XVIII. Literature of Fourierism

200 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. CHAPTER XVIII. LITERATURE OF FOURIERISM. THE exposition of Fourierism in this country com menced with the publication of the" Social Dest£ttyof Man," by Albert Brisbane, in 1840. It is very probable that the excitement propagated by this book, turned the thoughts of Dr. Channing and the Transcendentalists toward Association, and led to the Massachusetts ex periments which we have reported. Other influences prepared the way. Religious Liberalism and Anti slavery were revolutionizing the world of thought, and predisposing all lively Ininds to the boldest innovations. But it is evident that the positive 3cheme of recon structing society came from France through Brisbane. Brook Farm, Hopedale, the Northampton Community and the Skaneateles Comtnunity struck out, each on an independent theory of social architecture; but they all obeyed a common impulse; and that impulse, so far as it caIne by literature, is traceable to Brisbane's importa tion and translation of the writings of Charles Fourier.

The second notable movement, preparatory to the great Fourier revival of 1843, was the opening of the New York Tr£bune to the teachings of Brisbane and the Socialists. That paper was in its first volume, but already popular and ascending towards its zenith of LITERATURE OF FOURIER [SM. 201 rivalry with the Herald, when one morning in the spring of 1842, it appeared with the following caption at the top of one of its columns: "ASSOCIATION; OR, PRINCIPLES OF A TRUE ORGANI ZATION OF SOCIETY. "This colunln has been purchased by the Advocates of Association, in order to lay their principles before the public. Its editorship is entirely distinct from that of the Tribune." By this contrivance, which might be called a paper within a paper, Brisbane became the independent editor of a small daily, with all the Tribune's subscribers for his readers; and yet that journal could not be held re sponsible for his inculcations. It was known, however, that Horace Greeley, the editor-in-chief, was much in sympathy with Fourierism; so that Brisbane had the help of his popularity; though the stock-company of the Tribune was not implicated. Whether the Tribune lifted Fourierism or Fourierism lifted the Tribune, may be a matter of doubt; but we are inclined to think the paper had the best of the bargain; as it grew steadily afterward· to its present dimensions, and all the more merrily for the Herald's long peristence in calling it "our Fourierite cotemporary;" while Fonrierism, after a year or two of glory, waned and disappeared.

Brisbane edited his column with ability for more than a year. Our file (which is defective), extends froln March 28, 1842, to May 28, 1843. At first the socialistic articles appeared twice a week; after August 1842, three tiInes a week; and during the latter part of the series, every day. This was Brisbane's great opportunity, and he im202 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. proved it. All the popularities of Fourierisnl "Attractive Industry," Con1pound Economies," "De luocracyof Association," " Equilibrium of the Passions" -were set before the Tribune's vast public from day to day, with the art and zest of a young la"wyer pleading before a court already in his favor. Interspersed with these topics were notices of socialistic meetings, reports of Fourier festivals, toasts and speeches at celebrations of Fourier's birthday, and all the usual stimulants of a growing popular cause. The rich were enticed; the poor \vere encouraged; the laboring classes were aroused; objections were answered; prejudices were annihilated; scoffing papers were silenced; the religious foundations of Fourierism were triumphantly exhibited.

To show how gloriously things were going, it would be announced on one day that "Mr Bennett has prom ised us the insertion of an article in this day's Herald, in vindication of our doctrines;" on the next', that " The De1nocraticand Boston Quarterly Reviews, are publish ing a series of articles on the system from the pen of A. Brisbane;" on the next, that "we have obtained a large Hall~ seventy-seven feet deep by twenty-five feet wide, in Broadway, for the purpose of holding"meetings and delivering lectures." Perhaps the reader would like to see a specimen of Brisbane's expositions. The following is the substance of one of his articles in the Tribune, dated March, 1842; subject-" Means of n1aking a Practical Trial:" " Before answering the question, How can Association be realized? we will remark that we do not propose any sudden transformation of the present system of society, but only a regular and gradual substitution of a new LITERATURE OF FOURIERISM. 203 order by local changes or replacement. One Association must be started, and others \vill follow, without over throwing any true institutions in state or church, such as universal suffrage or religious worship.

"If a few rich could be interested in the subject, a . stock conlpany could be formed among them with a capital of four or five hundred thousand dollars, which would be sufficient. Their money would be safe: for the lands, edifices, flocks, &c., of the Association, would be mortgaged to secure it. The sum which is required to build a small railroad, a steamship, to start an insurance company or a bank, would establish an Association. Could not such a sum be raised? "A practical trial of Association might be made by appropriation from a State Legislature. Millions are now spent in constucting canals and railroads that scarcely pay for repairs. Would it endanger the con stitution, injure the cause of democracy, or shock the consciences of politicians, if a Legislature were to advance for an Association, half a million of dollars secured by mortgage on its lands and personal estate? We fear very much that it might, and therefore not much is to be hoped from that source.

