The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-30

The Origin, Progrcss, Decline and Fall ofthe
North AmoriDan Phalanx-Mccttng OF the
acknowledgements, Plans, SO.

North American Phnlanx-Mcetfng OF the
Fouricrites-specches, Plans, Sc.
Our readers will remember the accounts published In
the HxRALD soms two years sinse relative to certain
extraordinary Fourierte community in New Jersey,
known as the N,rth American Phalanx, where from
eighty TO hundred persons Of both sexes lived together
In sort of happy family arrangement eating out Of
the same trough and living In the one cage. At the
time the articles rfsrrad TO pubshsd the phAanx
was progressing finely Its financial pros
porous, and Its future prospects everything that could
DO desired II regarded with great favor
by the socialists throughout the country IL the
only organization they had started that seemed at like
y to succeed But since that time owing doubtless to
vice inherent in the very nature of all sociastc esta
blishments, the phslsnx has got into peck trouble
and there Is eve, to believe that II viii
be numbered ams,g tho things that were To prevent
40 terrible catastrophe, the Fourerites have deter
mined 10 hold series Of meetings In this city, the
second of which of last night at No 556 Broad.
way. During the evening" the speakers made very
pointed illusions 70 certain well known socialists in this
city, who they said had great faith Fouriersm but
who did not manifest II in works. In the shane Of hard
cash, for the cause.
When the meeting called to order last night there
about sevey ave persons present but the speak
proved stupid that the audience SOON thinned out
and at the close there not than a bakers
being held, and the meeting much disturbed BY the
shontnss and other unspirtuh demonstrations pro-
The meeting was opened by Mr. TAPpAs Towssxyp.
who stated that he had been asked lay statement
before the meeting. This movement TO devise ways
and means to help the North American phaianx In the
existing difficulties. With view to proper understand
ing Of the matter Mr. Sears Of the phanI would make
some remarks The movement he (the speaker) consd.
cred success, and the practicabily OF families living
together in harmony in untary family was estab-
lsAed. There was one way, 1t was thought by which
fha atianc ha arot a.
goods by wholesale and giving phalanx stock in
exchange. This would give them the means OF making
large establishment and ful1l the original idea OF the
assocaons TO have at least 600 persons In the one
phalAnx. Another idea was that agents should 20
around the city and persuade persons conducting small
trades and occupations 10 live at the phaanx do
business there Then, BY inducing young farmers to
join doubt quite good association could be formed
permanent organization in this city 70 help them along
and to forward the cause Of the association generally.
Mr.. CHAs. srrs ons Of the officers OF the Phalanx,
was next introduced He said the North American
lbalapx had never yet made public statement, and
the friends Of the movement thought II advisabs for
gsnizns the Phsianx that they were taking too many
steps ahead Of the spirit of the age They lacked
rsnce Of everything in the begnnng of the enterprise,
and they felt that the evils which afflicted their
eston has .oved some q the proSsms hitherto $ nsp
sousd By s ps. hsa BEEN sa
suggestedthatw was that those who wish live sepa-
ratey may do 70 without conflicting with tho associative
principle.
Mr. Sears tn n made the following statement Of the
condition OF th- Phslanxs-
citation In 1S43, and commenced operations their pre-
sent domain the year. The land (673 acres had
been exhausted tenant husbaodr 50 the so had TO
be created but the Of doing thsy existed upon
the place. In the beds OF mari aud muck-more espe.
cally the former there abundant OF perpetual
fertility The labor, however, OF converting out
estate into rtiip and aourlshng to the sxtsnt
,iyuy accoms -, has been very severe. beransa 70
lacked naeIns, sn the WORK has faen principally upon
few. During the earlier years OF existancs the
returns for labor very gcanty indeed In year
the average earnings exclusive OF board was a. low
present standard, taking agriculture the basis Is
ninety cents per day Of ten hours, rom which
expenses and for two three years proceeding the
we have made profit OF Gfteen TO twenty per cent
upon this rate We commenced operations With a
subscription Of less than eight thousand doars and
property including all claims ed TO over ons
hundred thousand dollars AT the close OF the last fiscal
Jear Most OF the land s now in good condition and
there are seventy OF ourishing orchards OF
rous kinds Of marketable fruit the Of which are
mostly In bearing. The land s free from stone, and
easily TILED. Comfortable dwellings are erected com
binpg many advantages, shops and ou,buIaings have
been added TO considerable extent AMI there good
facilities OF access 70 market In the organization Of
labor we met the greatest deulty not In the
OF the undertaking, but In the character OF the people,
We were without experience in the conduct OF social In.
sttuons OF the Kind and with people edncated under
other forms Of Institution with various degrees OF In
dustrih disciplne and In many almost dis.
pne ata may be inferred that all degrees Of disor
der would prevail for years, and many would be dsap
pointed in results become tired Of the struggle and
leave. some would improve the opportunity thus onor
ed Tor Inlnhterpg specially 70 private aims; and all
would be more or lass tried especially the orderly and
proyident and loyal II seems demonstrated beyond
doubt, thatthe Industrious and msthoic and prudent
can combine their efforts and conduct industry joint
account with all the advantages claimed In favor OF
combined effort but the marvel il that fsw compe-
tent people are found ready 70 unite 10 such
efforts. About one.sixth Of those who make
the trial remain and become members. The
competent, successful people generally unsil-
ling tke the risk Of cnaDge and instead Of such un
40
greatly needed and fairly within their capacity TO ns
tu'e the tendency has been ecty the ani the
maiconents the feeble and incompetent tho,e feeling
the need p.ronany Of socia providence have grayi.
tated toward the institutions that proposed any form
Of guaranty Critics, also, there have besn no lack o.
and those having private aims 70 subssrve there has
been lack Of but Of constructive, compesnt loyal
people there have been too few; consequently the effort
To establish combined induitry has not been In any
adequate fairly tried. In the organization of do
mestic labor have bad excellent In this de-
partment conditions were not much against We
had greater numbers qualified 70 conduet ndn.,ry aud
greater number OF pursuits adapted 70 the capacities
Of our population. Our domestic and social lfs have
been very satfactory very much above the
average life OF any mixed population and 90 long
found our general property increasing not-iihsAnd
and Notwithstanding that some of IA vita large
families failed 10 the whole cost OF living
20 long as there was general prosperity AMI tn,
prospect Of permanency In our institution there
vas general satisfaction. We had outliyrd several
party schemes Of dissolutien or dverting the tnst
to feel a. Though We bad pssss through ihs ppco.I
struggles and might consider the question Of psrrna
determined. In the midst ~ quite general Aet
witty ard seeming prosperity visited By
lamitous IRE, destroying property which ossd for,
increasing debt rather greatly diminishing
sources Of payment VI industry and of and
find ourselves with population Of eighty or ninety
members, not more than half Of whom nnd prohtabls
employment, because agriculture and domestic labor
are our main Industrial resourcos and but small pro.
portios competsnt 10 work prosaby At sEeulture
through The year. and all cannot md employment IN 10
nestle labor. Our floating and hK-d debt IA too large
u ne or ms of and 0uf
proportion Of producers felt 10 b. relatively TOO
large 10 after having worried her. long Without ais
quats personal gain and fading ourselves loaded with
burdens beyond our capacity TO carry, and having
received the emeent cooperation requisite 10 sustain
our indusrss ve are dshs TINED and psrbaps the only
MEASURE that ue could upon Houf bs 70 elos@
present. interests AMI rsofganHs enough shAl ush n
90 80. within means, and with prohibition against
ineurng debt, sseh mobilization q the cona tons
nf nhArnhlln n "A al aI.a