THE SOCIETY
The over enthusiastic praise of Texas, its lands, its climate, and its
opportunities in an economic sense should stamp Considerant as a
promoter, if it were not for the caution with which he approached the
formation of the colony. After serious investigation, it will appear to
anyone that he was effusive by nature and his praise was sincere; no
flattering statement was made by him to induce people to part with their
money, or to participate in the Texas adventure. In fact, his first
appeal to the French socialists to immigrate in mass to Texas contains a
warning to those who contemplated investing money in the venture. He
said that he had always with obstinate sincerity exposed the illusion of
attributing to a first scientific experimental establishment the
character of a profitable investment.[1]
Furthermore, he warned that: first, the establishment must be considered
as a costly experiment; second, that little or no returns on the money
invested could be expected; and third, it would require very extensive
co-operation to avoid compromising individual fortunes.[2] All
colonization, he declares, develops itself at the expense of those
involved and at the risk of each individual participating in the act.
However, colonization requires a collective principle at its emergence,
as an individualistic principle is altogether too feeble to establish a
new home and new economic system in a difficult and distant state.
Communism, he says, has failed, except in rare cases where the effort
was supported by energetic religious faith, largely because of false
theory or poor conduct in the establishment of the colony. Therefore,
any effort that the Fourierists should put forth should be worked out
completely in theory before the undertaking is started.
The first necessity for successful establishment, Considerant thought,
was the creation of an agency to direct colonization. This agency was to
have two functions: first, to acquire lands on which the first
settlements were to be made; second, to prepare these lands to receive
the first immigrants. Preparation was to involve the purchasing of
grain, foods, live stock, implements, and the erection of houses
sufficient to care for the first groups to arrive. After the advance
guards of the immigrants had been established, they were in turn to
choose other grounds and construct other houses for the next or
succeeding wave of newcomers. This method would be continued
indefinitely, much like the Wakefield method proposed in England, until
the available lands were taken. Of course, the difference between the
Wakefield method and the one proposed by Considerant is that Wakefield
would have colonization carried on by the government on money which had
been obtained by the sale of government lands, while Considerant's
scheme provided for collectivism, sanctioned and supported by private
individuals, either as participants in the act of colonization or as
interested observers.
Considerant was an experimenter, and intended the colony in Texas to be
purely an experiment. He definitely states:
Although Phalansterians take the initiative in the work proposed, its
object is not exclusively to realize their ideas, it is more general,
it affords the opportunity of experiment and of practical verification
to every other progressive doctrine, at its own cost, risk and
responsibility.
Let us found in Texas a colony characterized by its progressive social
faith, which shall, first of all, improve the fruitful resources of a
friendly Nature....
We shall not seek to employ, as a means of effecting the colonization,
our own ulterior and definite method of Social organization.[3]
Thus, again, he firmly states that it is an ideal of betterment of
humanity that he is seeking and not the bolstering up of his own pet
ideas. If by experiment another way could be established that would
prove more acceptable than the one he already had under consideration,
he would be willing immediately to adopt the other plan. Seemingly,
Considerant planned the whole movement as an experiment and
investigation into the social phases of life. He had an idea of social
betterment, which he admitted was no more than a mere theory, and by
means of this colony in Texas, placed under the most favorable
conditions, he could test the theory.[4]
The aims of the colony as far as settlement is concerned were, to
purchase lands in Texas, to bring a nucleus of colonists to the new
location, and to prepare the ground for reception of the members of the
colony. Of the latter, Considerant says,
To bring ... European colonists upon a virgin soil, without
preliminary arrangements, results, in most cases, simply in the
dispersion of its elements and frequently in other disasters. In
Texas, it is true, that the dispersion of our colonists would not be
their ruin: they could easily derive advantages from their new
position, but the collective enterprise and its aim would not the
least be missed.[5]
He thought that the colonists should, as a general rule, find on their
arrival in a new country conditions equal to those which they left, and
that they should bring with them the reasonable hope that their
conditions would soon be made much better. In order to insure such a
development, Considerant proposes that there should be two phases of
development in the colony. Americans, already accustomed to the climate
and modes of cultivation practiced in Texas, were to be the chiefs of
the first operations. These chiefs were to be assisted by volunteer
workmen of Europe and America who expected to participate in the colony
and who apparently were to labor for the "faith and interest of the
enterprise," while any lack of helpers was to be supplied by hired
labor, men who were already familiar with frontier life. The workers
were to clear the land, break the ground, plant the fields, sow the
grain, build the buildings, purchase saw and grist mills at Cincinnati
or Pittsburg and transfer them to the new fields. Livestock were to be
purchased and branded with the mark of the colony and then turned loose
in the fields and the forest to multiply. In fact, there was to be a
fully developed and operating industrial and agricultural community
already in existence before the Europeans, except "skillful nursery-men,
vine dressers and gardeners," ever arrived in Texas. Considerant writes,
in enumerating what should be prepared, the following:
A. Tenements ready to receive them, and so constructed as not only to
impart a degree of comfort, but also to satisfy a variety of
individual tastes.
