New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-05-23
Mrs. Harriet Beeoher Stowe.

l
Some one has some where said that ''we all
feel a secret satisfaction in hearing of the mis-
! fortunes Of others" This is carrying the doc.
trine Of universal selishness rather too far but
II the word :" faults be substituted for misfor-
tunes, the adage becomes almost truism.
When we are asked if we have seen the morn.
ing's paper, and told that the leader is excel.
lent, we are always prepared for satirical oil
| abusive piece; and are seldom disappointed
When we hear that certain person is very en-
| tertaining and his conversation 'rich," we i'm
medately suspect that it is of the anecdotico bio
graphical sort, highly seasoned with scandal
and our surmiscs are usually verified Not
withstanding this general fondness for satire,
however, it is usually good plan to denounee
evils which occur far from home and which one
listeners under no tempta ton to commit
Let Northerners condem slavery, and Southern
ers abolitionism like the clergyman who ac-
CURED great popularity by preaching up the
wckedness of Sodom, and saying nothing about
that Of his congregation.
Such being the case, ought we not to feel
gratifed to those who, by their vices or follies
supply us with interesting topics of converse
tion--who say, do or write things upon which
we can pour forth our walls of wrath with per-
feet safety
Anopportunity of this kind has been furnished
us by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe She has
committed the objectionable sin of vilifyinr our
pet institution, and Of writing the most inter
estlng and popular book of modern times: n
book which has elected more answers than the
Sphynx, more tears than the Stranger, and
more money - than one likes to see flowing
into another's purse. She, moreover intends to
spend the fortune 50 obtained according to her
own judgment, without consulting us In one
respect her book resembles the evil of which it
treats: Slavery-many defenders of which ac-
knowledge it to be an evil, but maintain that it
has been blessing to the negro by making him
acquainted with Christianity and civilization
So, g Uncle Toms Cabin" though undoubtedly
q vile production in itself, has been {. blessing
to the press in general, and to Southern editors
IN particular, by attording them an opportunity
of exhausting the vocabulary of censure with
out risking their characters as Christians or
philanthropists
When there are no elections on the tapis; no
awful conhagrations, fatal accidents or terrific
explosions; when contemporaries remain obsti-
nately reasonable and inofensve; and the edi-
torial mind verges on stagnation, il can always
make "A display of wit and patriotism by attack
ing Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, and her never
to be- sufficiently condemned novel
This subject, properly handled, is, like oat-
meal cake to Sandy, potatoes to Paddy, or roast
beef to John Bull, dish always in season.
The public taste for it seems Unsuitable Even
utter non-committal journals come out boldly
on it without fear of losing single subscriber
1t is safe as the weather and much more spicy.
1t is, like the purse of Fortunatus, inexhaust-
ible.
And yet, Notwithstanding all these claims on
our gratitude, this authoress has received no
thing at our hands but abuse No voice south
of 3" Mason and Dixon's line has been raised
in acknowledgment of the benefits she has con
tGrred on us. On the contrary, so universal is
ab hprpnnpp W har i,a,,
even under the refuge of our nom de
plume while we venture to hint that she is not
entirely reprobate not quite so black as she's
painted DAISY.