The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-23

toouie VI MI. bIeeley y lIleHus, Win lllorc
zeal than sense, have ventured to deny the
prominent and influential part which he
played in bringing the works of Fourier
before the American public, and establish
ing associations upon the basis Of his pecu-
liar views. To Mr.. Greeley more than any
other man in this country, except perhaps
Albert Brisbane, Fourierism was indebted
for the large place it held in public discus
sion. Greeley was among its ardent advo-
Gates, and we believe an active member and
contributor to the Pioneer Phalanxes. The
Brook Farm experiment, of which Marga.
ret Fuller, Ripley, of the Tribune Dana,
of the San Henry D. Thoreau, Emmer-
son, Elihu Burrt, James Russell Lowell,
and Nat Hawthorne were MEMBERSHIPS
his especial pet.
1t was really one of the most remarkable
collections of brilliant and powerful per-
sons that ever congregated in one place,
but dissolved through pecuniary embar-
rassment after the burning of the large
buildings which had been erected at great
expense. Hawthorne has immortalized
the brief but beautiful life of that assoeia-
ton in his 6 Blthe Dale Romance" These
are facts, and they are no dsscreda to Mr..
Greeley. He and his associates were i'm
pressed with the great evils of our present
competitive system, and they honestly sought
a radical remedy in new order of society !,
based upon justice and fraternity. If they
mistook the means, and were in advance of
their time it is no more against them than an
experiment in machinery, which has failed to
fulfill the purpose of the inventor. But
1t is discrediable to Mr.. Greeley or his
friends to deny the facts of history, and to
attempt to cover up this portion of his
record as public man.
The Oneida Circular, one of the ablest
of the American journals devoted to
Socialism, and whose columns are models
of conscientious care and truthfulness, some
time since alluded to Mr.. Greeley as "the
Father of Socialism in this country" In
| reply to some remarks Of the Cleveland
Leader, Mr.. Noyce, the author of the
History Of American Socialism, publishes
an editorial note from which we quote and
which, no doubt, places Mr.. Greeley in his
proper position on this question:
In a late number of the Circular We said that
Horace Greeley was and Is the real father of So
| cialism in this country, and that our history of
American socialisms ought to be 'campa gn
I,r,lrf ~, In Ill In
cause it contains the only and authentic account
| of Mr.. Greeleys career as a Socialist. Several
very respectable papers, as the New York
World the Nation, etc have seen fit to copy this
article in good-natured way, for which they
| have our thanks. We trust their notices will
| help the sale of our book, and we are sure that
the sale of our book will help the nation to form
| a true estimate Of MI. Greeley. But the Cleve-
| land Leuder after copying part of our article,
goes to yentlate its zeal for Grant and against
Greeley by representing us rs rejoicing over the
| Cincinnati nomination, and "urging the brethren
| to accord Greeley n hearty and unanimous sup.
port" as though we regarded him at pre-. ent an
active friend and representative of Socialism, al
were Fastening 10 take our places as advocates
f)r his election.
As to our personal choice among the candidates
for the Presidency, we simply ION the fence''
entirely non-c ommittal--certainIy not in favor
| of Mr.. Greeley, unless he should be success
| full in which case we should cheerfully submit
| to Providence. We did indeed say that g the
nomination of Mr.. Greeley brings Socialism to
the front - but all we meant by this was, that
his nomina ion would of course bring int nation
| al discussion his whole past career, and among
other things the fact that he was, by his labors
for Fouriersm thirty years ago the real father oil
| Socialism in this country. We have no idea that
| he is nov Socialist; the contrary, We
| have reason to believe that he is this moment
little ashamed of his early enthusiasm for
| Foureri.m, and certainly quite unfriendly
| to social principles. But the fact that
| man is ashamed of AN Legitimate child--or OF
| one that he regards as observation-disclosures not an
nnl his paternity or excuse him from discussion
! of it when he comes to be candidate for the
! Presidency; and certainly should not deprive
him of any credit which he is justly entitled to
| for the good traits which he may have trans
Initted to his child
Our book tells the truth about Mr.. Greeley
| For this reason, and for others more private, we
| wish to have it circulated That is all The Leader
| ought to lay up against us or against Mr.. Greeley
on our account.
| We trust political position is now sufficiently
defined. j. II. N.
|