B. A complete system of _alimentary supplies_, which supposes, besides
certain commercial facilities, depots of provisions, cultures in full
bearing, fields sown with grain, gardens planted with vegetables, and
a full stock of horses, cattle, hogs, sheep and poultry; then,
machinery and workshops fitted to transform the raw materials into
objects of daily consumption,--mills, ovens, and kitchens with their
utensils.
C. A provision of cottons, woolens, leather, and other materials for
clothing.
D. Such workshops, tools and special implements of art and industry,
not comprised already in the preceding categories, as may be requisite
to the most advantageous employment of the previously ascertained
industrial capacities of the colonists expected.
E. The creation of a commercial agency for the sale of the products
created by the colony, as well as for the purchase of objects not
produced by it.[6]
The second phase was apparently nothing more than the Europeans' taking
possession of what had already been created, and their continuing to
repeat the process of preparation for others still to arrive.
In spite of the Utopian scheme, the plan would have probably succeeded
in establishing some sort of colony had not the colonists in America and
Europe been too anxious and rushed in before preparations were made for
them. Instead of waiting and gradually settling the lands which had been
purchased as planned, the colonists came to unprepared fields and barren
hills. This haste, no doubt, was due in large part to the advertisement
which both Considerant and Brisbane gave the proposed colony in America
and Europe.[7]
There was one group of bachelors, especially, that Considerant attempted
to persuade not to come, telling them that he would make no agreement
with them in his name or in the name of the society. However, they
disregarded his advice and came to La Réunion. He even sent Cousin, one
of his lieutenants, to several places to advise groups to wait until a
later date for their departure.[8] Nevertheless, when Considerant
reached New Orleans on his way from New York to La Réunion he learned
that more than two hundred colonists were already on their way to the
new establishment--young men, old men, old women and young women. They
came from Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, France and Sweden, all hurrying
to the New Utopia which Considerant had promised them in _Au Texas_.[9]
On September 26, 1854, at Brussels, Belgium, the articles of the
_Société de Colonisation Europeo-Americaine au Texas_ were signed by
Victor Prosper Considerant, Allyre Bureau, Charles Francois Guillon,
Jean Baptiste Godain-Lemaire, and four others.[10] This was the third
society formed by Considerant, the other two being Considerant, Paget
and Company, founded in 1840, and Considerant and Company formed in
1843. While these two societies did some colonizing in France, it was
not for this reason that they failed. The chief reason was the debt
which had accrued as a result of publication of newspapers and other
propaganda of the society.[11] One of their undertakings had been the
establishment and support of an orphan asylum in Paris of which Savardan
had control.[12]
In the new society some arrangements were to be made to indemnify the
people who had worked in these two societies.[13] The unsuccessful
outcome of these previous societies may have been the reason Considerant
took a minor place in the _Société de Colonisation Europeo-Americaine au
Texas_.
