The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-23


the timely acquisition Of Cuba without war;
but it msy be that we have no time to lose
There may be peace patched up with Russia
the Baltic or Black Sea squadron may then
be transferred to the Gulf of Mexico, to insult
defy, and intimidate us--we may thus, with
the continued insults Of Spain, be provoked
into terrible and bloody conflict. The true
policy with Spain is bold, decisive policy
forthwith. It is the last hope for the admins
trstion and the democratic party the last
hope for Cuba, and the only policy for peace.
Let us have an extra session, and q Jacksonian
message to Congress. Let us have settlement
with Spain.
MORE OYSTER House CRIrIclsM-GErrNG
HOTTER AND HoTTER.-Beginning with the
epoch Of Guttenburg, Christopher Columbus
and Martin Luther, the new oyster house critic
OF our Fourierite contemporary came down yes
terday hotter than ever upon Forrest in a
trade against his representation of Othello.
Omitting the Introductory column Of rafting
rigmarole Of this review, telling US, among a
variety of things, what sort Of q politician
Shakespeare was, and what sort Of free color
ed fellow citizen he intended his Othello to be,
we are told that
such to ideal, the Othelo Of Shakespeare but
expected Moor with the elasticity
of his race the face lit up moment with glowing
fire. at the other sotened with dark sorrow, but round
every movement hanging that voluptuous ease and
gracefulness which, BY generous law Of
has been given to the colored man. to console him for
the black Of the But Mr. Forrest instead Of
being graceful is clumsy, instead Of being elastic is
heavy; and when he struggles to throw upon his fea
lures soft radancy Of sentiment, their hard broad,
copperiah surface casts back the effort unreHected.
Otheos address to the Senate in the first act loses it's
thrilling pathos in Mr.. Forests delivery, and
those touching words
"she loved me for the dangers had passed,
And loved her that she did pity them,"
which softly gushed from the deepest depth OF Otheos
heart seemed to come from the deepest depth of Mr.
presence soothes the calling wound which lagos helsh
hints had left ranking in his heart and the divine
purity Of her look inspired him with heavenly percep
ton Of truth, and made him exclaim,
'1f she be falss, oh, then Heaven mocks itself
I'll not believe it,
instead Of exhibiting face radiant with confidence and
love and faith and shon for the moment Of every par
tice Of doubt Mr. Forrest exhibits suky struggle be-
tween still lingering disbelief and slowly penng i'm.
preston. The beauty Of the sudden Is In its
spontanieN. Mr.. FORESTS phlegmatism breaks the
spell nthe conversation With Iago about his wifes
honor Otheo's big heart bleeds he eaten up with
huge passion and deep sense Of wrong s written
ing cloud temble soft streaks of touching
row, which tell Of the deep agony of a heart
stabbed u IT, hottest T., asons 81, And i tins
object Of tender pity, not Of hatred. But shah-
Forests conception Of Otheo The revenge written
upon his brow Is BRUTE sulky passion The is
cultural copvuson and through his agony gurges the
old rattle In the parting scene with Desdemona, in
stead of the half reluctant hesitating murderer, Mr.
Forrest looks the inasxble resoluts hangman, bent
Forrest does not represent the Othelo of Shakespeare his
personaton s bold, rough vigorous representation Of
Othelle Of his animal conception Fancy strong
athletic man. with COARSE fierce passion, fixing Like Bill
SYKES his brute love some frail woman, ana and
ing himself betrayed roofing in his soul logged deter
minston to wreak revenge In MURDER which tender
memory or pity can for o moment soften. Fancy him
carrying his dark purpose out with fierce, mplacable
suen fury. Before the murder is done you almost
see his huge hand fixed with stern grippe upon the
throat and his muscular limb pressed the breast Of
his fra victim. OF such an Othello Of the ruds ruan
ton And to those who admire Marco spada and such
strong nelo Dramas in which physical and
passion the qualities required would recommend
to Mr.. Forrest in his Gown Othello.n
Now, if there be any truth in all this, the
question comes up at once, is Edwin Forrest
an actor at all-or is he but q brawny pugi-
list, Tom Hyer or Morrissey, who has miss
ed his vocation? Certainly, when he made his
debut in the Bowery, many years ago, under
manager Gilfert, Forrest was esteemed man
of rare genius and talents as an actor. The
Bowery at that day was classic stage; for
there, about the same period, Madame Malibran
fulfilled her second engagement in New York.
Since that time we must admit that the Bowery
has descended somewhat from the Legitimate
drama;" but we are not aware that Forrest is
responsible for the fireworks and "terrifc COM
bats' which have at length superseded there the
finest readings of Shakespeare by the highest
artists. On the contrary, from that day to this
Forrest has advanced in the public estimation,
until he has attained and holds, by large con-
sent, the hard earned title OF "the great Ameri-
can trsgedan"
Here, however, our new oyster house critic
comes forward, mortified and disguised with
American ignorance, and tells our fellow citi-
zens fatty" You are all fools can't you per.
ceive that Forrest is brute Look at his neck
his leg, his arm and listen to that awful rattle in
his throat; 1t is Yankee Sullivan or Bill Sykes
in rage, and not Othello. Forrest is not com
petent to act the genteel negro. Can't you per.
ceive it," Such is the meaning of this rare
specimen of the oyster house corps. He is Of
the abolition stripe-he likes the color of Othello
as his beau ideal. Forrest does not make him
black enough, nor sleek enough, nor smooth
enough, for the amiable black rascal our ANAL.
gamation critic would have his sweet scented
African murderer to be. Let the Broadway
manager try Fred Douglass, or the fugitive
Burns Anything to appease this ferocious abo-
lition socialist who rises now to rule the roast
Meantime crowds Of curious people are at.
tracted to Broadway to see for themselves
whether Forrest is really an actor or ruffiau
genius, or bully in disguise. Parties are IN
process of formation-Forres and anti. Forrest