| 1000 deeds, we are something curious to know what is doing in Germany, or rather what is thinking there. What verdict does the Civilization of this nineteenth century, with its Pauperism, its Commercial Feudalization and its false Democracies, receive from those weariless abstractionists, as most of our German friends are?-Under what forms does the New World, of which no simple-hearted man is now without some presentiment, dawn upon them? Which of the present commands of humanity are they receiving and laying to heart?
We have long been aware that the doctrines of Universal Unity was not without zealous apostles in Germany. Good books upon various branches of social science have been published, and some of the most respectable journals have given their testimony to the weight of the facts and arguments of which the Associative school makes use. We have too abundant rumors that Communism,-the most natural of intellectual reactions,-finds numerous adherents and even occasions alarm to the authorities.
For some months we have had lying in our portfolio, more exact intelligence as to some of these matters, waiting to be presented to our readers. We presume that though thus in fact not new, it will not be without interest to them. It is extracted from that excellent journal, the "Deutsche Schnellpost," of New York.
It seems that not far from the first of last November, the king of Prussia took the lead in the formation of a "Central Society for the benefit of the lower classes," For this society and for the Berlin philanthropists generally, the correspondent of the Schnellpost has no reverence whatever. He says their benevolence is no better than hypocrisy and Protestant Jesuitism.
A meeting was held at Cologne on the 10th of November for the formation of an auxiliary society. Here the influence which presided at Berlin was subordinate, and at the first stage of the proceedings a warm discussion arose as to the name of the Society. The words "lower classes" were rejected. The Society was called the "Union for mutual aid and improvement." In its rules the tendency of Society to ascend into the next stage beyond civilization-called guaranteeism, appears in a striking manner.
For the improvement of the material condition of its members, the Union contemplates,-1. Arrangements for diminishing the effects of misfortunes by means of funds for mutual aid, hospitals, &c. 2. Arrangements to ensure food and homes to those who are temporally without labor. 3. Provisions for mediation between laborers and employers. 4. Arrangements by which the individual can attain independence, such as Saving's Banks, the purchase of land and buildings to be rented on reasonable terms to laborers, &c. 5. Arrangements for an economical and comfortable mode of life, for example, common kitchens and dining halls, the erection of spacious and wholesome dwellings, the purchase of the necessaries of life at wholesale, and distribution of them at retail at cost, especially in the winter. 6. Arrangements for supplying the products of labor immediately to those who wish for them; for example permanent halls of industry, in which manufactured articles can be exposed for sale, like provisions in the market. By this means the laborer will be protected from speculators and forestallers, and can expect a more just compensation for his exertions than is possible under the present relations of things. 7. Arrangements which will make it possible for the workman, without property, to support the competition with the power of capital, for example, funds to be loaned upon work done, establishments for the provision both of materials and tools, the union of single laborers for a common purpose, &c.
For "Culture," the Union adopts the following means. 1. Arrangements whereby the beneficent effect of intercourse between men of all classes of society, and all professions, can be produced. 2. Arrangements for direct improvement, such as trade-schools, and also higher trade-schools for instruction after the age in which trades are usually begun to be practised [practiced]; together with schools for the development of peculiar talents and for education in special trades and branches; conversations and lectures upon useful subjects, collections of books, models and tools; reading rooms, the disseminating of useful writings, &c.
The formation of this Society naturally excited great interest not only in Cologne, but throughout the whole province. Social equality, the right of all to labor, and the duty of Society to furnish it to every one, became common words. the Government interfered to prevent the prosecution of the undertaking, and what has been its ultimate fate we are not informed. At any rate we may be sure that the ideas thus planted, will sooner or later bear abundant fruit. And indeed, as we learn from a more recent number of the Schnellpost, notwithstanding the opposition of the Government the discussion of those questions which are everywhere commanding the attention of the most advanced minds, is carried on with vigor, especially in Westphalia. The men most active in it, are the educated classes. According to
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