Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-12-26
The third number of the ssPhal,nx - h

The third number Of the ''Phalanx," has
come to hand. In it the editor copies with
some structures, some remarks of ours made
on the receipt of the first number. We wish
to say few words more on the subject. We
would not have any one believe that we are
opposed to social reform or that we believe it
impracticable. Since we have been able to
think at all, we have been satisfied that for
the thousand varied evils suffered by man.
there is perfect remedy at hand. Man is
the author of his own misfortuncs, he can be
the architect of his own happiness. He has
nature which properly developed and pro-
perly exercised will be found as harmon Gus
In its action, as every other portion of Gods
creation. We are not afraid Of cxperim cnt !;
nor where there is manifcsily wrong com
blnatlon of primitive material, do we dread
to see working over and revolution. Ex-
pertinent and revolution are the natural order
OF the day. Revolution is progression, and
conscious of impcrfection, shall we dread
those revolutions which, melted as thew al
ways are, by the progress of intclence. tend
TO carry us upward and onward Whilst we
believe that the present condition of things
Is all wrong,whilst VIC ardently desire change
and believe change must and will be had
there is yet room for difference opinion as
to the mode and means by which change
may be effected.
Wise men have gravcly classcd the evils
we endure, under several heads; hence, we
hear of moral evil and social evil. 1t seems
to us there is but one evil-the evil which
springs from depraved and vicious mind.
Mind is, without question, the source of ac-
ton; action is the immediate cause of evil !;
must we not then purify mind before that per-
feet action necessary for happiness, can be
had. What is the condition of society now?
war TO the knife almost, between every indi-
vidual member, but can mere change of ply
steal condition correct the evil? You can
not cure mailman by lifting him over the
garden fence, and grown upas we have, with
the sources of evil strengthened and fixed
with our growth, a mere change of location
is not calculated to purify those sources. Is
the crafty ambition which now exists, to lose
its influence in the lofty halls and corridors,
of this Association; is the desire for gain
which now stops at nothing,a lat once TO be here
allayed; is SANDER to be less sweet TO the
slandhrous tongue, or envy less powerful in
swaying the envious mind; in short, is the
perverted nature which we all possess, here
at once, by the change of position, to change
its character. The advocates of the system
say not the sly that it will take time and
much time 10 eradicate and change the cha
racter of the source of evil What in the
mean time is 10 become of Association. If
under the present isolated system so much
turmoil and misery is caused by the depra-
witty of mind, what will be the effect when
more closely united--when all arc congrega-
ted under the same roof The effect il seems
TO us is plain. Associations will rise and
fall each succeeding one will be better than
its successor; as long as mind is imperfect
like any other community, they must strug-
gle on IN impericction, encountering evil and
overcoming it, until the perfect man is at
taincd, and then they may look round and
find the world with them in just such an as
ISOLATION as perfect wisdom will dictate.
We have slid that we believe the con-
dition of things will change. They have
been changing since earliest creation, and il
is not TO be supposed they arc TO stop now
The constitution of society has always been
lust in accordance with The common mind
which gave it birth, and just as the common
mind changes, so will it change. We doubt
the ability to spring at once from chaos &c
light. 1t is wisdom which is 20 bring us hap
pn oss. and the hill of wisdom is rugged and
hard 10 climb. But where is this wisdom
sccreted that We have as yet been unable &c
avail ourselves of it. 1t is but very ie"
years since the true philosophy which ena
bes man to truly understand himself has
| been broached When man understands his
constitution it requires no great stretch of abb
| lity TO understand what is required of him
and as all that is required of him ministers
directly to his happiness, common sense viii
eventually set him right. The secret ofhappi
ness is all around US; little expansion o
mind, land mind is expanding) will enable
us TO see the right path. We she'll find tina
alone by disciplining the mild, by curbin;
its unnatural and artificial wants, by teachin,
it that in works of love il can best enjoy il
self, we can improve our social condition.
But then, is not the proposed association
calculated to eventually effect this end2 w
NAV hold out the making of money or an
other selfish inducement for entering the As
ISOLATION. but would not the effect in the en-
L II N