We learn that Mr. Etzler is a native of Germany, and originally published hisbook in Pennsylvania, ten or twelve years ago; and now a second Englishedition, from the original American one, is demanded by his readers across thewater, owing, we suppose, to the recent spread of Fourier’s doctrines. Itis one of the signs of the times. We confess that we have risen from readingthis book with enlarged ideas, and grander conceptions of our duties in thisworld. It did expand us a little. It is worth attending to, if only that itentertains large questions. Consider what Mr. Etzler proposes:
“Fellow Men! I promise to show the means of creating a paradise withinten years, where everything desirable for human life may be had by every man insuperabundance, without labor, and without pay; where the whole face of natureshall be changed into the most beautiful forms, and man may live in the mostmagnificent palaces, in all imaginable refinements of luxury, and in the mostdelightful gardens; where he may accomplish, without labor, in one year, morethan hitherto could be done in thousands of years; may level mountains, sinkvalleys, create lakes, drain lakes and swamps, and intersect the landeverywhere with beautiful canals, and roads for transporting heavy loads ofmany thousand tons, and for travelling one thousand miles in twenty-four hours;may cover the ocean with floating islands movable in any desired direction withimmense power and celerity, in perfect security, and with all comforts andluxuries, bearing gardens and palaces, with thousands of families, and providedwith rivulets of sweet water; may explore the interior of the globe, and travelfrom pole to pole in a fortnight; provide himself with means, unheard of yet,for increasing his knowledge of the world, and so his intelligence; lead a lifeof continual happiness, of enjoyments yet unknown; free himself from almost allthe evils that afflict mankind, except death, and even put death far beyond thecommon period of human life, and finally render it less afflicting. Mankind maythus live in and enjoy a new world, far superior to the present, and raisethemselves far higher in the scale of being.”
It would seem from this and various indications beside, that there is atranscendentalism in mechanics as well as in ethics. While the whole field ofthe one reformer lies beyond the boundaries of space, the other is pushing hisschemes for the elevation of the race to its utmost limits. While one scoursthe heavens, the other sweeps the earth. One says he will reform himself, andthen nature and circumstances will be right. Let us not obstruct ourselves, forthat is the greatest friction. It is of little importance though a cloudobstruct the view of the astronomer compared with his own blindness. The otherwill reform nature and circumstances, and then man will be right. Talk no morevaguely, says he, of reforming the world,—I will reform the globe itself.What matters it whether I remove this humor out of my flesh, or this pestilenthumor from the fleshy part of the globe? Nay, is not the latter the moregenerous course? At present the globe goes with a shattered constitution in itsorbit. Has it not asthma, and ague, and fever, and dropsy, and flatulence, andpleurisy, and is it not afflicted with vermin? Has it not its healthful lawscounteracted, and its vital energy which will yet redeem it? No doubt thesimple powers of nature, properly directed by man, would make it healthy and aparadise; as the laws of man’s own constitution but wait to be obeyed, torestore him to health and happiness. Our panaceas cure but few ails, ourgeneral hospitals are private and exclusive. We must set up another Hygeian