The New York herald., 1870-12-29
THE ONEIDA COlulGUNITY.
Two Sides Of Story, the Whole Making an
Adornig Tale, II Not Pointing
in llnmktakable MOrul.
What a8rother Of the Community Says Of the
teNewspapor Assault on the Institution
Fder Noyes on the Royce Divorce Case
Tho Communists' Millennium from
Their Staadpoint-Ths Feast OF the
Pe1tecost to be Made Perpetual.

fact In these sad, degenerate times when counter
statements are rather the rule than the exception
story is considered hardly worth regarding Mess
there are two sides TO it. few days since coun-
try paper Ia the central part OF the STATE published
tho story that the Oneida community had specially
Interested itself IN the Professor Royce divorce case,
with a view TO the Interior object Of inducing Mrs.
Royce and the children to become members OF the
community. the basis OF the statement was that
. brother or Mrs. Royce was member or the
institution and that he had exercised his ial feel
ings for the accomplishment or this sole purpose,
not that the Professor was such very bad fellow
and migrate husband. but that the wife ana children
we're too good and serviceaba material to be lost
with shadow OF hope existing or bringing them
within the sacred fold OF their CON munlty. With
tns q text, there followed
r ONE SIDE OF TIE STORY,
which was nothing more or less than the most un-
sparng abuse OF the institution, characterzing IL
= "h0mc OF free lovers" "nesJ Of hypocrltes,n
''den OF prostitution" and as IL this was not bad
enough reaching the vituperative climax and sum
ming 1t up as the hell OF the universe with Elder
Noyes as the chief dcsil and Sis er No. cs as tho
chief cook and bottle washer" and then, after al
legng that "under the cloak OF religion they 40
their helish work. suggesting, II altogether the
pleasantly mild remedy, at least the cectual one of
taking these propagaors by the throat, and either
strange them or put them behind the bars OF
prison." All this with much more OF the same sort
constitutes, as regards the Oneida Community, as
we have already stated, side OF the stcry. Now,
having looked this side Of the picture briefly but
eDergetically drawn in the most approved style OF
pen and ink sketching II Is only fair 10 hear the
OTHER SIDE or THE STORY.
Carrying out the representative policy OF the
HERALD, TO always give botn sides of a story and
then let It's readers "nod fast to tnat which Is good"
In either Of them and let the rest 60 HERALD rep
rescntative yesterday 'interylewedr Mr. Il. n. Ham.
iton, one OF the Oneida Community brothers, and
one OF its leading ana most influential menbers, to
hear their side Of the case. ia the first place
Is well enough 10 stare tal the 'sailtly air winch,
IN the newspaper aiuce 10 which reference has
been made l. set ior.i as prominently Conspicuous
In all the Oneida Community brothers docs hot
particularly reveal iJself In Mr.. Hamilton.
spEGiMEN BaoIAgR.
As possibly his portrait Is worth giving, he Is
tan hnely formed man. standing ut least six icet
In MS stockings ana with i breadth OF shoulders
reach OF arm ana power 0, muscle that pugilistl-
call cultivated would make the fortune OF prize
fighter He has moreover ruldy c0nntenancc
tnat indicates thorough appreciation OF the mate
Ilaistlc pleasures oi Inc table, ln gray wiilsAers
that impart respectful though By no means ye.-
erable expression to the Iaee large square FORE
head with growing tendency TO the napc oil The
neck; physical condition which many attribute to
early piety ana which may possibly be the case with
youth member of the Presbyterian Church; iul
lips, but by no means sensual; gray eyes, that
twinkle with hunor, and altogctnera a general look
and bearing al once prepossessilg and genuiemanly
His dress, though not conforming TO the extreme
nodes , OF fashion, was IN no respect out1e, but
or omnibus, or anywhere about town, he might be
taken for successful merchant, lucky operator
In Wall street, or Il bank president or judge, or d
fossated member u the Cnamber ot Commerce or
similar nstitnte or that species OF onice-noiders by
no means deiunct VINO always manage to be among
The '1ns'' and never among the "outs,o Or rather
antique policeman Oh a holday-anytnng but an
Oneida Community bro her, and certainly with no
pretentious air OF saintiness about MIN. He was
quite laxative ana answered quite freely most OF
ln ly..Anl sknd ha fFlr anIi hY.An
THAT NEWSPAPER ATTACK
on the Community.
