Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-10-06
Socialism.

the subject.
 We remember to have read an account of the community of Lanark, in Scotland, and of the result of the experiment. In that case, each family had it's seperate cottage and the marriage tie was strictly regarded. In fact, the socialists proper have never advocated the licentious doc Urine of community of women. Their object was to form society, wherein, by divlSion ol labor. the same number of persons could do more. For instance, in twenty families, num- bering one hundred persons, by having two or three to cook, two or three to sew, and the other necessary labors performed by one or two for all. it is obvious that the greater number could work in the field or factory. common fund was made for the support of the sick and aged, but each family was kept united.
 In the old countries, where constant labor was required to enable the man to live, any scheme that gave the iaborer more time to labor in was benefit. In our country 1t Is unneces- sary There is no need for socialism here ex- cept that the servitude of the negro may be called socialism. The society of Shakers, is an illustration of socialism, and whatever we may think of their religious tenets, We must accord to them the praise for morality and honestly Such kind Of socialism is perhaps not objection able only so far as is useless, for in the great west few hours labor in each day would suffice 10 procure food. Hence the reason for the fail ures of these communities that have started in the United States There was no outward pres sure, no spur of necessity to keep them together. So far as we have examined the subject we look upon it as futile, not adapted to our country and simply impracticable.
 Others taking the doctrines of Fourier, and other French philosophers have carried them out into various isms. Not only have they ad- vocated communism of property, but of per sons and have promulgated the most agrarian and disgusting views. For such as these, whether they call themselves free-lovers, re- formers, communists, or what uot, all decent persons can have but one opinion. A settle ment of such set or society, would not, we hope, be permitted in our State. Among those who took up the socialistic doctrines in this country were Albert Brisbane, Horace Greedy and other noted aboltionists, who attempted to make it secondary to their Gavorite doctrne.- The nothern socialists, generally, are also aboli- tionists, and hence the unpopularty of the doc trine at the south. Buttbat socialism necessa- rily includes abolitionism does not follow. At all events such associations are not neces- sary here, and tho la titude these so-caled re- formers take, their hatred of all conservatism. and dislike Of existing forms and institutions would not make them desirable citizens of slave holding State. We took occasion to say | heretofore, when it was announced that sters were being taken to form socialistic commuitv in this State, thatif they came here to interfere with existing institutions, our opinion was that they would find the climate would disagree with them However, if they are not disposed to interfere with the subject of slavery or to ad- vance such dious doctrines as free-loye or an abroga,on of the marriage tie, but simply to as- sociate together for agricultural or mechanical purposes, we could not well object to their con- ing, though, even ill that case, they would be looked upon with suspicion. Our State, so far. has been free from all forms of fanaticism and we hope she will keep so. We are glad to see the proposed movement of the socialists has attract ed attention and led to the discussion 1t has. l. will make the people prepared to watch the new corners. Inasmuch as what we have here tofore written on this subject has been msun- derstood or misrepresented, we take this occa- sion to say that We shall be among the first to resist the introduction of any set of free-lovers. communists or avowed abotionsts in our ID idst. And if these socialists as sect. or as individuals, shall be found to be abolitionists, We appreLend that they will find Arkansas too warm to hold them.
 We suhjoin au article from a work on slavery. in connection with socialism. We do rot CO., incide with all the writer's views on the sub
 ect, but the argument he u.es is a forc.ble one and worth peFusal: The assoc'ateE 7qJo,'' docty1ne of Me socialsfs
 true-Jm defcjert u t.e main agency, loltch
 s1aUery only can supply.
 The socialists of Europe and of the northern States of this Union, (there are hone existing in olr southern States,) of every sect, and how ever differing on other points, have all advocat ed the association of lt5oT in some form or other as the great means for reforming the evils of society arising from starving competition for labor. The founders and preachers of socialism had all observed and earnestly appreciated these evils. They saw that, in advanced society. labor was the slave of capital, and that the more capital was enriched by the employment oi labor, the less Was acquired and retained by the individual laborers, and the more their wants and suferings were increased They also saw and correctly, that, there was great loss of time aud labor in the domestic ope- rations of every poor family, and most in the poorest families and also that the productive labors of all, if associated, and thus aiding each other, might be made much more productiye.- And if by laborers being associated in laroe numbers and directed by their combined knowl- edge to the most profitable purposes and ends, all unI ecessary waste Gas occurs in isolated Carni lies) was prevented, and all the actual efforts of labor utilized-the net profits and economy of such associated labor would be much increased and thus, the lab rers might secure and retain a sufficient subsistence, out of the larger share of the profits of their labors which now goes to the share of employees and capitalists. Their views and doctrines are true m the main and are altogether so plausible. and so applicable 10 the wretched condition of labor in the most ad vanced conditions of society in Europe, that the teachers have found numerous believers and jealous disciples Sardry associations have been originated in Europe, and established in America, Gas a new country only offered the needed faclities,) to carry ont, in different modes, the great object of associating and com biaing labor, for the common and general profit and benefit. But every such attempt has met with signal, and also speedy, failure; except a few, of religious associations, which were under the guidance and direction of single despotic head. In all other cases no matter how beneyo. lent and intelligent the leaders-and though one hour of labor, in each day, in this cheap and fertile country, would yield more food than ff- teen hours labor in Europe--stil these associa- tions soon failed in their every aim and pur- pose, and were severally broken up as soon as