XXXI. The Integral Phalanx

377 CHAPTER XXXI. THEINTEGRALPHALAN~ THIS Association was founded in the early part of 1845 by John S. Williams of Cincinnati, who is spoken of by the Phalanx, as one of the most active adherents of Fourierism in the West. It settled first in Ohio, and afterwards in Illinois. [From the Ohio State Journal, June 14, 1845. « An Association of citizens of Ohio, calling them selves the 'Integral Phalanx,' have recently purchased the valuable property of Mr. Abner Enoch, near Middle town, Butler County, in this State, known by the name of Manchester Mills, twenty-three miles north of Cincinnati, on the Miami Canal. This property embraces about nine hundred acres of the most fertile land in Ohio, or perhaps in the world; six' hundred acres of which lie in -one body, and are now in the highest state of cultivation, according to the usual mode of farm ing; three hundred acres in wood and timber land.

There are now in operation on the place· a large flour ing-mill, saw-mill, lath-factory and shingle-cutter, with water-power which is abundantly sufficient to propel all necessary machinery that the company may choose to put in operation. The property is estimated to be AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. worth 11> 75,000, but was sold to the Phalanx for $45,000. As Mr. Enoch is himself an Associationist and a devoted friend of the cause, the terms of sale were made still more favorable, by the subscription, on the part of Mr. Enoch, of $ 25,000 of purchase money, as capital stock of the Phalanx. Entire possession of the domain is to be given as soon as existing contracts of the propri...; etor are completed. "Arrangements are already made for the vigorous pro,secution of the plans of the Phalanx. A press is to be established on the domain, devoted to the science of industrial Association generally, and the interests of the Integral Phalanx particularly. Competent agents are appointed to lecture on the science, and receive subscrip tions of stock and membership; and it is contemplated to erect, as soon as possible, one wing of a unitary edifice, large enough to accommodate sixty-four families, more than one-half of which number are already in the •Association."

[From the Harbinger, July 19, 1845.] "We have received the first number of a new paper, entitled, the 'Plowshare and Pruning-Hook,' which the Integral Phalanx proposes to publish semi-monthly at the rate of one dollar per year. "The reasons presented for the establishment of the Integral Phalanx are to our minds quite conclusive, and we feel great confidence that its affairs will be managed with the wisdom and fidelity which will insure success. We earnestly desire to witness a fair and full experiment of Association in the West. The physical advantages which are there enjoyed, are far too great to be lost. With the fertility of the soil, the ease with which it is INTEGRAL PHALANX. 379 cultivated, the abundance of water-power, and the com parative mildness of the climate, a very few years of judicious and energetic industry would place an Asso ciation in the West in possession of immense material resources. 'They could not fail to accumulate wealth rapidly. They could live in great measure within them selves, without being compelled to sustain embarrassing relations with civilization; and with the requisite moral qualities and scientific kno\vledge, the great problem of social harmony would approximate, at least, toward a solution. We trust this will be done by the Integral Phalanx. And to insure this, our friends in Ohio should not be eager to encourage new experinlents, but to con centrate their capital and talent, as far as possible, on that Association which bids fair to accomplish the work proposed. The advantages possessed by the Integral Phalanx will be seen from the following statement in their paper: I" To say that our prospects are not good, would be to say what we do not believe; or to say that the Phalanx, so far, is not composed of the right kind of materials, would be to affect a false modesty we desire not to possess. One reason why our materials are superior is, that young Phalanxes generally are known to be in doubtful, difficult circumstances, and therefore the in ducement to rush into such movements merely fronl the pressure of the evils of civilization, without a full con vincement of the good of Association, is not so great as it was. We are conlposed of tuen whose reflective organs, particularly that of caution, seem to be largely developed. We believe in moving slowly, cautiously, safely; giving our Phalanx time to grow well. that permanence may be the result. The nlenlbers already AMERICAN SOCIALISMS.