The first article of the statutes of the society provided for the
establishment of a central agency in Paris, other agencies in New York
and in other places where the business of the company might justify such
an establishment. Furthermore, it stated the purpose of the society to
be the planting and promoting of a colony as explained and defined in
Considerant's book entitled _Au Texas_, published in Paris in May,
1854.[14] To carry out this purpose the society was to purchase or
secure lands in all parts of the State of Texas and to transport the
colonists thereto. It was also to guarantee development of the colony by
collectivism or individualism, as the members might direct.
The second article provided conditions of investments of capital and for
the payment of dividends resulting from the operation of the society.
The company was capitalized at $1,000,000 in American money, or
5,250,000 francs, and subscriptions were to be received in units of
five, twenty-five, and one hundred twenty-five dollars. The
subscriptions were to be divided into two groups: _actions a dividendes
and actions a primé_. The former was divided into three series, to be
issued each succeeding six months period and was to bear interest at the
rate of four per cent. The _actions a dividendes_ were not to
participate in the earnings of the society, with the exception of ten
per cent of the net income, which was to be set aside to constitute a
reserve fund.
Provisions were made in the statutes for the appointment of an agent in
Texas to be the executive officer of the organization in that state, and
who would be held directly responsible to the governors of the society.
Considerant accepted the proffered position and was instructed to
establish himself in America, where he was to receive subscriptions and
deliver bonds purchased from the society; acquire or sell in the name of
the society, furniture, tools, and lands; receive payments and give
quittance; agree in courts, and treat with the states for concessions,
or in general to transact any and all business for the company in
America. Furthermore, he agreed to give the society all concessions made
by him personally while in America, thus removing any chance of
criticism of the conduct of affairs by the officials. His salary was not
to be less than $1,200 per year.
The life of the charter of the society was to extend to December 31,
1874, with the possibility of extension of time, provided two-thirds of
the bondholders present and voting declared such to be their desire.
Should no extension be decided upon, the affairs of the company would be
liquidated.
By article thirty-one of the statutes the society was to be constituted
as soon as the subscription should reach $100,000, which was declared to
have been achieved on September 26, 1854, when A. Brisbane and
Godin-Lemaire subscribed $20,000 each, Considerant had brought to the
society an undesignated amount.[15] Other people were to be urged to
subscribe at least a million dollars for the proposed colony. In fact,
before leaving Europe in the early part of 1855, Considerant was able to
leave knowing that more than $300,000 had been subscribed for the
project, and prospects were good for the total amount to go beyond
$2,000,000.[16] Considerant reported that already more than $80,000 had
been expended upon the first project of the company at the conclusion of
the first year, 1855.
The above amounts were not merely investments in the form that we
understand investments today, they were payments of "rights of
participation." That is, a man bought a certain amount of bonds and this
gave him a right to lands controlled by the company and a corresponding
right to draw from the company's storehouse a certain specified amount
of materials or food, or as Considerant himself said,
A third plan is based on the principle of co-partnership of different
kinds of labor and industry united. In this system, each one
co-operates to create a joint amount of stock and products, but each
member draws a share proportionate amount of his capital and the value
of his labor. In this combination a separate account being kept for
each person I place confidence, and I should like to see some
experiment made of it, under favorable conditions.[17]
The plan was apparently very much like the profit-sharing plan which
many leading industrialists are placing into operation today, each
employee being paid for his labor and, in addition, receiving an income
from the money which he has invested.[18]
In order to raise money for the colony, Considerant realized that he had
to depend upon the capitalists for a great deal of the money, to which
many of his followers objected. However, Considerant pleaded for the
co-operation of capital and labor. He wanted the capitalists to furnish
the capital for an interest payment. The appeal for funds on the ground
of gain was made directly to the men of affairs and not to the potential
settlers; the settlers were to receive freedom, a home, and higher
development. The capitalists and the company were to receive the
profits. The company was to use the profits to purchase lands and
transport additional colonists, and the capitalists were to use their
money as they pleased. Considerant, in answering those who charged him
with being friendly with the capitalists, said that he had to have money
to operate his society and if the objectors knew any method whereby he
might obtain the money without interest payment, or would mention
someone to whom he could go to secure the money, even on interest, he
would be glad to accept.[19]
The first proposal concerning capital was rather chimerical. As an
hypothesis, the sum of $800,000 was taken as a reasonable amount for the
promotion of the company. With this sum 400,000 or perhaps 300,000 acres
of land were to be bought at the price of twenty-five cents per acre,
and within two years 1200 colonists were to be permanently settled on
this land. In addition the following estimates were made:
Grist and sawmills $ 6,000
Stocks of mechanics' tools and fixtures 5,000
Stocks of farming and gardening implements, 8,000
including threshing and reaping machines
Horses and wagons for transportation 5,000
Building materials, seed, young fruit trees, 35,000
vines, etc.
