On this page

• Text (4)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • Untitled
  • 

    TRIAL-VILLE AND ITS ORIGINATORS. In the ...

  • 

    MISS SE1I-ON" AND THE BISHOP. Dn. PmiiPO...

  • 

    DKVIMiKD PIOS. Thisrb aro a number of Fi...

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    What. Shall Be Done With The Crystal Pal...

    inquire into the cost ¦ -aad . applicability _ of the gSbitioa BuUding ^ i » de . Paifc jieadedhy Sevmour / ' of Ann Hicks notoriety , decide that it had better come down . Lord John Manners tells us that the Government will not interfere . Parliament is engaged in eleGtipneering . ^ Prince Albert is , at least , indifferent ; The . Commissioners " take evidence" m solemn sittings—the evidence is against them—they pervert it in order that they may conclude against it . Vainly do MJr . Cole , Sir Joseph Paxton , and the contractors , attempt to ' . extort a response from the pablic . Hostf likely Mayr which saw the opening of the Exhibition , will behold the demolition of the ll T ?_ w ; v »; + ir » Ti "RnilrliTify . "

    This is a result which does not surprise us . All vivacity and activity in the public have been systematically cried down , laughed at , and discountenanced . And , as an inevitable consequence , indifferentism prevails everywhere . "Why the men who want to get up a public excitement on this question are among the chiefs of that school who discourage public , and above all , decry political agitation . They are ornate

    utilitarians who believe in social improvement as opposed to political reform .- They altogether abstain from ' politics ; as if politics were nob the life of a people . Consequently , having duly dosed the public with the narcotics of quietism , they have no right td be surprised vrhen , in the hour of distress , the public sleeps on heedless of their cries for help . Those who sow neutrality reap iadifferentism . And it is just .

    Ar01504

    Trial-Ville And Its Originators. In The ...

    TRIAL-VILLE AND ITS ORIGINATORS . In the article , a " ISTew Solution of the Social Problem , " published in a recent impression , the writer alluded to " Trial-ville , " the modesinaine under whichthe ^ Equitable Tillage" system , is being tried . An English gentleman , residing in America , has visited " Modern Times , " a name which this village seems also to bear , and has favoured me with a few particulars concerning the personal views of Messrs . Warren and Andrews , and the manner in which " Trial-ville '' was commenced , which may be interesting to the

    English reader . The letter now emoted is dated so far back as last ISFovember . By this time a fuller account could no doubt be rendered ^ but the facts deserve publicity , as-no personal iiifortnation upon the subject has yet appeared in this country . The reader will note the instructive passage on the angularity of the equitable doctrinaires . The excess of practicality which indisposes them to reason with the world is an amusing feature . It is a mistake to assume that , because Euclid lays down problems of magnitude which command conviction , that persons who lay down problems of morals which do not command conviction , are under no necessity to argue with the public . If the premises of morals were truisms , like the

    premises of mathematics , dissent would be impossible with all who understood the premises . But where difference of opinion does arise , the want of explanation , is evident , and a " practical" man should see this . Every objector is not worthy of notice—every , caviller need not be answered . Some people can never see the target of an argument at all ; and others who do see it are never al ) lo to hit it with a fact . The dense , tlio incapable , tho undisciplined reasonor ( s may be paaMod by ; but ho who means to advance a jiiat cause will wait upon mankind with all strong iacts and judicious arguments , winning their conviction . To refuse to reason with the multitude is to abandon reformation to passive submission and utopianism—to tho dreamer and the sliivo . Ton .

    WiriTiiAManTjnan , Nhw xobic , , " November 21 , 1861 . 1 / . ? BAU Xoxr , —It Booms to mo not unworthy of roftrk , t " «¦ horosy among social reformers should linyo . ff ff u P simultaneously on both sides of tho Atlantic , JU'oudhqn and Andrews alike discard association , nlika proclaim anarch y ; but Andrews , moro intelligibly to ^ limioiiw , proclaims it as tho sovereignty of tho in ' diviar * » ia Androws alono horo : a small party of think-« rH > ot whom . Honrv James and Dr . Curtis mav ho c .

    nnail ? « chiof ) umt 0 wifck llim » teaching tho dootrino wiiu tlio individual is ahovo tlio institution . Society is for A ~~ u . ° ; mftnforBOOi [ ot y-In ,. "' I 10 " feature of " equitable commerce , " by which n , r * An ( lr ° ws designates tlio reform he advocates , is / y . . p . xo"ango of labour for labour and independence of » metallic currency as tho medium . Horo tho reform wikos an ominontly practical shape , and its fundamental nn \ *? ftro di 8 cuflsod wholly in relation to practical l'wanonw , as might bo oxpooted in this country , where a

    profound investigation of fundamental princi p les would be too apt to be regarded as barren speculation . Henry James ia the true philosopher ; but then it is the more spiritual view of the question with which he is concerned . With him it is not " man as a sovereign , but man . as God ; that is the object of study . His ideas , when fairly before the public , may excite that spedes of-demonstration which greeted the remarkable ' ¦ * ¦ Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation . ' , , The doctrine of individuality is a principal and pervading element of the new " science of society . " The circle of principles' includes , besides this of individuality , and the soverei gnty of the individual ( two separate principles ) , those of " cost the limit of price , " a circulating memium based directly upon labour ( that which is practically

