The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-18

tinae TO torment our national councils unless it
be determined On the ground of the constitu-
tion and ON no other ground. In fact, the un-
popularity which in certain quarters now at
taches TO the Nebraska bill, and the excitement
it has created in others, Use more directly from
the utter want of confidence that is felt in the
administration than from all ether causes COM
bined.
The fate which has attended the efforts OF the
present administration ought to be . warning
to their SUCCESSORS. In this State, they in
terfered in the elections, and by that I'M
constitutional act, net less than by the
corrupt policy on which the distribution
of their patronage was based, they sue
ceeded IN demolishi1g and entirely disr-
ganizfng the democratic party, and throwing
the State i1to the hands of William H. Seward.
A similar unconstitutional interference in Mas
sachusctts produced result as prushingly igno-
minious fla less severe lessen was taught
them IN Mississippi, they suffered evsn more
deeply in the opinion of all right minded men
from the adoEtion of q policy whose corner
stone was opposition to the xrm friends Of the
Union. Now by interference in New Hamp-
shire, their corruption and. folly have wrought
a revulsion in the feesiag of thai State, and
converted warm partiss1s of eighteen months
ago into open enemies Even here, in the
midst of thousands summoned together to give
a hearty assent to the principle of Congress
sonal non-intervention, the suspicion of their
,prvity to the movement cast moral blight on
the meeting at Tammany HaM on Thursday.
1t is by no means unlikely that their unpopu-
larity will bring the discussion on the Nebraska
bill in the House to an equally fatal close.
Nothing is better established by the experience
of the last twelve months than the fact that the
support Of the present administration will ruin
any measure with the people.
A NATIONAL DRAMA-THE STARRING SYSTEM.
The present series of brilliant revivals at our
principal metropolitan theatres, has probably
by this time demonstrated to the satisfaction Of
managers that they can fill their houses and
make more money by judicious and iberal
outlay, in placing sterling dramas upon the
stage, in a superior manner, than by all the
"stars" in the dramatic armament. Never
have our theatres been more prosperous-ne
were audiences better pleased, than within the
last few weeks and the reason seems sufficiently
evident: the finest productions of genius have
been placed before u.s. with every adjunct of
scenic effect and costume, not only splendidly
got up, but appropriately and accurately.
The fact is, the public are tired of this star
ring business. Good plays, well mounted, and
q good stock company, will attract the
lovers Of the drama if anything will; and
when these fail, any attempt to galva-
Mise them into temporary excitement
will be found useless. In pecuniary point of
view, these star engagements are generally un-
profitable to the management, in consequence Of
the exorbitant rates at which they are effected;
and the true interests of the drama suffer from
the unnatural consequence given to the princi-
pal performer, and the consequent ignoring of
subordinates. The system is unjust and per-
nicious on the face of it, and we hope for its
speedy and final abolishment. The great sue
cess of the late Shaksperean revivals at the
Broadway and Burton's, and Of the sterling old
English comedies at Wallack's, will do much,
we trust, toward bringing about such con-
summation. The public taste will become more
refined and fastidious, and managers will find
that poor stock actors, ill-painted scenery, and
inappropriate costumes, will no longer be tole-
rated in our first class theatres, even with the
aid Of the brightest dramatic luminary Let us
have, then, better state of things in the drama.
Let our theatres depend on their own resources
for success. Let them bestow care in the get
ting up of their pieces-let them be committed
to the hands of actors of education and talent,
and the public will sustain them in it.
As novelty seems to be the order of the day,
we are surprised none of our managers have
thought of bringing out something thoroughly
national in dramatic line. We are often called
upon to lament the dearth of dramatic literature
in this country, and it seems rather difficult to
discover any adequate cause for it. Certainly
there can be no lack of material Our history
is rich in incident and subjects for serious
drama; our "upper ten" furnish an almost
inexhaustible field for " genteel' comedy our
GLOVER million" would certainly furnish plenty
of material for broad farce Where. then, is
our national drama? We do not speak of the
great lights of English literature; but modern
English plays seem to have entire possession of
our stage English tragic writers draw tears
from our audiences; English farces set them in
q roar. The power of supplying this vacuum in
our literature rests in great degree in the
hands OF ouI managers. Dy i;a.dicious and
liberal course toward native authors, we feel
assured that the state Of the drama in this coun-
try would be materially and permanently i'm
proved; and there is sufficient national feeling
in this vicinity, we firmly believe, to trium-
phantly sustain any one who should volunteer
to take the lead in this matter.