Ohio History Journal

  • 1
  •  
  • 2
  •  
  • 3
  •  
  • 4
  •  
  • 5
  •  
  • 6
  •  
  • 7
  •  
  • 8
  •  
  • 9
  •  
  • 10
  •  
  • 11
  •  
  • 12
  •  
  • 13
  •  
  • 14
  •  
  • 15
  •  
  • 16
  •  
  • 17
  •  
  • 18
  •  
  • 19
  •  

BELLAMY NATIONALISM IN OHIO 1891 TO 1896

BELLAMY NATIONALISM IN OHIO 1891 TO 1896

by WILLIAM F. ZORNOW

Instructor in History, Case Institute of Technology

One aspect of the Progressive movement which is of special

interest is the growth of native radicalism as distinct from imported

Marxism. In this movement Edward Bellamy became one of the

chief spokesmen. He was a utopian socialist who believed in plan-

ning, regimentation, efficiency, and the nationalization of all in-

dustry, but he also hoped to allow sufficient scope for individualism

in his new society. His chief thoughts were expressed in his book

Looking Backward, 2000-1887. These ideas were destined to live in

the utopian ideals of the middle class largely, for they did not take

hold in the factories or on the farms. His great message was that only

under a collective society could true American individualism

flourish.

Looking Backward was effective propaganda against the evils

of the American industrial-capitalistic society. The middle class re-

formers took hold of his program for the nationalization of all

industry and tried to carry it out in the cities. Part of this effort

can be seen in the creation of clubs to foster this principle. The

activities of these so-called Nationalist clubs in Ohio may be taken

as typical of similar club activities in other states.

When Looking Backward became a best seller in 1888, Cyrus

F. Willard suggested to Bellamy that a club be formed which would

promote his ideas. The suggestion was received with enthusiasm,

and in the summer of 1888 the first Nationalist club was established

in Boston.1

The organization spread with great rapidity and in less than

a year Willard could write that the movement boasted 6,000 mem-

bers and 500,000 "believers" and that more than fifty newspapers

had come out unreservedly for nationalism.2

 

1 Bellamy himself suggested the name. John H. Franklin, "Edward Bellamy and

Nationalism," New England Quarterly, II (1938), 751. See also Arthur E. Morgan,

Edward Bellamy (New York, 1944), 247-249.

2 Cyrus F. Willard, "A Retrospect," Nationalist, II (1889), 38.

152