History of American SocialismsNoyes, John Humphrey
History
History of American Socialisms
Noyes, John Humphrey
Communism -- United States; Socialism -- United States
"We are in the enjoyment of an excellent state of health, owing
in part to our healthy location, and in part to the diet and
regimen of our members. There is a prevailing tendency here to
abandon the use of animal food; it has been slowly, but steadily
increasing for some time, and has been aided some by those
excellent and interesting articles from the pen of Dr. Lazarus
on 'Cannibalism.' When we have to resort to any medical
treatment, hydropathy is the system, and the _Water-cure
Journal_ very good authority. Our society will soon evince
symptoms of two conditions of Associative life, viz.: physical
health and material wealth. By wealth I do not mean burdensome
property, but an ample supply of the necessaries of life, which
is real wealth.
"I fully believe that nine out of ten organizations and attempts
at Association would finally succeed, even with small means and
few members, if they would adhere strictly to the following
conditions:
"First, keep free from debt, and live within their means;
Second, not attempt too much in the commencement.
"Great changes require a slow movement. All pioneers should
remember to be constructive, and not merely destructive; not to
tear down faster than they can substitute something better.
Every failure of Association which has come to my knowledge, has
been in consequence of disregarding these conditions; they have
all been in debt, and depended on stock subscriptions to relieve
them; and they have attempted too much. Having, in most cases,
torn down the isolated household and family altar (or table),
before they had even science enough to draft a plan of a
Phalanstery or describe a unitary household, they seemed in some
cases to imagine that the true social science, when once
discovered, would furnish them, like the lamp of Aladdin, with
all things wished for. They have awakened from their dreams; and
now is the time for practical attempts, to start with, first,
the joint-stock property, the large farm or township, the common
home and joint property of all the members; second, cooperative
labor and the equitable distribution of products, the large
fields, large pastures, large gardens, large dairies, large
fruit orchards, etc., with their mills, mechanic shops, stores,
common wash-houses, bake-houses, baths, libraries, lectures,
cabinets, etc.; third, educational organization, including all,
both children and adults, and through that the adoption of the
serial law, organization of groups and series; (at this point
labor, without reference to the pay, will begin to be
attractive;) fourth, the Phalansterian order, unitary living. As
this is the greatest step, it requires the most time, most
capital, and most mental preparation, especially for persons
accustomed to country life. In most cases many years will be
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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