Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-10-27

or lOnu iflenus, term tneu idtofltc buc
American Burke, or Gibbon or Shake
speare or Milton, they convey bitter
condemnation. When the true Amer
lean Poet, Orator or Historian shall
arise, he scW Be himself. Mr.. Parker
is himself. III were to hazard an
opinion. l would guess that he has in
tently studied the pages Of homely,
quaint, vigorous, DIR. South. But mod
Ell in composition. he has none. He
has no long sentences like the flashing
periods of his fellow citizen" Mr.,
Choate. His style isterse. His words
are mostly saxon. His manner of
thought is, perfectly electrical. Then
his powers of analysis are very superb
OF. He can unaryel a skein, however
tangled and knotty-the snarls and
tangles must come out. f1s.oil
But, lot merely does he excel in
analysis-I think / have never heard
his equal in antithesis. He can "set
one against the..other' in his delinea-
tons Of character, until the eye glanc-
es from one to the other. seeing con-
trast so plainly and wondering much
4
that it was never seen before.
Mr.. Parker has also a fine develope-
ment of the poetic element. I don't
know as he ever wrote poetry in his
life-thatis verse. ] suppose not
His electric quickness ofthoughtwould
not bear to be ''held in BY the bit and
rein of Metre, Quantity and beats and
Flows" But poetry he does write
and all the more beautiful and forclble
for being free from the jingle of rhyme
and the measure of blank versel He
gave last night contrast between the
Morse pirates, whose bold daring
alarmed Charlemagn in olden times,
and the later coming of the sons Of
those same Norsemen TO America
their landing in Boston Bay-their
passing in procession through the an
gular streets, and entering the cars in
route for peaceful colony home in
the West and "the weakest mayor
who ever pressed the cushion Of au-
thority in Boston did not have sin
| gle fear" which was one Of the most
exquisite descriptions and finished
prose poems l ever heard.
| / have never noticed that any one
has discerned any likeness, but Mr..
P's style seem to me more nearly to
resemble that of De Quincy than any
other writer.
Another element OF his power is his
calm fearlessness. There are men
who utter great and startling truths
truths at variance with popular opin-
lions and notions, but they only do SC
when under the influence of great ex-
citement, and the nearer attributes
their boldness more 10 the ercitemsni
than to the courage and conviction oil
the speaker. Not so with Theodore.
He comes calmly up to some great idol
the populsce are shouting around it
I-hosannas are ringing-he looks with
composeure upon the colossal figure
and throws down his glove. Then
deliberately he unsheaths his sword
the crowd cannot believe their senses
they hold their breath in wonder
in utter amazement as they see the
"little man in black" so cody prepar-
ing to stab or strike their giant. An
other moment and the sword CLEANS
in the air-its circling flash is seen,
but the blows fall so rapidly, that the
blade is invisible. Yet, in the hottest
of the fight, no differences seen in the
"little giant"-be has the same bland
aspect--he looks as composed now as
if he were only engaged in composing
a eulogy on peace.
A case in point is his onset upon the
character of Daniel Webster. Boston
adored the great Daniel. Her met
of money, her men Of letters were vie
ing with each other in the effort Il
. applaud-to pay the most fragrant in
{ cense at his tomb. In the midst o
; this apothosizing. thisssopen and shame
less idolatry Of one whom they called
: God like, Parker assembled his rostrum
} Quietly he looked upon his audienc'
of Webster. worshippers. and then
then tore ruthlessly the vail of sanctit,
from offtAe GodMey ,OOrshpped. Hi
: boldness alarmed and astonishod ever
/ those who knew him best.
His denunciations of slavery hav
been among the most whitening ant
, scathing ever heard. His vindication
: Of Gods supreme Law have been Dol,
and mastery.
I The daring of parker's mind oftel
r leads him astray.
a "If path were dangerous known
Q The dangers SELF were lure"
: