WEITLING AND MARXto provide sick and death benefits. On August 15, 1849, while
Weitling was in Europe, the society resolved to devote one night
each week to a discussion of the German Revolution and decided
to conduct raffles to raise money for the Revolution and for the
support of the refugees who were arriving in Philadelphia. In the
same year, a building and loan association (Bau-Verein) and a
singing society were organized. It is interesting to add that this
organization founded by Weitling lasted until 1899, when it amal
gamated with the Philadelphia Harmonie.
In New York a similar organization established in February,
1849, adopted a constitution demanding free homesteads, a rural
credit system, free public education, a mechanics lien law, hard
money, direct taxes, and the abolition of the protective tariff and
banks. In both New York and Philadelphia the membership made
plans for a Tauschbank according to Weitling's theories, before
the latter had returned from his labors for the German Revolu
tion.^29
A discussion of the American phase of Weitling's career must
be postponed to a later chapter, however, for with the outbreak
of the Revolution of 1848, Weitling, like other prominent German
liberals and radicals, hurried home to the fatherland. His return
voyage was financed by contributions of $60 from his Befreiungs¬
bund, $100 from the New York Revolutionsverein, and smaller
amounts from Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and other towns.^30
(^29) C. F. Huch, "Die Anfänge der Arbeiterbewegung unter den Deutsch¬
amerikanern," Deutsch-Amerikanische Geschichtsblätter, Jahrbuch der Deutsch-
Amerikanischen Historische Gesellschaft von Illinois (Chicago, 1910), X, pp.
244-55.
(^30) According to the reminiscences of a Philadelphian, written late in life when
his memory was not too accurate, Weitling bade farewell in a speech in the
Turner Hall of Philadelphia. In his address he spoke disparagingly of the Ameri
can republic, and of the failure of the workers to comprehend his mission. He
announced his intention to work for a German republic that would be greatly
superior to its American counterpart. At that point he was greeted with threats
against his person, and finally left the hall "unnoticed." "Reminiscences of L. A.
Wollenweber," Mitteilungen des Deutschen Pionier-Vereins von Philadelphia,
XV (1910), 23-24.