"conspiracy theory" antedating

[Garson O'Toole]

Great citations! Maybe the following from 1872 fits the definition for
an instance of "conspiracy theory" for the OED :

The nomination of Messrs. Greeley and Brown was the result of a deeply
laid, cunningly devised, plot. The secrets of the conspirators are
well kept, but enough has leaked out to show the existance of the plot
and some of the methods of its operation?. ... Assuming that our
conspiracy theory is correct, who can measure the reward, the
conspirators will claim if their plot is carried out and Mr. Greeley
is elected? Who of the honest thousands and tens of thousands, who are
supporting Mr. Greeley, will claim that he can arrest the tide of
disaster which must flow over a land cursed with an administration
based upon such a foundation as this?

Citation: Logansport Weekly Journal, Logansport, Indiana, 1872-08-31

It does seem to be "political in motivation and oppressive in intent".
But I do not know if the nomination was considered to be an
"unexplained event".


On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 7:52 AM, Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Stephen Goranson <goranson at DUKE.EDU>
> Subject:      "conspiracy theory" antedating
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> OED online has 1909f, "4. Special Combs. conspiracy theory, the theory that an
> event or phenomenon occurs as a result of a conspiracy between interested
> parties; spec. a belief that some covert but influential agency (typically
> political in motivation and oppressive in intent) is responsible for an
> unexplained event; so conspiracy theorist."
>
> Whether or not the following--not in OED, for some
> reason......--qualify for the
> "specificly" definition, earlier uses include:
>
>
> Critic-Record, page [2], col. 2, iss. 1856
> Publication Date:
> August 8, 1874
> Published as:
> The Daily Critic
> Location:
> Washington (DC), District of Columbia
> Headline:
> The Conspiracy Theory
> Article Type:
> News/Opinion
>
> The headline refers to the proposal that "Messers. [Theodore] Moulton and
> [Frank] Tilton" conspired against Henry Ward Beecher. Other newspapers use the
> collocation in later reports of this case.
>
> Not the next use, but in a better-known case:
>
> Boston Journal, page [4], col. 4 & 5,vol. XLVIII, iss. 15904
> Publication Date:
> July 4, 1881
> Published as:
> Boston Evening Journal
> Location:
> Boston, Massachusetts
> Headline:
> The [Illegible][actually legible: THE ASSASSIN]
> Article Type:
> News/Opinion
> col. 5:
> It is understood that Cutter said Gatteau [Guiteau] was the man [who
> shot Pres.
> Garfield], but the authorities are reticent as to the proceedings connected
> with the conspiracy theory.
>
> [Various other newspapers in following days deny the "conspiracy theory."]
>
> Stephen Goranson
> http://www.duke.edu/~goranson
>
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