New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-09
LAURENCE OLIPHfNT AND TIE BROCION
COLONY

tOLt|N Y,
Jnt.lIioont ncrsons of whatever class will
thank us for the sober, practical, and uuthlui
account which we publish to-day of the little
colony at Brocton, Lake Erie, founded unucr
the auspices of a distinguished EngiiShIhah,
Laurence Oliphant. The highly-Colorcd ana
grotesauely sensational descriptions when nave
been published in many journals rendered II
necessary. as an act of common fairness to an
Enelishman who has always deserved well OF
America, that the plain, unyarnished truth
should be told of tho Brocton colony Other
wise wo at least should have been wei content
TO leave Mr. Oliphant and his friends to that
privacy which they desire, and which Ia most
countries would have been conceded to them
The colony, indeed, pays. in this respect
penalty for the eminenCe of one OF Its founders
Mr. Oliphant is n man whose career was re-
markable and brilliant beyond that OF most
mon. even successful and distinguished men,
Of bis age There is something striking, sngu-
lar picturesque, about his varied Lille OF traVei
and adventure. eliminating as IL did III
b,ief session or two, full of bright and rich
promise, in the House Of Commons, and thcn
suddenly extingHishing itself IN the qulet OF
an almost monastic retirement IN region OF
almost unbroken solitude. 1t must bo owned
that the spectacle of an Englshman OF Mr.
Oliphant's class thus sacrificing the promise OF
n busy and brilliant career to sentiment ike
that which started Brook Farm. and which
still earlier had founded New-Lanark, Is a phe-
nOmenon to call up our special wonder. MI
Oliphant belongs to a class of EngllShmen VINO
are probably as little open to the influence OF
transcendental ideas. az little likely to be cap
tivated by any hope or scheme not dlstihcuy
practical and profitable, as any concoivaDie
section of human society. lie had JuSt placed
his foot firmly on the first round OF LADDER
which in England leads safely to influence anu
Office. Belonging to the official ana diplomatic
class. having, oven in n session or two, alrcady
made his mark in the House Of Commons, he
had Int 70 wait until Mr.. Gladstone, the early
friend of the Earl of Elgin. should come INTO
reyver in order to be enabled 10 begin an
oeiciol career which would soon have reached
to high place and honor. 1t Is certainly not
surprising that public curiosity should have
been aroused when man like Laurence Oli-
phant after having mounted thus far, sud
denly came down again and voluntarily ex-
changed the gittering, fascinating life OF
London season, the inspiring and noble game
of Parliamentary politics, for tho monotony OF
A field life ut BroctOn, and the obscurlty OF a
lonely nook on tho shore OF Lake Erie.
But, apart from the personal interest thus
aroused, il will be seen that there IS little TO
attract curiosity or create amazement III the
character of the Brocton colony Ii cannot
even be called community IL il simply a
farming association of few men whose con-
genial tastes and religious sentiments induce
them To lead n secluded life and sanctify their
labor by dffusng around it au atmosphere OF
high purpose and sacred duty. There Is very
little about it which, in America at least, would
be- considered eccentric or extraordinary 1t ID
undoubtedly interesting, and it deserves the
sympathy of all who can appreciate an earnest
idea but the public would have heard little
of it through newspaper columns if 1t were not
for the presence of Laurence Oliphant. by
relieving it Of the fantastic aspect which an
extravagant sensationaIism has flung around it
We hope TO have rendered the Brocton colony
two good services-made it more interesting in
the eyes of quiet and rational men, and less
an object of curiosity in the eyes OF restless
and prying billiards.