certain rules agreed upon by the various associations, and embodied in the shape of a law. There will be no occasion for lawyers and judges, as there will be no disputes about private property; and as to those persons who may break the peace, or commit improper acts, they will be dealt with as persons partially or wholly bereft of their senses, and in their treatment the great object will be their reformation and restoration to society.

The elected officers of the associations will regulate all the affairs of the community. The members of the association will live together in large and convenient dwellings, and will take their meals together.

As to the marital relation, no absolute right in one human being to the person of another will be recognised, but the husband and wife will be authorized to separate whenever incompatibility of temper, or any other circumstance, may in the estimation of the community, and according to its laws, render a dissolution of the contract desirable.* Promiscuous intercourse will be of far less frequent occurrence than it is under the present system of society; indeed there is every reason to believe that amongst such a refined and intellectual people as the community system will bring into existence, there will be but few breaches of modesty or morals. Sound precept, and the force of good example amongst such a people will be efficacious; and it is to be especially borne in mind that there will be no poor to be tempted, no rich and high-born to tempt, and there will be no intoxicating drinks.

If it be objected that marriages would, under such circumstances, be too frequently dissolved, we answer that we do not believe such would be the case. All marriages will be under such a system of society, entered into from proper motives, unmixed with sordid and mercenary objects. It will be the usage to abide by the contract of marriage. The society, looking to the preservation of its comfort and happiness, will inculcate this as a duty-the youth will be educated to regard this rule as of vital importance; and we have no doubt that in such a highly

* By the law of Ohio, divorces may be granted for the following causes :

"1. Where either of the parties had a former wife or husband living at the time of solemnising the second marriage.

"2. When either of the parties shall have been wilfully absent from the other three years.

"3. Adultery.

4. Impotency.

5. Extreme cruelty.

"6. Fraudulent contract.

"7. Gross neglect of duty.

"8. Habitual drunkenness for three years."

9. Where either party is convicted of certain grave offences, provided the application for divorce is made during the imprisonment.

Similar laws exist in the other States. After the decree of divorce, both parties may marry again. The decree is easily obtained by poor as well as rich, the expenses being very trifling, and the proceedings prompt and simple. In a very refined state of society, when the children of the divorced parties are under the care and superintendence of the association, divorces may with great propriety be permitted for causes which, under the existing sytem of society, could not with due regard to public policy be held sufficient.

polished community all its rules will be more implicitly followed than the laws, usages, customs, or fashions of the old system of society.

VIII.

It is objected that men and women will not exert themselves except for the sake of amusement, or for the purpose of acquiring the means of enjoyment; that, consequently, the members of the association will not labour, seeing that no personal advantage is to be derived from it. It is argued that each man will desire to reap the fruits of the labour of the other members of the association, without working himself.

To this we reply that the examples of the various associations before referred to, and which have been in existence for the last twenty years, is sufficient to refute this theory. But let us for the sake of the argument, disregard the experiments already tried, and examine the question irrespective of that experience. All the members of the association must know that their individual and collective welfare depends on their industry. Hence rules for the regulation of that industry will be formed by the society. It will not be left for each individual to work or not, as he pleases, nor to begin and leave off when he likes. Each member of the community will have his allotted task, and that will be an easy and a pleasant one, according to his or her age, strength, taste, and capacity: the employment will be varied from time to time so as to avoid monotony.

These restraints are nothing as compared with those which ninetenths of the human race now endure; the professional man, the tradesman, the artisan, and labourer, are all under a variety of restraints, and compelled to labour more than would be necessary in association, besides having to submit to insults and indignities. In association, there will be no servants, no persons situated like the common soldiers and sailors of the present day, and all would have more leisure, more social enjoyments, more amusements, and more true liberty than can possibly be had under the competitive system.

Very little labour, with the aid of skill and improved machinery, would suffice to furnish the community with all the comforts and luxuries of life. Even under the present system, every day adds to the facility of raising food, and manufacturing articles of use and ornament; but, under the community system, the whole mass of the people being intelligent, with abundant leisure to study, with ample means to try experiments, and no motives for the concealment of a discovery, there will be a hundred inventions and improvements where there is one now, and mankind will be elevated to a height of civilisation and refinement beyond all existing anticipations. The finest palaces of the present age will be insignificant in comparison with the mansions of the associations. Means will be discovered for rendering all occupations inoffensive, and no labour will be deemed mean and servile; all must labour on a footing of perfect

equality; the less pleasant kinds of work must be performed by the members in rotation, or those who perform it must be compensated by the shortness of the period of labour, or by being allowed advantages in some other way.

IX.

Man is so constituted as to derive health and enjoyment from moderate labour; and we fully believe that even the fortunate few-the pampered aristocracy would be much healthier and happier in an association than under the present system, devoured as they are with ennui, and filled with envy, discontent, and anxiety for the future welfare of their families. A thousand means of amusement will be afforded in the associations which are wanting under the present system. It has been said, by persons utterly ignorant of the matter, that there would be disputes at the table, all desiring the best joints and the best viands of every description. Such persons can never have seen a large party at a public table. No such disputes arise at the tables of the great hotels and boarding-houses of the United States.

