The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-04

From the Philadelphia Ledger, June "a
Work Of Genius.
Whoever has not read Parnussts IN Paoyvna sairc
poem, written by Philade phian, and lately published
IN New folk-has amusement in store, if he has any
TASTE Tor SATIRE without malice personal invectve
With dse Difference to all dsseners great and small, hit
or not HIT regard il mark of genius, certainly
worthy OF the day, If not OF the age. Some may regard
the sarst too sweeping in condemnalion-as finding
merit in nobody But with disposition to under value
condemn hastily, and favorably disposed towards the
recipients of his heaviest blows compelled ad
init, however reluctantly IN some cases. their justice
Satire is always dangerous ground for the satrst is
sure 10 provoke the permanent hostility of all whom he
condemns, while he exctes merely an ephemeral praise
among the majority OF readers They laugh for the mo-
men and loud IN proportion TO the severity OF the lash
and then forget both the critic and his theme But the
recipients OF the lash remember through life and the
vDdctive among them remember II PRACTICALLY debt
TO be paid Nor has the sarst any chance of reaching
postenty unless he beyond the faults weakn
OF those whom he reviews, and uters truths that APP
Pcable 10 all times To be remembered beyond the day
or even hour in which re speaks, he aim al some
thing higher than condemnation of faults He must show
that his motives are pure his aspirations high and holy
that he wounds TO cure not merely his patients, but his
own and succeeding generations that he condemns an
author not for his the authors sake, but for the
creation and transmission of purer aste higher moral
ty. He must therefore show, in his censure hop pure
taste has been offended, high principle violated how the
faults which he rebukes tend encouraged to make the
icord worse and how, by avoiding Them il can be made
better. In short, he must wound authors cure their
age and posterily-censare faults 10 promote improve
menl.
",
reach OF any one, and the attempt, besides being
thonzed by the world indicates of modesty
We reply that each must perform his duty according
TO his convictions and that single voice. fresh from
full and aspiring heart, is potent for good than
thousand tongues for evil Hence, whoever feels an
earnest conviction OF beng called upon to speak and
able 10 speak efficiently, should speak OUT remembering
that truth mighty, and uH prtuaH In this category
do place the author of "Pdrnassts P,Lory" He
speaks boldly, like who feels that be is right; he
speaks mpar,iay against the faults OF each treating all
\ Is v. uy
Grafton beyond Their works He exposes the imbecites
of the weak, because he would have mistake them
for strength and the faults OF the strong because he
would not have them mistaken for beauties or virtues
II his poem contained other merit. ii would deserve
TO live for the high and heartfelt earnesness with which
he rebukes not only the panders 10 European depavy
and the darkling brood oil ndUe growth who follow in
their my path, bat the pirates who steal the poison
the and buy that Of the other, because isprofa-
BILE he says truly that vainy may native genius strive
TO be useful, and teach The dmeredn mind it ought TO
be taught while publishers steal the works OF for
eigners; and that while the really meritorious thus
discouraged from writing, the impure taste created by
widely disseminating The viles works OF Europe en-.
couages host OF kindred mlsch lei. makers home
scatter their the land. He all these
miscbes TO their sourcethe want OF law for nterna-
onal copyrights and he severely and justly censures
Congress for leaving the country without such law
Through this neglect, he truly says that
-" broadcast DER our land reprinted.
Books Of all clmes strewn with hand unsnted
Books such az sap our freedoms dearestliie
Books with the cant OF Kings and Jesuits rife
False taste infused-alse views OF right and wrong,
False love, false law, false sermons and false song"
How long this little work will live OF course we cannot
indicate. Horace and Juvenal immortal But the
first described the literature the second the OF
whole nation, rather Of lis ruling ella in is great
centre, while the author Of "PdrnasSus in PWorg mere
ly crcses few contemporary poets But neither of the
former has shed more light proportionabIy upon his
broad territory than the latter upon his much limi
ted field. Could either have said much better what he
has said Doing well what is attempted is the test OF
ability, and whoever does well in little gives promise of
capacity for something But leaving the great sat
iriss of antiquity, and seeking parallel in Ian
guage, and age, refer to Pope and By
ron. The "Dunciad" of the one, and the "English
Bards" and "Scotch Reviewers" OF the other, will
vive Of their works and live long any Of the
rest Yet each merely did what has been done in this
little eort-critclsed bis contemporary authors How
BY exposing their faults with pungent, causc ridcue,
and proclaning in noble tbonxhi and high feeling the
great truths which they had violated or egected.
This little work exhibits great fertility of original
thought and of classical alluson ancient and modern
Its vers6cation is occasionally harsh but sometimes,
when he j. inspired by high thought among the best
in our language. Some of his rhymes resstbly lu-
dcrous and are keenly sarcal in this very quantness
His puns launched against certain meritorous but not
fauess poet, prone perpetrate poor puns OF
the kcenest weapons which he could have drawn upon
his subject But enough Those who would laugh hear
hy, and yet maciousy, should read "Parrossus IN
Pdiory"