New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-19
THE REV E n CHAPLNS SPEECH AT THE
PRINTERS BANQUET


The Rev Mr. Chaplin being called upon to respond 10 the
fourth regular toast which was American Literature"
spoke as follows
suppose is a very general conce that after dinner
large degree Of impudence Is 20 be expected and V
allowable. This notion however is based upon the pre-
sumption that by that time the orator wiz be in such
condition he win not know what he says and his Saience
viii not Ii happens to night however that this
diton does not suit either side and vet 10 Mt know
that anything but impudence can be apology for pre-
sumng to respond to the sentiment just proposed Those
should have been called upos sir VINO are far better quail
fed than | am speak for AI1ercdH Liferatsre-who
hare spoken for il emphatcally either by the thought
which they have contributed TO It's splendid stock by the
genius with which they have illustrated its characteristics
or by the practical help which they have given TO its dfa
sion This enterprise of thought and senmenthis vast
achievement OF intellectual and moral poser-employs
greatarmy fromt newsboy trumpeers aud its arleymen
of the pen its veteran leadrsts rvngs and Bysnts
and Bancros-on whose breasts the world has its
stars of the Legion of Honor And each Of these loyal
to its interests and Jealous for It's reputation Each of
these may point to the aurels his brow, liz his
backenCd hands Of toll and claim 70 say something
because he has done something, for Americaa Ln
erature And the diversity of agents which | have
thus indicated shows US one great popularity Of this
literature II Is literature dlfHscd amoAg he people
flowing from the richest fountain heads Of wisdom along
ten thousand channels into every houecaried up into
every story, brought TO every levelan Intellectual Gro
ton as long and broad the continent with a. many
reservoirs as there school houses and many by
drants there are printing offices literature that s
not penned up for class and served in costly books but
that abroad by every facility and by every style of
cheapuess because It belongs people who can read
and therefore be trusted Il is the literature of live
people, who don't trudge in the harness Of fsudal formulas
or lie baking in the sum- but who feel that they part
and parcel of great world, and mean to know what
going on II has bold thought let him utter IL
II can do harm this open air of freed though II
were made of csmphene and gunpowier II anybody
has caught planet or seen the sea serpent, publish
the fact-everybody wants 10 know il. Ii the Rus
sian bear has had his claws cut BY seine
tar and goes bowling back toward the Baltic,
let us hear tive shall all BE- giad to hear H.
And is the literature of people who find In this dfused
intelligence not only the qualification OF curiosity but the
magnetism OF world wide sympathy-whereyer man
oices or suffers, suffering and rejoicing with him. How
rapidly those dings last week fused US together in one
great sorrow Every heart shuddered like the timber Of
the San Francisco And when we heard Of the gallant
captain who stood by them when the stars aud stripes and
the Of St George were lost and blended in the light
of universal humanity the cry God bless him. came
from FIVE hundred thousand voices through pair Of
lips The great characteristics Of American literature
its instant and its universal diffusion has its evils but
who that considers the proydena course of events but
must acknowledge its far superior ami finally triumphant
good shall not be absurd a. to re refuts the argu
ment implied in the old question, Who reads an Amer
"can book r should rs soon think of one when looking
at Saratoga or Fort Erie, asking Where IL American
"can commerce. Ii is absurd in the hst place 10 orns
charges of want of originality As well find fault WITH
man for having his mothers blonde complexion or his
orandfatbers nose Is not their literature oursl CGn
distance abolish history the waves OF the sea wash
away the linea blood Of genus' Their fathers song,
are ours and their familiar sayings our household
words Our fathers had o work to perform more im
rortant even than to create a national literature
thev had 10 create a new form of nationality-hey
had 10 organize hberty-they had TO write out new
theory in their blood and build up institutions with their
homes They found here only the rough model or east OF
new world They had to improve IT, ill up with yer
dure with health and with beautythey had TO make the
home of the worlds freedom and they have done IT, They
realized the idea that had long oated vaguely In the minds
of thinkers and the principles for which martyrs died
vain thew made practical that every step We take here
shakes thrones and bursts open the sepuchres OF martyrs
and gives us glimpse Of their bloody winding shsec
That Is enough to have accomplished ioo yet, ~.
they have also created literature which remark able
one is earnest and bolda literature that takes hold OF
the heart of things There nnumerable instances oil
this Permit me 10 aude 10 that book which, IN three
wears has gone the globe in every language and
10 be found in churches in social societies and in places oil
amusement everywhere. And II Is literature yet to be
felt in the denies Of the world Our future Is not mere
ly political we are by literature to work out moral
and intellectual change in the condition OF mankind NY
Pheniz friend here referring to Mr. Harper proof OF
our energy with regard literature The same spirit thats
in the American heart the same energy the same earnest
ness will flow out into literature and through ntotne
world al large Sir believe in the future. lam no enhus
asst Ofproeress play sentimental tune TO the
1.-THE good time coming believe In better future
for his world believe that there divine grsvta
ton in the planetary roll of that the gull stream
of moral providence sweeps through the Atlantic OF ms
tory When look at the frghtfu wrongs OF the feudai
system and at the seemingly solid walls u tyranny ana
ask shall they ever be swept away Shall they ever
crunbe into dust l answer, yes buch sha Dc the
triumph of American thought and principle.calm buf
mgbty-slent but irresistibe-a power kinded by .ne
lightning Of free thought and scattered aprosa oy e
swift fingers Of the press.
This speech was received with the high degree OF aP
plause and enthusiasm which ii merited