History of American SocialismsNoyes, John Humphrey
History
History of American Socialisms
Noyes, John Humphrey
Communism -- United States; Socialism -- United States
"A new society has been organized, which has bought at auction,
and very low, the domain with all its improvements. We, the new
society, purpose to work on the following foundation: Our object
is to try the system of Fourier, so far as it is in our power,
with our limited means, etc."
[From a letter in the _Harbinger_, July 15, 1848.]
"With respect to our little society here, we wish at present to
say only that it is going on with alacrity and great hopes of
success. We are prepared for a few additional members with the
requisite qualifications; but we do not think it expedient to do
or say much to induce any body to come on until we see how we
shall fare through what is called the sickly season. To the
present date, however, we may sum up our condition in these
three words: We are healthy, busy and happy."
This is the last we find about the new organization. So we
conclude it soon passed away. As it is best to hear all sides,
we will conclude this account with some extracts from a
grumbling letter, which we find among Macdonald's manuscripts.
[Account by a Malcontent.]
"A great portion of the land was swampy, so much so that it
could not be cultivated. It laid low, and had a creek running
through it, which at times overflowed, and caused a great deal
of sickness to the inhabitants of the place. The disease was
mostly fever and ague; and this was so bad, that three-fourths
of the people, both old and young, were shaking with it for
months together. Through the public prints, persons favorable to
the Association were invited to join, which had the effect of
drawing many of the usual mixed characters from various parts of
the country. Some came with the idea that they could live in
idleness at the expense of the purchasers of the estate, and
these ideas they practically carried out; whilst others came
with good hearts for the cause. There were one or two designing
persons, who came with no other intent than to push themselves
into situations in which they could impose upon their fellow
members; and this, to a certain extent, they succeeded in doing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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