    adopted being " the labour note" ) , and a scientific adaptation of supply to demand . But so far as the organization of labour and immediate social ameliorati on are concerned , the cost principle , the labour note , and two other princi * pies treated by Andrews as mere consequences of the first of these , viz ., the abolition of all secrets and mysteries in trade , and the throwing open of all employments to all , are the most important contributions of this new ' science of society'to the cause of social reform . One of the first institutions in an equitable town is the " college , " —at first , exclusively industrial . By a judicious centralization , the cost of workshop-room , tools , and materials , would be ereatlv diminished , while the learners

    would have additional advantages in findinga market for their produce . I must here observe , that Warren ' s idea of education i s , that it should be , in the first instance , industrial—exclusively industrial . But , like the doctrine of individuality and the sovereignty of the individual , " equitable education" has mysteries fteyond me . ^ Mr . Warren is a singularly angular man . Unless his ideas are instantly received— -just as stated—as absolute and unquestionable truth , he is astonished at the stupidity of mankind , and their incapacity to comprehend " self-evident facts . " The idea of ( discussion with a view to eliciting the truth , is to him an absurdity . If one differs from him ^ -or cannot go all the way with him—or feels doubt as to some points , it is useless to discuss with him ; he tells JiJ * ——

    y \ JlX VMX \ J V ( jrV UiiAOACllUO ± O *• L / XVVJ . V * »» ' » vw-. » . « v - j- — . - ~ — your individuality , and you having no demand for the truth he has to supply , we have only to go our several ways in peace . Even Andrews refuses argument .. It is " science , " he says , which he has to teach , no more to-be discussed than a proposition in JEuclid . If you do x admit the conclusions , you do " not understand the premises . Even he sometimes tells you , as a final and conclusive reply to all questions— ' ' If you don't seje it so , well , you have no demand for the reform we have to supply , and so we agree to differ and part company . " Now , to some extent it must be conceded they are right in taking this attitude , when we think of the instances hero of the density of people—and sensible people , too—on thia subject . The long habit—centuries and centuries old

    potonco , the product of the false commercial principleitself so seemingly true and right—that " a thing is worth what it will fetch , " and that " a thing ought to fetch what it is worth , " all tend to blind the eyes , and render a correct comprehension of the first principles of " equitable commerce" absolutely impossible to large numbers of people . Tho practical operations in founding an equitable village vary , of course , with every " individual" case . But the means required are simple enough in a country like this , where land—new land , can be had so cheaply . At Modern Times -the first operation was to apply to some landowners , and obtain from them a binding legal document ,

    compelling them within a certain period to sell a certain tract of land in acre lots at a fixed price ( and a pretty good one , too !) to such persons as were named by Mr . Andrews , and the first three or four " actual settlers . " Some ninety acres were then surveyed and mapped out into streets and avenues—all the "blocks / ' as wo call them in this country , being just alike , having an avonuo on tho north , another on the south ; a street on tho east , and another on tho wost , with a lane running through tho middle from north to south—i . e ., from avenue to avenue . Each block contains four acres—each aero is a lot ; and Mr . Androws professes to sell no moro than threo lots to

    any one person . The noxt proceeding was for a house to bo erected by one purchaser , which was forthwith lot by him " at cost ' to some friends of his , young men employed to build it . Shortly after this first houso was begun , Mr . Warren went down and built a house , subsequently sold " at cost " —i . e ., money for what cost monoy ( 120 dollars , I boliovo ) , and " labour for labour . " Tho purchasor is a good practical mechanic , a smith and boiler-maker ; but , l ike moat Yankees , able to turn his hand to anything , and , in particular , is a woli-skillod house-carpenter . As soon as this second houso was habitable ( tho first had boon

    occupied from tho day tho roof was on , and had boon complotod at loisuro afterwards ) , Mr . Warron began his " collogo , " nowcomplotcd sufliciontly for occupation ;¦—a square brick building , thirty-two feot oach way , containing two otories and attics ; tho ground-floor being ocoupiod as work-ahops ( a smithy and carpenter ' s Bhop ) and a store . Tho upper part are dwellings— already in part occupied . Tho exceedingly small coBt of tho materials required for building a house at Modern Timos is partly owing to an invention of Mr . Warren ' s for making sun-burnt bricks out of moro gravel and limo . Mr . Warron has also other mechanical inventions , from wliioh ho has very great

    oxpootations . ¦ . ' ™ « ' Tho first Bottlers in our equitable town must all bo mon having somo moans of subsistence indopondont of thoso operations . They must havo somo trade or occupation that can bo pursued at tho now settlement , tho market for their produce existing olsewhoro . Tho first practical stop in tho actual carrying out of tho reform will bo , probably , tho opening of the store . Tho goods being sold at cost will be an indueomont to all tho neighbours to coma and doal there . But tho rule of tho equitable store is " monoy for