2,000 head of cattle 20,000
1,000 horses and breeding mares bought in 16,000
Mexico
Stallions, jacks, rams, mules, sheep, hogs and 20,000
fowls of approved breeds
Cooper's shop, pottery, brewery, tanner's yard 15,000
and cheese dairy
Transport, wages and maintenance of colonists 60,000
Sum of expenditure during the first year $190,000
For the second year--Transport of colonists $ 20,000
For their outfit, additional tools and 100,000
implements, the establishment of workshops
and various branches of industry
Making a total for the first two years $310,000[20]
Thus, there would be a balance of $400,000 in the treasury for further
development of the colony. In order to make it easy to raise this money
there were provided four ways in which one could invest, viz., (a)
invest the money and reserve the right to participate in the movement
later as a colonist, (b) to become a colonist, (c) gifts to be paid in
installments, (d) people to act as commercial and colonizing agents.[21]
Such relations in a financial way would determine the status of a
settler after he had arrived at the colony, and, of course, the
settler's own desire as to his relations with the colony would have some
effect. The financial relations were to be determined by the formation
of the following groups within the colony:
1. Associates in capital and in labor
2. Associates in labor
3. Associates in capital, working of their own accord
4. Workers not associated, salaried by the association
5. Some non-associated, or semi-associated residents working of their
own accord
6. Pensioners, or boarders, orphans, old and infirm, etc.
Only the first two groups were to have a full fellowship, the others
merely held rights in the company and participated in its activities in
a small degree.[22]
Outside of the above practical and semi-practical purposes, and
underlying the whole idea of the colony was a theory, novel,
interesting, and at times fantastic. In the first place, the colony was
not communistic but socialistic; that is, a socialism partaking of both
present day socialism and advanced capitalism. Several times Considerant
voiced his objection to communism and once stated that nearly all new
societies had been ruined by a "gross and rudimentary form of
Communism."[23]
In La Réunion a person was to be either worker or proprietor, and no
equal division of earnings was ever to be made. Each person was to reap
the reward of his own labor, and partake of the profits of the company
as they accrued.[24] In fact, the whole success of his program depended
upon unearned increment, and co-operation with the capitalists in the
whole undertaking.[25]
He proposed, however, very advanced actions which progressive
capitalists accept today, namely, a maximum and a minimum wage scale to
be determined by the members of the society; co-operation "in credit, of
exchange, of mutual insurance, by provisions of cases of sickness, and
social guarantees in behalf of old age and infancy." These regulations
were to be basic, but were subject to change, not being regulatory after
the society determined that there was a need for change.[26]
Considerant did not object to private establishments, even being willing
to aid them in reaching the new country and in getting established near
the colony. He thought that if they were to establish themselves in
proximity to the colony it would help increase the value of the colonial
lands. Any benefits derived from collectivism would also be extended to
the individual owners surrounding the colony. The unified efforts would
be to such a great advantage, it appeared, that no one would long desire
to remain outside. The colonists "must possess every moment, not only an
abstract and theoretical kind of liberty, but a practical guarantee, by
the very nature of organization, of the faculty to detach themselves
from it at their individual pleasure." The colony was to be an example
of co-operation one with the other. The members could work in
communities practicing "individualism" and take advantage of the
co-operative organizations in so far as they desired. One might live
several miles from the colony, or he might live in the colony, and work
as an individual or in a group (phalanx). One could change rapidly from
the individualistic to the co-operative or vice-versa. Anyone might
enter the colony or leave it as he might desire. No compulsion was to
