Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-12-02
We notice among the details Of the news

WE notice among the details of the news
brought by the Europa, reaching US yesterday,
q paragraph announcing the death of Robt
Owen, famous all over the world as political
nd religious theolist. He visited this country
in 1928, at the instance of the Mexican Minis.
ter, ESQ the obituary paragraph says,) and 9TH
er persons interested in his scheme of human
progress, for the purpose of going to Mexico
and testing the practicability of his socialistic
schemes in some of the provinces of that gov
eminent. His theories met with marked atten-
ton in the South, and at New Orleans he was
prevailed upon to meet Rev. A. Campbell, of
Bethany, in public debate. on the authenticity
and philosophy of the Scriptures, which he did
in 1929, in.the City of Cincinnati. That debate
has been before the world now for nearly thirty
years, and has been the subject of extensive
comment and quotation, pro and con, in all the
new plans of socialistic progress since then. Its
immediate effect at the time was to discredit
Mr.. OWENS theories in this country. Since that
time his influence with the world has constant
| ly waned. He, himself, underwent change of
views on religion, we believe, having been
among those who took hold on spiritualism.-
he was very benevolent man-and we have
heard his opponent in the Cincinnati debate
say, that ofall men he ever met in debate, Robt.
Owen was the most candid and earnest.
Concerning his early life, we quote from the
obituary the following:
AT z years of age he was usher, and at un-
dermaster of an elementary school in his native
town. Next year he was in grocery and dra-
pers shop, and then proceeded to Stamford to
Diapers shop, supporting himself for four years,
when he went to London, where, in two years,
he was offered the half partnership in the lucra-
tive establishment he had Joined, with the pro-
mise of the whole concern and adequate capital
after time; but he declined, and, at Is, became
partner in cotton-spinning factory, employ
ing 40 men, Arkwright's machinery being then
introduced for the first time.
Progressing in worldly prosperity, he COM
menced the Charlton Mills, near Manchester, and
selling those, took with his partners, the cele-
brated West Lanark Mills in Scotland, including
its farm of 100 acres, and upwards of 1000 in
habitants. During more than quarter of
century that he conducted this establishment,
ne was visited by Emperors, Kings Princes,
Archbishops, Bishops, and clergy of every de-
nomination, from all countries, to witness the
unheard of results produced on children and on
population OF adults, living in harmony, and
governed only by the novel influence of we'll
directed Kindness without punishment or fear.
In the furtherance of his great object to revo-
lutionize peaceably the minds and practices of
the human race, Mr.. Owen was invited in 1928
by the Mexican Minister and others interested
in human progress, to go to Mexico, which he
did, to ask from the Mexican authorities, the
government of Coahuitaand Texas, then unds-
puted provinces of Mexico, which had not the
right Disappointing Governor to these provinces,
they were elected by the people. But they
freely offered him district extending $50 miles
in breadth, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pa
cifc, along the line dividing North America from
Mexico, and in which was included what is
now known us California. New Lanark was
commenced in 1774, by Sir r. Arkwright, with
David Dale, of Glasgow, whose daughter Owen
married, and commenced business there, Just
half century since. In 10 years the gains
from this concern, after paying per cent capt.
tall were 100000, and he bought out his part
ners for $4,000. His new partners, not con-
tent with similar rate Of profit, objected to
this extraordinary expenditure for philanthropic
purposes, which they riddiculed as visionary
and impracticable; and the concern being but up
four years after the second partnership, he pur-
chased it for Ella, 900, which the partners afore-
said declared to be 100000 too cheap, they
having realized in the four years 9l5O 900 profit
majority of the new partners being men of
much benevolence, he had everything his own
way, and in 1916 commenced, in earnest, his
''great moral experiment" His friends laud
these in the highest terms,-but we'll may the
Men of the Time," from which we derive this
sketch, ask, where now are the resultsg Since
that period Owen was less fortunate. lie at
tempted to establish new 'moral community"
which failed, and "labor exchange bazaar,''
which was equally unsuccessful. Like all vision
aries, had a handful of followers, some of whom
outlive him.. to preach the 'isms' of their now
dead master.
Tar Phoenix and Union Societies ofHamilton
College, N. Y. State, are incorporated institu-