enrolled on the books of the Phalanx, are, In their individual capacities, the owners of property to an amount exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, clear of all incum brances; and they are all persons of in dustrial energy and skill, fully capable of compelling the elements of earth, air and water, to yield them abundant contributions for that harmonic unity with which their souls are deeply inspired. In view of all these. advantages we .can, with full confidence, invite the accession of numbers and capital, and assure them of a safe investment in the Integral Phalanx.'" [From the Harbinger, August 16, 1845.] "We have received the second number of the Plowshare and Pruning-Hook. Besides a variety of interesting articles on the subject of Association, this number contains the pledges and rules of the Integral Phalanx, together with an explanation of some parts of the instrument, which have been supposed to be rather obscure. It is an elaborate document, exhibiting the fruits of deep reflection, and aiming at the application of scientific principles to the present condition of Associa tion. We do not feel ourselves called on to criticise it; as every written C9de for the government of a Phalanx must neces~arily be imperfect, of the nature of a com promise, adapted to special exigences, and taking its character, in a great measure, from the local or per sonal circumstances of the Association for which it is intended. In a complete and orderly arrangement of groups and series, with attractive industry fully organized, with a sufficient variety of character for the harmonious development of the primary inherent passions of our nature, and a corresponding abundance INTEGRAL PHALANX.

of material resources, we conceive that few written laws would be necessary; everything would be regulated with spontaneous precision by the· pervading common sense of the Phalanx; and the law written on the heart, the great and holy law of attraction, would supersede all others. But for this blessed condition the time is not yet. Years rnay be required, before we shall see the first red streaks of its dawning. Meanwhile, we must make the wisest provisional arrangements in our po\ver. And no constitution recognizing the principles of dis tributive justice and the laws of universal unity, will be altogether defective; while time and experience will suggest the necessary improvements. " Three attorneys-at-law have left that profession and joined the Integral Phalanx, not, as they say, that they could not make a living, if they would stick to it and do their share of the dirty work, but because by doing so they must sacrifice their consciences, as the practice of the law, in many instances, is but stealing under another name. They are elevating themselves by learning honest and useful trades, so as to become producers in Association. A wise resolution."

Here comes a sudden turn in the story of this Phalanx, for which the previous assurances of caution and prosperity had not prepared us, and of which we can find no detailed account. We skip from Ohio to Illinois, with no explanation except the dark hints of trouble, defeat, and partial dissolution, contained in the following document. The Sangamon Phalanx, which seems to have take_n in the Integral (or was taken in by it), is one of the Associations of which we have no account either from Macdonald or the Fourier Journals.

AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. [From the New York Tribune.] "Home of the Integral Phalanx, I Sa1lga1nOll Co., Illinois, Oct. 20, I 845. ~. " To tlte Editor of tIle New York Tribune: "We wish to apprise the friends of Association that the Integral Phalanx, having for the space of one year wan dered like Noah's dove, finding no resting place for the sole of its foot, has at length found a habitation. A union was formed on the 16th of October inst., between it and the Sangamon Association; or rather the Sangamon Association was lnerged in the Integral Phalanx; its members having abandoned its name and constitution, and become members of the Integral Phalanx, by placing their signatures to its pledges and rules: the Phalanx adopting their dornain as its home. We were defeated, and we now believe, very fortunately for us, in securing a location in Ohio.I We have, during the time of our wanderings, gained some experience which we could not otherwise have gained, and without which we were not prepared to settle down upon a location. Our members have been tried. We now know what kind of stuff they are made of. '[hose who have abandoned us in conse quence of our difficulties, were' with us, but not of us,' and would have been a hindrance to our efforts. They who are continually hankering after the 'flesh-pots of Egypt,' and are ready to abandon the cause upon the first appearance of difficulties, had better stay out of Association. If they will embark in the cause, every Association should pray for difficulties sufficient to drive them out. We need not only clear heads, but also true hearts. We are by no means sorry for the difficulties which we have encountered, and all we fear is that we have not yet had sufficient difficulties to try INTEGRAL PHALANX.

our souls, and show the principles by which we are actuated. " \Ve have now a domaIn embracing five hundred and eight acres of as good land as can be found within the limits of Uncle Sam's dominions, fourteen iniles south west from Springfield, the capital of the State, and in what is considered the best county and wealthiest por tion of the State. This domain can be extended to any desired limit by purchase of adjoining lands at cheap rates. We have, however, at present, sufficient land for our purposes. It consists of high rolling prairie and woodlands adjoining, which can not be excelled in the State, for beauty of scenery and richness of soil, covered with a luxuriant growth of timber, of almost every description, oak, hickory, sugar-maple, walnut, etc. The land is well watered, lying upon Lick Creek, with springs in abundance, and excellent well-water at the depth of twenty feet. The land, under proper cultivation, will produce one hundred bushels of corn to the acre, and every thing else in proportion. There are five or six comfortable buildings upon the property; and a tempo rary frame-building, commenced by the Sangamon Association (intended, when finished, to be three hun dred and sixty feet by twenty-four), is now being erected for the accommodation of families.

