The New York herald., 1879-08-30
COMMUNISM AT ONEIDA.
HOW THE SOCIETY PROPOSES TO SAVE ITS
VALUABLE PRoPERrY-EQUAL TO THE EMER-
GENCY-THE NEW SYSTEM DESCRIBED BY
ONE OF THE BRETHREN.

ofkACUsEs NJ IL august ~, 1879.
Your correspondent proceeded to the Oneida
Community to interview J. II. Noyes respect
ing his late circular announcing that the
committee had abandoned the system of COM
plex marriage. When 1 arrived at the town of
Oneida not person could be found who knew
anything of the movement; it was all
q mystery to them. They hadn't even heard of it.
they could not say anything about it. and many
people would not believe that it amounted to any
thing more than . newspaper sensation. Said q
leading citizen:-"If Mr.. Noyes prints that his
own signature I'll believe it. We have always had
faith in those community people and it has
been misplaced. Their word is q good deal better
than that OF many who assume to criticise them.
] tell you. sir the word OF Mr.. Noyes or Mr..
Kinds. or Mr.. Hamilton any OF those community
men ia just good az their bond" and the dis
tingushed citizen emphasized his statement with q
humping whack ON the table with his hst.
AT THg COMMUNITY.
It was eleven O'Clock whom the community was
reached and the inquiry for Mr.. Noyes or Mr.. Kinds.
the editor OF the american Socialst. made Of
OF the divinities in short dresses.
''Mr. Kinds is in. SIR" said tho lady. and q mo-
ment later Mr. Kinds made his appearance. and
gracefully submitted his nine hundred and nine
ty-ninth interview.
CoRRRsroNDENT-Mr. Noyes has published circu-
lar regarding your abandonment Of the system OF
complex marriage in Difference to the public senti
ment which is rising against it and which took
shape few months ago at the meeting Of clergy
men and others at Syracuse. There is good deal
Of scepticism as to whether or not your movement
Is sincere one.
Mr. HNDs-I speak for Mr.. Noyes as well as for
the rest of the community that this movement is =
bona Jdde and we enter upon it in tho utmost
sincerity
ConREspoNDENT-why do you make this change at
this time? ,t
Mr.. HINDs-Mr. Noyes' circular suggests the real
reasons for this change It says we give up the
practice Of complex marriage not renouncing bo-
lief in the principles and prospective naliy Of that
institution, but in Difference to the public senti-
ment, which Is evidently rising against it. Most
people have seemed to have an idea that complex
marriage such essential feature OF our sys-
tenn that it could not be abandoned without o
destruction Of the community. We have never
thought of 1t in that light in fact, communism
of property and household indu ustries. businesses
&C.. substantially existed for several years before
we had any communism OF the affections. The
community has always held itself ready to recede
from the practical expression or its peculiar social
principles matter OF expediency and In defer
ence to public opinion.
CoRREspoNDENr-Was that sentiment fully under
stood at the Syracuse Conference?
Mr.. HINDs--It was distinctly stated at the time Of
the Convention at Syracuse and in the discussion
that followed that the community would obey any
new legislation which might be instituted against
us, which. of course meant that the community was
not disposed to defy public opinion in q stubborn
ConnKsroNDRNT-H you had any conversation
with the committee which Bishop Huntington and
Dr. Beard Of Syracuse. and Professor Mears. of Ham,
Mr. HINDs-None at all, sir. Our movement is
simply measure OF prudence on our part adopted
in the spirit Of that passage OF st. Paul. which
says:-"it meat doth make my brother to offend
will eat no meat
A CLEVER FLANK MOVEMENT.
CoRREsPoNDENT-At whose suggestion was the re-
form made?
Mr.. HrsDs-At the suggestion Of Mr.. Noyes. Some
others, but 1t was not generally considered until
brought before the community by his message OF
the 20th of August a. printed In our paper. the
conREsrosDzsr-How was his suggestion hrst re-
ceved by the community
Mr. HINDs-Well. perhaps 1t will be sufficient to
say that 1t generally to be wise and expedi-
ent. and was accepted by the community as the way
out OF dilemma to the objections which might
have been made by membcrs OF the community. It
Is sufficient to say that Mr.. Noyes' propositions
adopted with substantial unanimity and that they
will be carried out most faithfully.
CoRREsPoNDENr-To use q common expression, has
there been any bnlldozing Of the community on the
Mr.. HMDs-No present pressure is being brought
to bear by the people IN this neighberhood or any
of % S or
public that is likely sooner or later to demand some
such action on our part, and Mr.. Noyes aud others
deemed 1t best to anticipate it,
THE MARRYING BEGIN?
CoRREsposDxNr-Wh is your wedding to come
matrimony like unto the outsidersg
Mr.. HINDs-You will notice that this article says
that the community will hereafter consist of two
classes--the married and the celibstes-and that
celibacy is considered the superior condition Still.
there will be freedom for those to marry who prefer
marriage.
ConRTspoNDENT-Excuse me, but that hardly an
swers the question: We're many members OF tho
community legally married before they came here
Now. the original question as to those who not
so married, what OF them2
Mr.. HINDs-They will choose for themselves to
live celibates or to be formally and legally mar
ried.
CoRnRspoSpENT-will the reform make any chan 90
Mr.. HINps-Ony in that one direction; but lot me
emphasize the fact that regard ourselves
now on the same ground respecting marriage
those who surround us. ..i ..-r ~,
CoRREspoSDENT-Has there beon any abandonment
of your convictions Us to the soundness Of
the system of complex marriages?
Mr.. HISDs-Mr Noyes. in his circular. gives an
answer which. think. would be accepted by most
or the members of the community. He ays.-"we
give up the practice OF complex marriage. not
nouncing belief in the principles and prospective
tnaity Of that institution. but in Difference to pub
lie sentiment, which is evidently rising against 1t.
YEARS ronoorrgS.
CoRREspoSpESr-will you permit me moro
to touch vital pointY Will the male meInbers of
the community who had legal wives when they
Joined. take those same women as their wives
againf
Mr. HrsEs-Of course, unless they should mutu-
ally prefer celibacy We shall not regard the cohab-
itation which may have taken place during these
years sufficient grounds tor divorce.
CoRREsPoNDEST-Whata are the elements which will
keep your community together?
Nj. HrNEs-I think Mr.. Noyes has answered
that in his circular. He says:-"We shall hold
our property and business In common as
now. We shall live together In common
household. and eat at n common table now.
We shall have common children's department as
now. We shall have our daily evening meeting aud
all OF present means OF moral aud spiritual I'M
provement." Surely here Ia communism enough to
hold us together and inspire us with heroisn tor
new career with the breeze OF general goodwill in
| our favor which Professor Mesrs has promised
us in the condition OF our giving up what he calls
'.the immoral features" OF our system. What new
wonders OF success may we not hope for In the
years to come.
PAR WITH THR WORLD.
CoRREsPoNDENT-As to other people, will you mix
with them nowp Will they be uernli lifted to m ole