"Y0u of course, have seen the MohGeos Taaey
Democrats attack on your Community we began,
shortly after the preliminary OF Introduction.
~ certalnly nave seen IT, he observed; .and the
worst OF 1t IS the article was rcpublished iii last
Sundays HERALD, and thus has been scattered
broadcast every where"
..How are The facts as stated about the Royce d
vOrcc :"
.Entl.ey untrue; SO much so that Elder Noyes
on behalf OF the oneida Coulmuniy, has published
CARD ON the SUBJECT
setting forth the exact Idcts."
'tWhat does the card ret forth ~
at goes OIL to say that puohc notice was given in
paper, the Cuculaf December 80, 1867, that the
doors OF the Community were closed against all
Applications for membership; that we have kept a
for the last year and thai we have received only
one new member since 1867, and that person was a
middle aged man. who had applied ana received
some encouragement be ore our doors were closed.
On this ground alone those who have confidence In
our good faith may be sure that we have had no
ton are offered The following facs, aud it Is asked
that they may be verified by any examination tnat
Is necessary:--Fst, that although Mr.. Horace II.
Perry was d member OF the Community when he
helped his sister, MIS- Royce, to procure divorce,
he acted on his own responsibility aud with rl un.
derstandng ana notice from us that we would
entertain 10 proposal tor bringing the Royce family
into the C0mmunity; second, that we have re-
cciycd proposals non Mrs. Royce either before
or since the Ill sOrcc; ard she has visited The
Community, except On the occasion of u pubic
picnic from Fulton, where she resides, aud third,
that Mr.. II. X. Perry, BY our advice, Withdrawn
from US with his family and Is no longer meniDer
oil the Community"
''rne facts in his card you know to be true"
"Most nnqualllidely so.n ne continued, .and IN
In connection with the story aiuded TO would like
to ADD 70 the foregoing few words as q witness"
.in Ie sprns OF Is4s W he he proceeded, Il removed
from Syracuse with my family and joined the
Oneida Community. tAsn forming. siade ihsn !
mately acquainted with MI. J. II. Moves ana It's
other leading members My long acquaintance with
established my conhdence-Grst IN MI. Noyes, as
an honest christian man. an earnest seeker after
teaching, second. IN his associates, as sincere
BIBLE CHRISTIANS,
ready to follow the truth wacrever 1t leads. During
tnese tWenty-twO years we have under providence
OF God, made a good homo for ourselves and our
children; wc have become self-supporring; we have
established valuable manufacturing businesses,
that for the last ten years have given remuneraJve
employment to a large number OF persons not con-
among them $50,OO0 annually; we have secured
good iacilities for the Improvement OF our young
people, and devote as much time and expense to
education anu scientific culture res, vi red by
the best standards. We are uG
FREE FROM INTERNAL DIsCoRD,
and we have earned the respect OF our neighbors
aDd character for integrity IN all outside relations
that is beyond question. No one has ever accused
us o. interfering with the social principles or prac
tees OF society a-Ound With 100 females In
silk factory from the neighborng villages charge
OF immoral condnct on our part towards tnem has
ever been made. No fault In TACT Is found with US,
excepting In relation to this one subject OF our
internal social principles
"Undoubtedly SO, but with many this point OF
objection overrues all the rcst.n
but considering the good character which the
Community sustatns In all other respects, ask, Doth
fountain send forth at the same place sweet
waller a.id bitterr ls 1t not probable that IN
reference to their peculiar social customs
the Community are actuatcd by CONSCIENTIOUS
tives 1hls know TO bc true, and trustuly hope