The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-26
OBITUARY.
ROBERT DALE OWEN.

o'clock yesterday morning at Pecater's Point. Lake
GEORGE n. Y. Mr.. owen born in Glasgow, Scot
land, In 1901 and his carly years spent at New
Lanark where his father then resided His father,
Robert Owen, was a remarkable man and published
several books which advocated tho peculiar theories OF
"sociai reform" OF which hts at later period
such an ardent supporter The principal OF these
works "New Views or Society; or, Essays Upon
the Formation OF Human Character" Book OF
the New Moral World" .sOutline OF the Rational
World and others Having amassed an immense
ortune he determined 10 como TO America for the
purpose OF making an attempt TO practically out
his peculiar communslic theories, and in 1928 pur-
chased the settlement OF New Harmony In Indiana,
on tho banks OF the Wabash. The scheme proved
failure, however, did other similar ones started
subsequently IN Great Britain and Mexico. For the
rest OF his life he continued 10 advocate the same
theories and trained up his in tho school OF
thought
Rober, Dale owen was thus early impregnatcd with
those peculiar views or social life politics and re-
lgion for tho advocacy OF which he aiterward be-
came remarkable He received his early education
under the direction Of private tutor the house OF
his father at New Lanark. and III 1918 sent to
Fellenberss school at Holwy, Switzerland, whore no
remained three years He accompanied his father to
America in 1923, and resided at New Harmony Tor
some tImc. In 1928, in partnership with Miss Frances
Wright. he commenced the publication at New
York Of weekly paper called tho Free En-
Quirer, which he continued for three years. Hc
then returned TO New Lebanon and was three
times returned to tho Indiana Legislature. In
l843 he was elected TO Congress as democrat aud
continued in the House till iS4z During his stay in
Congress he took lending part in settling the North
west boundary dispute and introduced tho bill orsan-
izng tho Smithsonian Institution In lS46 he became
OF the regents OF tho institution and appoin
chairman OF It's building committee In 1850 he was
elected member OF the Constitutional Convention Of
Indiana, and was made chairman OF It's Revision Com
mttee subsequently no introduced In the Indiana
Legislature measures securing TO the women OF that
state 81 Va, cns1ss 1Sss
and in 1855 no was made Minister, which
position he retained for three years On returning 10
the United States in 1860 he had long ana acrimoni-
GUS discussion with Horace Greeley the subject Of
divorce He OF tho most earnest advocates Of
emancipation during the early part OF the OF
ommerding a proclamation 10 this effect
His principal works arc "Moral Physiology Qs3D;
s.Discusson with Orisen Bachelor on the Person.
Atty OF God ana tho Authenticity Of The Bibe''
(ls32), "Pocahontas 1887, Hints Public Archi-
World" s60L 1.-The Wrong of Slavery and the Right Of
Emanc pation' (1S64, Beyond tho Breakers" 1s70),
Next us7sI. Threading My Way" us7a. anu '"'
In 1875 no became insane, and the mind which had
provided SO much nstpuction and amusement Tor his
fellows lett throne. He was most ervcnt believer
In Spirtualism, and the mediunistic fraud, "katio
King" brought him to ruin. AS recent writer ex-
planned IT, when the heartess imposturc OF the Holmes
mediums the Philadelphia consprators with '.Katic
kim. y was exposed, the shock to Mr. Owen was tre
mendous He mad accepted the pretended .'manifes-
tations' Of these rascals with implicit iath He lived
time in Philadelphia in order TO miss Of the
scances The repeated apparitions OF "Katc' were to
HIM conclusive proof OF immortality He pinned his
faith In the life hereafter, in reunion with he aud
his wife, what Sprituaism, and especially upon
what this pretended spirit showed him. Readers of
article in the Atlantic Monthly upon ..Katic King will
remember the syllOgsm which the good old man paiu-
iuly constructed therein by which he proved TO his
own perfect satisfaction, that tho visitor indeed
olsen bodied bit OF experimentation The day before
the article appeared the fraud was exposed. Mr. Owen
wcpt bitterly 1t sald when conviction that he had
been made the dupe OF trio OF Kpavcs forced ilscif
upon him. He telegraphed to Boston TO cut out the