"The truth of Association and attractive industry could also be proved by children. A little Association or an industrial or agricultural institution might be established with four hundred children from the ages of five to fifteen. Various lighter branches of agriculture and the mechanical arts, with little tools and imple Inents adapted to different ages, which are the delight of children, could be prosecuted These useful occupa tions could, if organized according to a system which we shall later explain, be rendered more pleasing and 2°4 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. attractive than are their plays at present. Such an Association would prove the possibility of attractive industry, and that children could support themselves by their o\vn labor, and obtain at the same time a superior industrial and scientific education. The Smithsonian bequest lTIight be applied to such a purpose, as could have been Girard's noble donation, which has been so shan1efully n1ismanaged.

" '[he lTIOst easy plan, perhaps, for starting an Association would be to induce four hundred persons to unite, and take each $ 1,000 worth of stock, which would forn1 a capital of $4°0,000. With this sum, an Association could be established, which could be made to guarantee to every person a comfortable room in it and board for life, as interest upon the investment of $ 1,000 ; so that whatever reverses might happen to those forming the Association, they would always be certain of having two great essentials of existence-a c1 welling to cover them, and a table at which to sit. Let us explain how this could be effected. "The stockholders would receive one-quarter of the total product or profits of the Association; or if they preferred, they would receive a fixed interest of eight per cent. At the time of a general division of profits at the end of the year, the stockholders would first receive their interest, and the balance would be paid over to those who performed the labor. A slight deviation would in this respect take place from the general law of '.Association, which is to give one-quarter of the profits to capital, whatever they may be; but additional inducements of security should be held out to those vvho organize the first Association.

"The investment of $1,000 would yield" 80 annual LITERATURE OF FOURIERISM. 2°5 interest. With this sum the Association must guarantee a person a dwelling and living; and this could be done. The edifice could be built for $ 150,000, the interest upon which, at 10 per cent., would be $ 15,000. Divide this sum by 400, which is the number of persons, and we have $37,50 per annUlTI, for each person as rent. Some of the apartments would consist of several rOOlns, and rent for $ 100, others for $ 90, others for $ 80, and so on in a descending ratio,so that about one-half of the rooms could be rented at $ 20 per annum. A person wishing to live at the cheapest rates would have, after paying his rent, $ 60 left. As the Association would raise all its fruit, grain, vegetables, cattle, &c., and as it would economize immensely in fuel, number of cooks, and. every thing else, it could furnish the cheapest priced board at 11> 60 per annum, the second at $ 100, and the third at $ 150. Thus a person who invested $.1 ,000 would be certain of a comfortable room and board for his fn terest, if he lived economically, and would have whatever he might produce by his labor in addition. He would live, besides, in an elegant edifice surrounded by beauti ful fields and gardens.

"If one-half of the persons taking stock did not wish to enter the Association at first, but to continue their business in the wo~ld, reserving the chance of so doing later, they could do so. Experienced and intelligent agriculturists and n1echanics would be found to take . their places; the buildings would be gradually enlarged, and those who remained out, could enter later as they wished. They would receive, however, in the 111ean time their interest in cash upon their capital. A family with two or three children could enter upon taking from $2,000 to $2,500 worth of stock.

206 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. "We have not space to enter into full details, but we can say that the advantages and economies of com bination and Association are so immense, that if four hundred persons would unite, with a capital of $ 1,000 each, they could establish an Association in which they could produce, by means of economical machinery and other facilities, four times as much by their labor as people do at present, and live far cheaper and better than they now can; or which, in age or in case of mis fortune, would always secure them a comfortable home. H There are multitudes of persons who could easily withdraw $.1,000 from their business and invest it in an establishment of this kind, and secure themselves against any reverses which may later overtake them. In our societies, with their constantly recurring revul sions and ruin, would they not be wise in so doing?" With this specimen, we trust the imagination of the reader will be able to make out an adequate picture of Brisbane's long work in the Tribune. That work immediately preceded the rush of Young ...t\merica into the Fourier experiments. He was beating the drunl from March 1842 till May 1843 ; and in the summer of ,43, Phalanxes by the dozeri were on the march for the new world of 'wealth and harmony.

