Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-02-24
REMARKS OF Mr.. FRANK, OF RACINE,
on the Bill to Incorporate the WISDOM
SIN PHALANX.
In COUNCIL, jan. 81, lS4

In COUNCIL, Jan. 81, lS45.
Mr.. FRANK said he would claim the in.
diligence Of the committee with tew re-
marks in relation 10 the amendments which
had been offered, and 20 the merits Of the
bill in general. He had no personal inte-
rest in the fate Of the bill more than any
other member, except what arose from the
fact that the persons who sought TO be in
corporated as the Wisconsin Phalanx, were
many Of them formerly his felow-c citizens,
having been residents Of Racine county
He felt, therefore, called upon 10 bear tes-
limony to their general reputation for hon
esty, integrity, and habits Of Industry; and
also, to give brief exposition Of their doc.
trines, and what they proposed to accom-
plish. As an evidence that the association
located at Ceresco were Working men, i.
was proper TO mention, tha: few ndividu-
ais in the latter part Of June last, com
menced operations with limited capital; by
their own industry they had put in one
hundred acres of wheat; had raised twenty
FIVE acres Of summer crops; erected a
saw mill, and dwellings equal TO a solid
block three hundred feet in length and over
thirty in width; together with work shops,
and other out buildings. The association
had established wholesome rules of order,
temperance and morality besides, j: had
already established an educational depart
ment, which bid fair TO command the res
pect and the attention CT the surrounding
country. This association, said MIR. F.,
now asks ror an act Of incorporation, not
for the purpose Of exclusive rights and pri-
vileges, nor for monopolizing any particu-
lar business or interest, but simply for the
purpose of obviating the Inconvenience
now attendant upon the transaction of their
business as a collective body, having a
unity Of interests.
In this instance, said Mr.. F., we are not
called upon to encourage any theory or
system which had lis origin in ignorance
or fana,cism seldom, if ever, had any
system Of social reform and improvement
10 society, been commended TO the notice of
the world with a greater array Of lalent
Than that originated by Charles Fourier
Both in this county and Europe, men O!
distinguished moral and intellectual worth,
enlisted in the dissemination Of principles
Of association. In France, some of the
best literary talent has been devoted 10 the
advocacy Of these doctrines its literary
journals have given it favorrbls attehtion,
and some Of its most distinguished writers
have written much in its behalf 1t is also
known, said Mr.. F., that in London, a Ito
rary journal entitled The London Phalanx,
devoted 10 the dissemination Of the system
or Fourier, ranks among the first periodi-
Gals in that metropolis. In this country,
he said, the men who were enlisted in this
cause are not unknow and obscure indivi-
duals many Of them held high rank
among the popular writer's and liberal
minded men of the country. He would
repeat il then, that few system. for the be-
NETTING OF mankind, had ever emanated
from men of purer lives ; aad received the
countenance of men Of more elevated
sta nding liz the community. Whether il
would succeed, and meet the expectations
OF IFS friends, he could not predict bu,
whatever might be the result, he did no;
doubt The truihiuness of many Of its doc
trines.
But, said Mr.. F., what does this system
OF association expect TO accomplish One
OF The objects which it proposed 10 accom-
piish, was 10 secure the rights and the
avails of labor agains, the encroachments
OF capital. The tendencies of capital in oil
civilized countries, and under all forms of
government, was 10 depress the laboring
classes. and 10 accumulate ir the hands OF
The few. History had proven such 10 be
its invariable tendency in Europe. and in
this country lis power would ultimately
produce like results Ii was startling
fact, said Mr.. F., that the wages OF labor
were not so much by one half now as they
were FIVE hundred years ago; while the
tribute paid to capital had Proportionasely
bsen increased. Capital, with a slow but