In the language of the time the Farmers were Socialists, but the
Socialism of 1840-50 was a very different proposition from the
Socialism of to-day. The earlier socialists were not in politics. They
had no party, politically speaking, and took only a remote and indirect
interest in political affairs. What they wanted was to reform the
world; to reconstruct civilization on a scientific basis. That was what
President Lincoln was wont to call a big job. However, faith will move
mountains, and the socialists certainly had faith. Their purpose was
far reaching, to be sure, but, after all, it rested on a very simple
basis. Reduced to a syllogism it might be stated as follows: Major
premise: Every human being desires happiness. Minor premise: Socialism
provides for the happiness of every human being. Conclusion:
Demonstrate this truth and every human being will become a socialist.
Q. E. D.
The socialists were at first called Fourierites but this rather long
title very soon gave place to the more convenient word here used. The
science of right living was evolved by Charles Fourier, a French savant
who gave his life to humanitarian studies. His fundamental concept was
that the Creator and Ruler of the Universe instituted one law; one
edict of the Divine Will, one all-inclusive order, regulating and
controlling everything that is. This is the Law of the series. The
stars in their courses move in the serial order, and the leaves
clothing the trees obey the same cosmic code. Fourier’s first axiom
was: The series distribute the Harmonies. That is to say, the operation
of the Law of the series brings about harmonious results. The stars
traverse serenely their proper orbits, influencing each other in a
perfect balance of harmonious relations. The leaves burgeon on the
branches in the serial order that gives to each its share of sun and
rain. Human society to reach its highest development must come into
harmonious relations with the stars, with the leaves, with everything
that exists in the universe, under the Divine Law of the series. To
this end society must be reconstructed in the order of the series.
_Organization of Labor_
Labor is the prime factor of human affairs. By Labor the race is to
subdue the earth that the earth may be our heritage. This is the first
command with a promise given in the Bible. To fulfill the Divine
purpose Labor must be brought under the Divine Law, the Law of the
series.
Disorganized Labor cannot subdue the earth, hampered as it is by waste,
by loss, by repulsive and dangerous tasks, by fruitless toil, by class
hostilities, by warring communities, by the monopoly of gains, and by
the thousand penalties incurred by disorderly opposition to Law.
The Organization of Labor will evolve Attractive Industries; Harmonious
Communities, and will ensure the Equitable Distribution of Gains and
the protection afforded by Mutual Guarantees.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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