As to clothing; each person will be supplied with materials of a certain value, selecting whatever kind he may please, so that there will be no monotony of dress. The health of the people under this system will be greatly improved: no diseases will be engendered by confinement, foul air, unwholesome labour, intoxication, or sexual intercourse. Early marriages will be prevented, and the human race will become greatly improved in strength and beauty, and will go on improving from age to age. Ample means of counteracting the evil effects of the climate, when too hot or too cold, will be invented; dwelling-houses will be properly warmed or cooled, as may be required: and moreover the climate itself may be changed by the gigantic exertions of associated industry, as forests will be reclaimed, marshes drained, and plains planted with trees. The means of locomotion will be vastly improved. Railroads, on an immense scale, will be formed, with corresponding engines and carriages. Migrations of entire associations from north to south in winter, and from south to north in summer, will be common, as well as holiday visits at all times of the year by those members who choose to work overtime for the sake of such holidays. Every association will receive such visitors with hospitality, and dismiss them with kindness.

As to commerce with distant foreign countries, there can be but little, if any, necessity for it. If there be any such commerce, it can be conducted by the members of the various associations who prefer an adventurous life; and of this class a sufficient number could easily be found especially among the younger and unmarried members.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY (concluded.)

I. Detailed Exposition of the State of Society to be introduced by the Co-operative System-Extension of Family Affection from the Family to the AssociationCo-operation the State of Society, which the feelings of Man, as a noble and refined being, points to-Insufficiency of the mere inculcation of the Principles of Justice and Morality.

II. Relative Position of the Association and the individual Member-The latter insured by the former-Benefits of a Co-operative State of Society describedEconomy of Co-operation.

III. Polished and Graceful Manners of persons living in a state of CommunityRemoval of Ignorance and Prejudice-Want of Social Pleasure under the present system-Great Opportunity for its Enjoyment in Associations.

IV. Objection that this System of Society is novel-Restraints in Association compared with the want of true Liberty under the present System.

V. Objection that there would be Quarrels, Contentions, and Party Feeling-Far greater prevalence of these under the present System-Objections that there would be Dulness, Uniformity of Character, and Monotony.

VI. Labour: Moderate Labour a Blessing-Evils of Excessive Labour-Real objects of Human Life-Exemption of Children from Labour.

VII. Amusements in the Community-Leisure and Opportunity for Amusements— Necessity for Recreation-Want of the same under the present System of Society.

VIII. An eloquent and impassioned Description of the state of Society to be enjoyed in Social Communities at some future period.

IX. How the Final Social Revolution will be effected-How prevented under the old French Republic-Why the Example has not yet been set by the New World-Democracy the only road to a true Social System-Necessity of a state of Preparation for that System.

X. Objection to Social Equality, that Men of Genius ought not to be placed on the same footing as other persons-Neglect of Men of Genius under the present System-Love of Approbation; its Sufficiency as a Stimulus in AssociationsAbstract Justice of treating all the Members on a footing of perfect equality. XI. Remarks on the Ordinary Defence of the present System of Society-The undeniable Evils of that System-Opposition of the Wealthy Classes and their Dupes to any other System-Character of the Protestant Established Church -Probability that the Catholic Church will first receive the Truth-Probability that France will be the first European State to adopt a new System of Society.

XII. Table representing the Course of Democracy in the Fulfilment of its Great Mission.

I.

A more detailed exposition of the state of society to be introduced by the co-operative system-the system of kindness and mutual assistance -is due to the vast importance of the subject. The followin geloquent

description of that system is extracted from various French and English works of celebrity:

Family affection ought to extend itself from private to public life— from the family to the world. Man should see a brother in every human being, and rejoice in every opportunity of doing him good. Man was evidently intended to be brought to this lovely state by nature, and by a just and good Providence. Man was never intended to live by the misery or ruin of his neighbour, but by his prosperity and happiness. In support of this proposition, the authority of scripture is appealed to"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God. But whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him! My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and truth." St. John.

The general principle from which all our social duties are derived is the golden rule of doing unto others as you would they should do unto you, the truth of which precept reason demonstrates to every man, for all men are born equal: the same nature is inherent in all; they enjoy the same faculties, want mutual assistance; they are all formed by the same Deity, and they are destined to the same end; are all born with the same reason, have a right to the same education; they pass through the same periods of life, and cease to exist in the same manner. It is therefore necessary that they should be united in one common bond of fraternal charity, as if members of the same family; that they should mutually assist each other in their necessities, and that they should live happily together.

But all co-operation as it has yet existed has had a mercenary base. Our physical, political, mercenary necessity has united us; but where have we seen the moral cement, sympathy, hold us together, when these necessities have been weakened or have failed? In savage life, men have congregated into tribes for the perpetration of mutual bloodshed; in civilised life, they have convened into classes for the conservation of peculiar interests. The moral influence of co-operation has hitherto been seen only in conspiracies of masses of men; we have never yet seen co-operation acting from a principle of moral sympathy, which would induce universal justice; for none with that sentiment would deny to another the right he desired for himself, or do another a wrong which he deprecated for himself. It is only under this principle of sympathy, the effluence of love and justice, that co-operation can act universally.

The more we embody ourselves and our happiness with the interests of others, the more in reality we consult our own happiness. Who would think it worth his while to prepare a meal, where that meal is to be taken by himself only? Emulation, mutual inducement, love of art, ambition, enthusiasm, are all sacrificed, and these are the passions