The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-25
The Erect OF Uncle Tom in Europe

Theatrical and Miscellaneous Intelligence, &c.
The Effect Of Uncle Tom in Europe.
The London Times. which cannot afford
room for the speeches Of Mr.. Cass or Mr.. Ever
EFT on the highest questions of international
politics, publishes at full length letter from
Professor Stowe to Mr.. McSymon, informing
that gentleman and the world that Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe is indisposed. Nor is the Times
at all in advance Of the rest of the English peo-
pie in this respect Honors such as crowned
heads have seldom received await on all sides
the authoress Of Uncle Toms Cabin. Congratu-
lations and .fstes that a sovereign might envy
are pressed upon her from every quarter: rich
and poor noble and plebeian, throng the path
through which she is expected to pass British
statesmen deem her opinions worth care
full study. Archbishop Whately deliberately
awards her the first place among modern
philanthropists, and the leading critic Of Lon
don deposes Dickens from his throne to exalt
Mrs. Stowe. Public opinion in Europe fully
bears them out in these extravagant views
About one hundred editions Of Uncle Toms
Cabin, or one million copies have been sold in
England. Some twenty editions, comprising
100000 copies. have been sold in France.
Thirty editions, or 100000 copies in Germany.
At least ten editions. or rather more than
100000 copies, in the rest ofEurope. We shall
not exaggerate if we say that the total circula-
ton Of the tcork in Europe amounts to tvo
millions Of copies. 1t has, moreover. been
dramatized in ten or twelve theatres; and
the personages have become more familiar
to the people than the heroes of biblical
history. Scott's novels, or Shakspeare's dramas.
Neither the Imperial library Of Paris, nor the
Vatican library, nor the British Museum, con-
tans any work whose popularity is so extensive
in Europe at the present time as Uncle Toms
Cabin.
Its success is phenomenon which deserves
to be studied. Abolitionists like the Earl Of
Shaftesbury see in it nothing but striking ex-
preston Of public opinion against negro slavery.
A few whose unreasoning philanthropy may
possibly excuse their deficiency of literary acu-
men, ascribe it to intrinsic excellencies which
they have discovered in the style and plot Of
the work. The bulk of thinkers note the fact,
and judiciously abstain from expressing an opin-
ion as tOits causes.
Their reserve is creditable to their discretion
The source Of the popularity of works like
Uncle Toms Cabin will not bear probing in
Europe. When Cayenne and military platoons
are so constantly before the eyes of the public
it is but common prudence to hide under jest
or sagacious doubt conviction whose corolla-
ria rri1hf IaaI 10 thor For
deeply as the discovery may wound the anti
slavery faction. they may depend upon it they
are destined to find out, some day, that the
abolitionist sentiment goes for little or nothing
in the success of Uncle Toms Cabin. It's
prestige rests not in the plea it urges on
behalf of the blacks, but in the bold, ear
nest tone in which it sets forth the rights of
man and the principles of natural democracy.
The color Of the heroes of the tale is soon lost
sight Of by the European reader. His passions
are stirred by the wrongs of injured individu-
als-men like himself. He asks not. he cares
not whence they hail, nor what destiny fate has
seemed to allot them. All he notes is the OPP
preston they are painted as suffering. With
out any extraordinary effort OF imagination. he
draws plausible analogy between the condi-
ton of his own fcllow-countrymen and that of
the Uncle Toms Of romance. lie can find a
Haley in the feudal landlords Of his native soil,
and many Lagree in the agents oftheir estates,
or, still more frequently, in the military tyrants
whom these latter days have produced in such
numbers lie can readily apply to his own
case the piteous prayer for justice that Mrs.
Stowe utters on behalf Of her black proffegs.
Instances are not wanting to remind him that,
however fancful her pictures of negro life the
miseres of Casey and the brutality of Sam
DO, are not without precedent in European his
tory. Hence the thrilling interest he discovers
in the narrative. 1t is to him burning appeal
on behalf of the oppressed throughout the globe
His own case-that of his friends and fellow
countrymen-are plainly depicted. The negro
Disguise does not delude him for an Instant.
Those rights which Mrs. Stowe claims in such
powerful language for the negroes he has been
vainly struggling for century or more to con-
quer for himself Every noble impulse which
she implants in the hearts Of her impossible