exist, no regulatory demands made on any person.[27]
The society itself was not to be exclusive: all other societies that
desired to co-operate--whether of the same opinion or not--had the right
to participate. The function of the _European-American Colonization
Society_ was to prepare a place of liberty and prosperity and to
represent liberal doctrines. Other societies were invited to come to try
out their doctrines by experience and application, and if they were
proved workable, then the Fourieristic society would accept them, for
there existed no right or reason for the members to attempt to impose
any pre-conceived plan upon the colonists. This seemed to Considerant to
be so rational there was no need to insist upon it.[28] However, it
seemed to him that there were certain principles of colonization already
established by the trial and error method recorded in history which
should not be disregarded. These were simple maxims, such as local
self-government, avoidance of extreme communism, and freedom of action.
Another part of his scheme was that of instruction or teaching. One day
was to be set apart for the teaching "of the social aims and of the
common faith, to the discussion of the general ideas and expressions of
the harmonic or the religious sentiment of the population." Certain
functions that were unitary and of utilitarian value were to be
considered and voted upon by the whole body, and were to be developed
out of the religious emotions of the people. Favorable attitudes toward
progressive measures were also to be created, taking care, however, that
the whole movement was one of spontaneity and not one of passive
acceptance.[29]
A university and primary schools were to be provided wherein the French
and English languages and literatures were to be taught: art, physical
and mechanical sciences were to be taught by men of approved ability,
giving an opportunity to every person to follow the trend of his own
inclinations. A library was also to be provided, supplied, no doubt,
from the expected gifts of books to be received in subscriptions to the
stock of the company. The whole educational system, however, was to
allow for spontaneous acceptance of the program without any appearance
of compulsory education.[30]
Perhaps the most illusory part of the dream was that concerning
commerce. La Réunion was to become the center of a gigantic commercial
system. Colonies were to be established in all the states of the union,
especially in the Southwest, and they were to carry on their commerce
with one another, and through the mother colony connection would be made
with Europe. Considerant visualized great wagon trains winding through
the valleys and over the hills converging at La Réunion with their loads
of foods, metals, and manufactured goods ready for the European markets.
In fact, the shorter distance from Dallas to the Gulf of Mexico than
from Santa Fe to the same port was one of the determining factors which
led to the selection of the land near Dallas for the center of this
undertaking. At La Réunion the plan was to have the colony
self-sustaining and able to manufacture various materials for
exportation, such as furniture, pottery, brass work, glass, smelted
iron, as well as articles of food, especially pickles, and meat
products.[31]
His supreme concept of the colony was expressed as follows:
Instead of a life consumed by cruel anxieties, we shall have conquered
at last the right of Freedom from Care, which results from the blessed
sentiment of solidarity and which gives to each the consciousness that
his individual life is integrant of the social life. It is the _right
to social life_, the right to a harmony between the elements of life,
and the being who lives. Each one here feels himself a member of a
social body founded for his faith and by his faith, destined soon to
realize this in its plenitude, and recognizes himself as an associate
and an active agent in a work whose grandeur penetrates him deeper and
deeper every day.[32]
With such arrangements and connections in Europe as have been mentioned,
and with such a Utopian plan, Considerant asked for and received letters
of introduction from various men in Europe and the United States, among
whom were H. W. Merrill, Lieut. Major, U.S.A., and J. J. Seibel of the
American Consulate in Belgium, and came to establish a colony in Texas.