never dis
guised the full extent of their theory, but
struck straight out at the institutions Of socie.
ty, sneered at religion, and ridicued unmerci-
fully the belief in an over-ruling Providence.
hn ~ ,nr~u
The people OF the United States scarcely hon
ored them or their lunatic absurdities with a
single regard Owen, the father, returned in dis
gust to England; Fanny Wright took husband,
and gave up lecturing Robert Dale Owen went
to Indiana, where he turned politician, started
an ultra democratic paper, and was finally
elected to Congress, and was recently appointed
by General Pierce American Minister to Ma
pies. Thus the small ripple of socialism in
America subsidized, and the broad stream of our
country's life went on.
Some years later, however,-about twelve
years ago-anothcr emigration of socialism to
the United States took place But this time it
came from France and Germany, piloted hither
by some Americans who had become disciples
was called Fourierism, or Association: and, TAX
ing warning by the fate of their English pre-
decessors, its apostles now assumed mask of
religion and morality appealed to the Chris
tian feeling, especially Of New England, by
pretending great zeal for temperance, anti
slavery, and other moral reforms, and care
fully conformed to the outward obscrvances of
religion. Communities, entitled phalanyes,
were commenced in several parts of the conn
try, and newspaper. (the 7ridune,) just then
about being established by disciple Of Four
ierism, was made the public and avowed organ
OF the new doctrines, aad q certain portion OF
it, editorial department was daily set apart for
their calculation.
This was done, however very cautiously
and adroitly All the most repulsive and
revolving features of these doctrines-such az
the abolition of marriage. the establishment
of promiscuous intercourse, the denial Of a
God, and the destruction Of the rights of pro-
perty--were carefully kept ont of view, both in
the Tribune, and by the other advocates of
Fourierism. The Tribune kept continually
harping on the wrongs Of labor, the expressions
of the poor, and holding out the most dazzling
prospects to the laboripg classes under the sys-
tenn Of Fourierisu-at the came time advocat.
ing with exaggerated zeal, the cause Of tenn
perance, abolitionism, and other movements
appealing to the religious prejudices Of the COM
munity. In this way, while being really devo-
ted to the PRONUNCIATION OF doctrine which
struck at the foundation of Christianity, denied
Christ, and laughed at every requisition o
morality, it extended its patronage and in1u-f
ence among clergymen and the religious portion
Of the community who could not disown an un-
firing champion of their favorite reforms, and
either could not or would not see the real
character Of Fouricrism, which was the Tri-
6uncs own especial doctrine.
The other advocates Of Fourier.m, however,
were not all of them go discreet as the I'ri-
6nne, and the true character of the doctrine
began to leak out. One after another the
phalauxcs broke up either from starva-
ton or the gross immortality of the members
and the leading disciples aud advocates OF the
new creed returned to New York, where they
were quartered upon the Tribune, in The
character Of assistant editors and contributors,
the whole concern itself being cut up into
shares and divided among them something
after the Fouricrstc doctrine of distribution of
properly
Ofcours the united labors Of such a gang Of
atheists and infdels could not be without con-
sequences. All the Disconnected dreamers in
the country, male and female, gathered around
the Tribune; and to it may be traced oil the
isms which have strutted their brief hour upon