On the fifth of October 1843, Brisbane entered upon his third advance-movement by establishing in New York City, an independent paper called THE PHALANX, devoted to the doctrines of Fourier, and edited by him self and Osborne Macdaniel. It professed to be a monthly, but was published irregularly the latter part of its time. The volume we have consists of twenty-three numbers, the first of which is dated October 5, 1843, LITERATURE OF FOURIERISM. 207 and the last May 28, 1845. In the first number Brisbane gives the following condensed staten1ent of practical experiments then existing or contelnplated, which may be considered the results of his previous labors, and especially of his fourteen months re'lJeille in the Tribune: "In Massachusetts, already' there are three small Associations, viz., the Roxbury Community near Boston, founded by the Rev. George Ripley; the Hopedale Com munity, founded by the Rev. Adin Ballou; and the Northampton I Community, founded by Prof Adam and others. These Associations, or Communities, as they are called, differ in many respects from the system of Fourier, but they accept some of his fundamental prac tical principles, such as joint-stock property in real and movable estate, unity of interests, and united domestic arrangements, instead of living in separate houses with separate interests. None of them have comlnunity of property. They have been founded within the last three years, and two of them at least, under the inspiration of Fourier's doctrine.

" In the state of New York, there are two established on a larger scale than those in Massachusetts: the Jefferson County Industrial Association, at Watertown, founded by A. M. Watson, Esq.; and another in Herkimer and Hamilton Counties (on the line), called the Moorhouse Union, and founded by Mr. Moor house. A larger Association, to be called the Ontario Phalanx, is now organizing at Rochester. Monroe County. H In Pennsylvania there are several: the principal one is the Sylvania in Pike County, which has been formed 208 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. by warm friends of the cause from the C1tles of New York and Albany; Thon1as W. Whitley, President, and Horace Greeley, Treasurer. In the sa·me county there. is another small Association, called the Social Unity, formed principally of mechanics from New York and Brooklyn. There is a large Association of Germans in McKean County, Pennsylvania, commenced by the Rev. George Ginal of Philadelphia. They ovvn a very extensive tract of land, over 3°,000 acres we are in formed, and are progressing prosperously: the shares, which were originally $100, have been sold and are now held at $200 or more. At Pittsburg steps are taking to establish another.

"A small Association has been con1menced in Bureau County, Illinois, and preparations are making to estab lish another in Lagrange County, Indiana, which will probably be done this fall, upon quite an extensive scale, 'as many of the most influential and worthy inhabitants of that section are deeply interested in the cause. "In Michigan the doctrine has spread quite widely. An excellent little. paper called The Future, devoted exclusively to the cause, published monthly, has been established at Ann Arbor, where an Association is projected to be called the Washtenaw Phalanx. "In New Jersey an r\ssociation, projected upon a larger scale than any yet started, has just been com menced in Monmouth County: it is to be called the North f\merican Phalanx, and has been undertaken by a cOlnpany of enterprising gentlenlen of the city of Albany. " Quite a large nunlber of practical trials are talked of in various sections of the United States, and it is probable that in the course of the next year, numbers LITERATURE OF FOURIERISM. 2°9 will spring into existence. These trials are upon so small a scale, and are conunenced with such limited 11leans, that they exhibit but a few of the features of the systenl. 1'hey are, however, very important commence 11lents,and are snlall beginnings of a reform in some of the most important arrangenlents of the present social order; particularly its system of isolated households or separate fanlilies, its conflicts of interest, and its uncom bined and incoherent systenl of labor."

The Inost important result of Brisbane's eighteen month's labor in the Phalanx was the conversion of Brook Farnl to Fourierisnl. Willianl H. Channing's nlagazine, the Present, which conlnlenced nearly at the same time with the Phalanx, closed its career at the end of seven months, and its subscription list was transferred to Brisbane. In the course of a year after this, Brook Fann confessed Fourierism, changed its constitution, assumed the title of the Brook Farm Pllalanx, and on the 14th of June 1845 cOlnmenced publishing the Har binger, as the successor of the Phalanx and the heir of its subscription list. So that Brisbane's fourth advance was the transfer of the literary responsibilities of his cause to Brook Farm. This was a great move. A nl0re brilliant attorney could not have been found. The concentrated genius of Unitarianism and Transcend entalism was at Brook Farm. It was the school that trained most of the writers who have created the news paper and magazine literature of the present time.

Their work on the Harbinger was their first drill. F ourierism was their first case in court. The Harbinger was published weekly, and extended to seven and a half semi-annual volumes, five of which were edited and printed at Brook Farm, and the last two and a half at 210 AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. New York, but by Brook Farm men. Its issues at Brook Farm extend from June 14, 1845 to October 30, 1847; and at New York from November 6, 1847 to February 10, 1849. The Phalanx and Harbinger together cover a period of more than five years. Other periodicals of a more provincial character, and of course a great variety of books and pamphlets, were among the issues of the Fourier movement; but the main vertebrce of its literature were the publications of which we have given account-Brisbane's Social Destiny of Man, his daily column in the Triburte, the monthly Phalanx, and the weekly Harbinger.