Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-02-28
THE ICARIAN COMMUNITY AT NAUvoo.


A memorial is now before the Illinois LcgisIa,
ture for the repeal of the act incor porating this
body. A correspondent Of the st. Louis Repub
iicaa, gives as follows not only the rise and pro.
gress, but the decline and fall of this Icarian com.
muuity:
This Society was founded at Nauvoo in 1910, hy
one Citizen Caiet," for Tie purpose of realizing
his social and political system. 1t was to create a
better state of society, in which there was to be
no more poverty, misery. vices nor abuses. All
were to live a life OF peace and harmony.-There
was to be no more antagonism nor rivalry, Its
material object was to clear the lands and cultivate
them, to construct habitations, to put into oper.
alton all useful arts, to civilize and render fruit
full the wilderness. Its fundamental principle
was the fraternity of men and people - the con.
sequences aimed at, unity, equality and solidarity.
Contrary to the Foarierite, or free love doctrine,
the lcarians were strict in their regulations with
regard to marriage. They exacted the greatest
regard for the gentler sex, and the utmost purity
in the connubial relation. Each family had a
separate household. The community were to work
III common and enjoy together the fruits of their
hibor. All mon to be equal, none having any
~pfivilege las such,) and none possessing, indi.
vidually, any fortune. The political organiza.
tion was to be essentially democratic and repub-
lican.
Their bylaws required the Icarians to be indus.
triOus, temperate, cheerful, economical, cleanly
orderly, obedient to law, free from moral and
physical vices, and to make fraternity and com.
munism their religion.
Such was the beautiful theory that in iuced
some twelve hundred souls to leave their homes
in France and form a colony in the United States,
for the purpose of making the experiment OF
its practicability. | said beautiful theory, for ]
doubt if any refined mind can withhold the
application of that to a system apparently SC
devoid of evils and yet a system Utopian and
ethereal,
Enthusiastic to contribute to what they deemed
the welfare of mankind, the Icarians placed their
money and property, all they possessed, together
with their happiness and that Of their women and
children, into the common stock of the community,
But, after seven years of experience, after innu.
mera6le sacrifices and priyations on the part OF
nearly all, the experiment as practiced Mt Nauyoc
has thus far proved a failure, and the colony has
dwindled down to four Or five hundred members
In this family Of brothers, disseusion., ill,feelinp
and hatred arose. On the Sd Of February, 1856
the Society found itself divided into two almost
equal parties upon questions of internal govern
ment. An amicable separation was proposed b,
the minority, but it was not listened to. The
powers of the elected officers were usurped. and
the Colony was declared Ia be in a state of revo
luton. A meeting was called, which lasted from
eight O'Clock in the evening till six o'clock in the
afternoon of the following day. The Gerance Ion
executive ofieers) refused to give up possession
OF their ohcesi anu lhen came open rebellion
The majority party crowded in the streets resolut,
to install their chosen members by force. The two
factions met in a state Of unusual excitement
armed with guns, pistols aud knives scenes O
violence and disorder ensued, the majority IRVING
to force their way through doors and windows,ant
the minority repulsing them.
Al another time doors were broken in with axes
and a melee took place in which men and women
were wounded. Anxiety and alarm prevailed
throughout the community, as throughout The
city. In the constant fear of. attack or surnrise
both parties had established regular night guards
and more than once the Mayor and pulli.
officers were requested to interfere for preserving
quiet.
These descriptions, alterations and enmities con.
tinue to exist to a greater or less extent, and the
memorial now before the Legislature asks the re-
peal of the law Incorporating the community. that
the petitioners may withdraw their quota of stock,
amounting together to about S40,00G. A bill for
that purpose has been printed, | understand, and
will probably pass, if in tho mass Of business il
can be reached.
Thus is added another evidence Of the impracti.
cability of socialistic organizations. If society as
at present formed is based on selfshness, indiyid,
ualism and inequalities, the world is not prepared