New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-26
PARKER ON WEBSTER.

Theodore Parker's Discourse occasoned
by the death Of Daniel Webster is by far the
most notable and manly utterance of our time.
How many subscribers its publication in The
Tribune cost us we cannot precisely tell-cer-
taiDly, good many hundreds-yet the good it
did was cheap even at that price. They who
read it and stopped their paper have not yet
stopped bordering ton the contrary each,
as he sits down of an evening and reaches out
hand abstractedly in quest of the paper he
found such delight in reading, and grasps, only
vacancy, regretfully murmurs-" All now
remember, stopped it last winter because
of its giving currency to Theodore Parkers
Sermon on " ebster and then he falls off
into train of reflection on that Sermon, not
so pleasant nor so variously instructive, but
perhaps quite as wholesome and reformatOry
as his Tribune would have been. The man who
stops paper because of such an essay as that
viii probably remember and be the better for
it all the remainder of his days.
Yet we do not consider Mr.. Parker's esti-
mate of Webster an accurate or wholly just
one. Its greatest merit is relative and facti-
tious-rests on the fact that legons of other
Sermons, Eulogies, &c, elected by Mr. Web
sters death would have given an incomplete
and partial view of his character without this
If there were no other account of Webster's
Life and Public Services, Mr.. Parkers would
,,sv E.l i1aa Of tha Int al;
ing the innumerable host of mere eulOgies
this will do much toward diffusing just and
true idea of the great New-Englander in him.
self and in his relation 10 his times. And
therefore We are glad that Mr. Parker has con.
sented TO revise and prepare it for publication,
so that it may be bound up with its antipodes
and take its place with them in the libraries
whence another generation will seek 20
know what manner of man this mighty
Webster was We apprehend that the exist
ence OF the Eulogies and other adulatory per.
formances aforesaid will stand much better
chance for longevity by reason of this compan-
ionship. And, while Mr.. Parker's estimate of
Webster is not likely TO become popular, We
Opine that the popular estimate will be rem
dered more just and discriminating by reason
of Mr.. Parkers structures
AS We have said, Mr. Parker's estimate
of Webster, though honest and candid. is not
wholly just. The censOrs intense detestation
OF the 9TH Of March Speech and its conse-
quences blind him 10 some of the Great E1-
FOUNDER MODEST qualities and deeds His re.
vised Discourse is more finished and consecu-
tive bur less vigorous and racy than the Ser
mon as We printed 1t, taken by photographer
as II flowed warm and living from the preach
er's lips. Some errors of statement have
been corrected; several passages Of rare force
and beauty have been added; but the more
vital faults Of the original performance still re-
main. There is a glazing incompatibility be-
tween the two different Websters pre-
sented in Mr.. Parker's Discourse-the one
great intellect habitually and through
life sold TO the highest bidder. pettifog.
glng the worst causes, and always open
to the bids Of new purchasers the other
great, brave, honest soul, sometimes tempted
to do wrong, but always aiming, and generally
with success, 10 subserye the ends of Justice,
Freedom and Patriotism, until, on that fatal
18th OF March, ESQ, he was beguiled and be-
trsyed BY bis ravenOus ambition and other
mems lying promises and allurements, into
making that fatal Pro-Slavery Speech which
ruined him. Mr.. Parker's inconsistency here
is one which is evinced BY the whole body of
distinctive Abolitionists. They always repre-
sented MIR. Webster as the upholder and tool
Of Slavery, and yet they howled over his apps
tHes and contradiction Of al bis past life in