H The whole domain is in every particular admirably adapted to the industrial development of the Phalanx. The railroad connecting Springfield with the Illinois river, runs within two miles of the domain. There is a steam saw-and flouring-mill within a few yards of our present eastern boundary, which we can secure on fair terms, and shall purchase, as we shall need it imme diately.

AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. " But we will not occupy more time with description, as those who feel sufficiently interested, will visit us and examine for themselves. We '~owe no man,' and although we are called infidels by those who know not what con stitutes either infidelity or religion, we intend to obey at least this injunction of· Holy Writ. The Sangamon Association had been progressing slowly, prudently and cautiously, determined not to involve thelTIselves in pecuniary difficulties; and this was one great inducement to our union with them. We want those whose' bump of caution' is fully developed. Our knowledge of the progressive movenlent of other Associations has taught us a lesson which we will try not to forget. We are con vinced that we can never succeed with an onerous debt upon us. We trust those who attempt it may be more successful than we could hope to be. "We are also convinced that we can not advance one step toward associative unity, while in a state of anar chy and confusion, and that such a state of things must be avoided. We will therefore not attempt even a uni tary subsistence, until we have the number necessary to enable us to organize upon scientific principles, and in accordance with Fourier's admirable plan of industrial organization. The Phalanx will have a store-house, from which all the families can· be sllpplied at wholesale prices, and have it charged to their account. It is better that the different families should remain separate for five years, than to bring theln together under circumstances worse than civilization. Such a course will unavoidably create· confusion and dissatisfaction, and we venture the assertion that it has done so in every instance where it has been attempted. Urider our rules of progress, it will be seen that until we are prepared to organize, we INTEGRAL PHALANX.

shall go upon the system of hired labor. We pay· to each individual. a full compensation for all assistance rendered in labor or other services, and charge him a fair price for what he receives from the Phalanx; the balance of earnings, after deducting the amount of what he re ceives, to be credited to him as stock, to draw interest as capital. To capital, whether it be money or property put in at a fair price, we allow ten per cent. com pound interest. This plan will be pursued until our edifice is finished and we have about four hundred persons, ready to form a temporary organization. Fou rier teaches us that this number is necessary, and if he has taught the truth of the science, it is worse than folly to pursue a course contrary to his· instructions. If there is anyone who understands the science better than Fourier did himself, we hope he willlnake the necessary corrections and send us word. We intend to follow Fourier's instructions un til \ve find they are wrong; then we will abandon them.

"As to an attempt to organize groups and series until we have the requisite number, have gone through a proper system of training, and erected an edifice suf ficient for the accommodation of about four hundred persons, every feature of our Rules of Progress forbids it. We believe that the effort will place every Phalanx that attempts it, in a situation worse than . civili~ation itself. The distance between civilization and Association can not be passed at one leap. There must necessarily be a transition period; and any set of rules or constitu tion (hampered and destroyed by a set of by-laws), intended for the government of a Phalanx, during the transition period, and which have no analogical reference to the human form, WIll be worse than useless. They AMERICAN SOCIALISMS. will be an impediment instead of an as~istance to the progressive movement of a Phalanx. The child can not leap to manhood in a day nor a month, and unless ther~ is a system of training suited to the different states through which he must pass in his progress to manhood, his energies can never be developed. If Associations will violate every scientific principle taught by Fourier, pay no regard to analogy, and attempt organisms of groups and series before any preparation is made for it, and then run into anarchy and confusion, and become disgusted with their efforts, we hope they will have the honesty to take the blame upon themselves, and not charge it to the science of Association.

"We are ready at all times to give information of our situation and progress, and we pledge ourselves to give a true and correct statement of the actual situation of the Phalanx. We pledge ourselves that there shall not be found a variance between our written or published statements, and the statements appearing upon our records. Those of our members now upon the ground are composed principally of the former members of the Sangamon Association. We expect a number of ·OU.f members from Ohio this fall, and many more of them in the spring. We have applications for information and membership from different directions, and expect large accession in numbers and capital during the coming year. We can extend our domain to suit our own convenience, as, in this land of prairies and pure at mosphere, we are not hemmed in by civilization to the same extent as Socialists in other States. We have elbow-room, and there is no danger of treading on each other's toes and then fighting 'about it.

"The Plowshare and. Pruning-Hook will be conINTEG:RAL PHALANX. tinued from its second number, and published from the home of the Integral Phalanx in a few weeks, as soon as a press can be procured. "SECRETARY OF INTEGRAL PHALANX." Here all information in the Harbinger about the Integral comes to an end, and Macdonald breaks off short with, "No further particulars."