The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-06-24

and preparations are being made to es-
tablish one of a higher order and ON a
large scale. The community sends some
of It's most promising youths to outside
colleges for the higher branches of edu-
cation. Three have just graduated at
Yale college, and returned to the settle
ment. There is an offshoot of the Onei-
da community, at Wilmington, Conn.,
There is family established at New Ha-
ven for the purpose of affording board
ing place and home for the young men Of
the community studying at Yale college,
and there is an agency in New York for
attending to the business of the society.
All these are in close utilization, and
though separated by distance, belong, in
fact, to one community.
The Oneida community was established
in March, 1868; part of the original
members were from the village of Putney,
VT. They were compelled to leave that
place in consequence of the new, start
ling doctrines which they advocated and
attempted to carry out, and found re-
fuge at Oneida in connection with some
other Perfectionists Of the same faith.
1t is evident from the publications of
these people, and from their avowed the
cries, that state of things exists shock
ing to a Christian and civilized country
If we cannot lift the curtains>of night
and secrecy which hide their practices,
we may know what they are from their
doctrines and avOwals All the women
wear the bloOmer costume, and for the
most part look broken down. The men
dress in the ordinary way, and generally
look strong and healthful This differ
ent appearance Of the females / attribu-
ted TO the fact that girls of very tender
age-of IA years or under-are treated
as women. The society make a point of
restraining the increase of numbers by
births, and discuss this question very full
ly with Malthus, Robert Dale Owen, the
Shakers, ard others who have written
upon or studied it, and they appear to
succeed; for not many children are born
among them. Those that are born, after
they are weaned, are taken from the
mothers and placed in the general nurse
nv or children's department. They are
then regarded as the children Of the com
munity, and not belonging to any indi-
vidual members.
A weekly paper is published by the
community, ana it is chiefly devoted to
social questions. In the last
number now before me, there is a long
article on American socialism, which
shows the connection of Horace Greeley, |
A. Brisbane, +. Il. Grant, and others
with the socialist experiments in this
and which gives reasons why
they failed. OF course the tenor of the |
tI,o-o
did not strike upon the right plan |
Is the Oneida community has. The peO-
pie around the settlement seem to trouble |
themselves but little now about this free
owe establishment in the midst of them
For time they showed their disgust, and
several attempts were made to get the
or the leaders of it indicted
~ the grand jury; but nothing came of
hese efforts. The members of the COM
nunity act prudently in their conduct to
he outside world, are very polite, deal
airly, and no longer make a parade of
heir offensive theories Still there is
mong the respectable citizens of Oneida
nd the neighborhood dissatisfaction at
he existence of such an institution near
hem. The moral sense of that portion
# the people revolts at the spectacle
low long it will exist, or how far-spread,
; problem that time alone can solve
after seeing Mormonism flourish to the
of a State, it would not be
afe to say what will be the future of
oneida communism. At any rate, it is
furnishing at present, and, notwithstand-
NC the repugnance of its neighbors, it
GEMS to be firmly established in the beau
iful Oneida Valley.