article, but II was 100 late The Magos'ne was already
printed. A thin slip OF paper discaiinng any edi-
torial responsibility, and thus ruthessly increasing
that OF The author was prenxed to tho sketch. And
thus II came 10 pass that Robert Dale OWENS syogs-
tic proof that "Kac King" was spirit and 'Katie's"
confession that she was q fraud were published
vigorous could stand this blow that shook tho faith
OF half q lifetime But his medical man had allowed
him TO continue work. a. nc WAS recovering from q
was worse than death While his nervous system
IN a condition OF utter prosration he wrote ''The
Efficacy OF Prayer and "rhc Unity OF God" Just at
this time. too, that BY the death OF friend
no had como in possession OF legacy Of 000 which
was most unwiscy communicated TO him, and his
mind being very weak took III balance from that
moment Tho thousands he magni1cd into millions,
and hence toe lunacy in regard to wealth. Early in
July, 1875, his physician DR.. Chds. of Philadelphia,
wrote OF him as f0liows:-
"Havlng known him intimately for seven years, l
case through its various stages any When he
first me, over ten years ago. ne had something
OF the same character that has troubled him lately
namely painful congestion Of tho transverse colon,
which disturbed him most at night being partially
tho control Of the will, so that no could remove
the pain during the day II was accompanied rs II
generally Is with torpor Of the liver and kidneys |
examined him clarvoyantly and gave him homno-
pathic doses of aconite, alternating with vomca
and he was soon entirely relieved Since
that time he has been under my care
cra times, and his system has responded
,l,A trtnn hnnt unx nnI v0t Whnn
he came last spring WIS SICK and l referred HIM
the magnetic physicians Drs. Paxson and Buckwaitcr
who treated him with satisfactory results. The old
congestion OF colon returned times In the dag
noss oil any disease We should know all the symptoms
and causes as lar as possible. That Mr.. owen was
troubled about tho miserable fraud OF the Holmcscs
there be doubt but he was SO tar morally above
everything OF that kind-beine one OF the best
ever knew-that do not think It alone would have
injured him. He considerably troubled about his
writings IN the Atlantic Monthly, which yielded him
fair recompcnse and which lie feared would not be
required much longer.
"Mr. Owen had the enthusiasm OF a youth and
would enter upon whatever he undertook with 30
down. Our advice 10 him was to avoid all literary
abors for year. All these things, combined with his
late acute disease, which was the exciting cause and
perhaps the njudcious Information about the legacy
doubtless produced his maady. cannoS express
any OPINION OF his case, though have gloomy fore
bodngs OF the ISSUE IL is unusual for soitcning Of
tho brain to rapid course some OF tho
ply sicians have expressed
The death OF Mr. owen affords occasion for the pub
wrote to President Lincoln on September IL 1862,
urging him TO issue proclamation Of emancipation -
There is measure needing courage to ADOPT and
enforce IL, which believe to be OF virtue sufficient
redeem the nation In this Its darkest hour; only
know OF no other 10 which we may nationally trust
for relief from impending dangers without and within
The dangers which threaten US are twolod-First,
from the Confederate iorces composed OF men whose
earnest convictions aud reckless bravery is idc to
deny. Secondly, from ourselves, compelled 10 mako
Of military power OF proportions 80 gigantic that
nation permitted tho existence OF such without
more less risk TO the people VINO employed It, II
thlnk lightly Of this latter danger NO slight the
teachings OF all past time.
As TO the arst:-Have you not had your moments OF
doubt whether we are to succeed ~ aY Whether tho
Union, glorious will ever be reunitedy Whether
peace. which used 10 enjoy with as little gratitude
do the sunlight tho air we breathe Will
again settle down over our distracted country n
have doubts OF all this Is only because do not know
what your action will be- We have al disposal the
means OF certain success but cannot tell whether,
while there rs yet time, you Will decide employ
them Our enemies, like tho GrccIan hero, have ono
vulnerable point You have not touchedit yet What