    what costs money , " labour for labour . Every customer must , therefore , have some industry or occupation for which the storekeeper has , directly or indn * e * tly , adem « pd , to exchange against the storekeeper ' s time and labour i »" purchasing , storing , and dealing out his goods . y The storekeeper will tajce the labour notes of-sum parties as he can trust ; the rest must , by some means or other , obtain his . . " ¦ t ' Just so far as a demand" is thus created at the new settlement , other industries can be established . A tailor , forinstonce , a shoemaker , still more a smith and a _ carpenter , would find in any agricultural district a considerable demand for his services . And , as far as he is able , he dispenses with money as the payment for his services j

    and this ability depends , of course , on the amount of agricultural produce , furnishing the means of subsistence , which flows through the store into the new town . Whatever is produced by the labour only of thesettlers , i s exchangeable against l abour only . That which costs the storekeeper labour notes only , is purchaseable front him for labour notes only . So that there is thus created what they call " an equitable circle , " which they say will continually increase , until ultimately a money currency will cease altogether to be necessary , and " equitable commerce" shall reign alone . the cost

    It seems plain enough to me that , taking principle , the labour note , the emancipation of labour from all shackles of monopoly as the groundwork , a much more efficient organization for the rapid development of the Reform might be devised . But this Warren and Andrews will not listen to . They don ' t expect nor wish for rapid progress . Their whole circle of principles must be carried out in their integrity ; and so nervously anxious is Warren about the strictest adherence to the Individuality doctrine , that for fear of some possible Joint interest , or remote resemblance to association , he will seldom admit

    even of concerted action . When the public shall be thoroughly imbued with the doctrine of "Cash as the limit of price , " and the abolit ion of metallic currency , association will assuredly become unnecessary ; but , meantime , it ; has unquestionably a great work to perform . And an organization for the systematic carrying out of this Reform , might do in a year or two more than disjointed effort will do in ten . But whatever value there may be in the ideas upon which " Equitable Commerce" is based , I confidently anticipate considerable modifications from the present form of the movement as the result of European criticism , especially as the fanaticism of the leaders here renders discussion on this side of the Atlantic impossible . Still , I believe these doctrines , one and all , do constitute ( subject

    to those modifications ) the solution of the Social problem . They alone show how the most complete co-operation , unsurpassed b y that of any Icarian Communist Republic , can be obtained without infringement on the most absolute freedom of each individual . They alone show how the exactions of Capital—interest , rents , profits , and land monopoly , too—may be got r id of ; tho masses being able , through this reform , gradually , yet inevitably and quietly , to step out from under the present system , l eaving national debts , aristocracies , and all other feudal and commercial night-mares , behind . No Social Reform ever presented so many inducements to its immediate practical execution ; for none were ever so easy to set about , none ever interfered so little with private interests , none were ever so pliable and capable of modification to meet all manner of circumstances ; for in ft word , none wore ever so near the truth . Very sincerely yours , Henbt Epgbk .

    Miss Se1i-On" And The Bishop. Dn. Pmiipo...

    MISS SE 1 I-ON" AND THE BISHOP . Dn . PmiiPOTTS has published a lottor , announcing that he withdraws from his post as Visitor to tho Sisters of Mercy at Povonport . Tho occasion has been furnished by Mr . Spurroll ; but that person gains nothing in the process—ho rather loses . Dr . Philpotts alleges a discrepancy between tho rules and tho fulfilment of thoso rules in tho institution over which Miss Sellon prosidos . Ho pointedly instances tho practice respecting property . In tho rules submitted to him , it was laid down , that a eistor retiring took with hor tho property she brought to tho common fund ; in practico tho property is rotained by tho

    community . Wo think tho Bishop has acted rightly . Not to let ; Mr . Spurroll escape , ho severely condemns tho conduct of that person , and oven publishes a comploto refutation of tho ohargothat confession is enforced in Miss Sollon ' s school . Wo fool bound to say , that tho reasons alleged by tho Bishop of Exotor for his withdrawal , do , to a certain extent , confirm tho chargo of Romanizing brought against Miss Sollon ; but at tho Bamo timo wo aro as far as ever from believing in tho imputation put forward by Mr . Spurroll , that Miss Sollon is wilfully and with malice aforethought working to pavo tho way for tho introduction of tho Roman-catholic religion .

    Dkvimikd Pios. Thisrb Aro A Number Of Fi...

    DKVIMiKD PIOS . Thisrb aro a number of Finnish fanatics in Norwegian Jjaplancl who havo lately adopted tho practico of conjuring tho Dovil into a Young Pig , and then boiling tho diabolieod animal alive . It is presumed that thoy thereby hoped effectually to settle his Satanic Majesty . Tho Bishop was very much shocked , and tried persuasion without effect ; in foot , ho ran considorablo danger of being scalded , for , it is said , thoy threatened to diaboliBO tho Bishop , and boil him alive .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 27, 1852, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27031852/page/15/