New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-03-23
NEW PUBLICA ITONG.

American kef0rmers the subjects of this
volume are taken from the ranks of the lisio,
They include Theodore Parker, Garrison, Lymsn
Beecber, Henry Ward Beecher f. Fl. Ch.pio
William II. Seward, James Russell 10 veil, Hor.
ace Bushnell, and others. Connected with the
spirted, though Dot always accurate biogr.pb-
ical sketches that form the principal feature Of
the volume, are extracts from the writings of the
persons described, giving the means OF arriving At
\ just estimate of their comparative merits.
Several of the characters introduced have also
been made to ait for their portraits. The work
is essentially Of popular character, and fIrn-
ishes several striking personal anecdotes Of we'll
known Americans, who have been prominent in
reform movements, though little more careful
sboration would have greatly enhanced its in
tfnsic value. Theodore Parker. for instance lie
said TO have received his academic education at
Harvard ColIege-sD honor to which tina. stately
old Alma Mater OF Massachusetts men can lay
no claim. The brave Theodore had little &C
ouaiptaoce with colleges or universities 10 early
life but picked up his learning in the intervals
Of laying stone wall and ploHipg intractaee
burrows q bis native homestead near Lexiogson
Monument. Most Of the sketch Of Parker, how
ever, is so good, that We select from it few
paragraphs;
THEODORE PARKER.
few miles out Of Bostou just far enough to escape
the Gust aid confusion OF the town, there Is ad~ellDg
which would attract the eye of genuine lover OF
Al natural beauty. II s not char.cterzed by splsn-
cor and ott btaop, for no pompOus cotton merchant
or ret red ramseler occu lies it. IL s PLAN aud YET
beautiful, uppreienious AID yet spscious IL eur
rouDCtd by thIubs and trees and howers OF every nue.
ard the uiost delightful fragrance, in the sumner
time Should you che nee some early May morning,
TO wanoer past this pleasant spot, very LIKELY IN the
gsro en- you will see man 10 q PLAZA smock irocs,
hard at work. He is rather short in stature, rather
slebder in frame and, IL you catch glance OF his
eye you will at once entertain serious donot II tae
man be by profession gardener. Let him IN the
wide straw bs. from bls persprDg brow 10 ca'co q
cool breeze and you know a. once that he IL no CON
MOB Guilty. stOr at the soil Theodore Pdrs or is BE-
fore You. Tie besu.ful dwelling his, and his own
bsDds have contributed to the oveliness which sur
rouLosi..
Theodore Parker is one Of the nobest men This age
can beast. No sham ever yet could find lOdynen:
in bis brain heart He abhUrs the false and l)vos
the tue aud manly. Not particle OF vulgar g-nt-
ity, not a grain of aristocrAtic feeling ever in
him, CT get into him. He esteems q man
Just accordiu TO bis moral and intellectual worth
for what he does aims to do. He loves m-n be-
cause they men; bot because they white, or
rich, or trace their genesOgy back five hun iret
yesrs. An outrage upon the rights OF poor negro
in the streets of Boston stirs the blood u. quickly In
bis eat as if II had been committed upon the psr.on
Of the Governor OF the Commonwealth. wrong
Perpetrated upon a wretched dIuDks'is wife OF
child. awakens ME thunder of his eloqusnc9 when,
IL inflicted upon the strong rich, he would have
kept silent. Ii is this gigantic manhood in rheod
Parker which forces TO love and admire him. In
spite OF his in6delity, which 80 often s,srtes and
shocks u.s. We Fit down inv0mntariy at his feet 10
listen to his great words, hls courageous uterances
81 kna. AID. tkl
receive Dot one word of his nfdety. To US, Christ
is not ey the greatest man that ever lived, but is
vastly more; to the b. BILE is not book crsnmed
with erTors-the miracles exdggera'i5ns; and yet 10
many Of those who would cruelty Mr.. Parker, We ia
Dsntly cry: alt is not for y0u to denOunce this
man; you who In your lives each day tranpls Jesus
Christ and the Bible under yourfeet; you who would
refuse cup of cold water TO your Lord and Master
rau there in his veins drop Of African blood -
The manliness Of Mr.. Parker is apparent 10 his
dali, life. A shoemaker upon his BEECH il hesrt-
noble is to him r cher than Abbot l. swrence, with
his acres of cotton mills country farmer, IN bis
fragrant clover fields though of limited kno ~edse,
if be be possessed OF generous heart and firm in
tee,ity is III his eyes of grester worth than Daniel
Webster, usiDg his great intellect to perpetuats op
pres,ion. No man will deny that MIR. Parker is one
of the most remarkable men OF our time, and that
his influence is exceedingly powerful.
The personal Appearance OF Theodore Parker IL
not remarkable. and yet the observing man will dis
Indications of bus wonderful genius 10 his face.
spare in flesh has partially bald head, fine, CON-
pact brow, and flashing eye. His features are
rather small, and bis organization Is CT the tnest
Cud. There is oelicscy in bis nervous system,
which is indicated by the fineness of his hair just
that amount of oelicacy which is necessary 10 make
a nervous and intense writer and speaker. msn
with the ous system Of Tom Hyer cannot become
a great orator. He osnnot himself feel intsnsely
cenLot understand the subter methods OF re sching
the souls OF men.
People who have read the sermons Of Mr. Parker
sIe usually disappointed in hesrirg hin preach or
lecture. He IS not an accomplished orator, IN an or
dpary discourse he is altogether too elees too devoid
of gesture But he has voice of exceeding beauty,
end he cen, when he chooses, charm an audience by
bic striking and fascinating gestures and manner
Occasionally in bis sermons from the bold and m AZ
gldes into the calmly beautiful, The contrast At
such times 10 almost overpowering and the heart Of
the listener 10 touched as by the voice Of an angel
The pictures Of strange and quiet loveiinees, which
nestle among the grand mountains Of his dsoourses
are not surpassed IN poetic beauty In the writings Of
any living clergyman The fact 10. Theodore Parker
il poet lie has the intense and consuming FIRE; he
has also the genteness and the love OF true poet
He is rbymer for the reformer Of these times has
not time for measured sentences, when tue land il in
danger Of ruin
msority Of the sermons of Mr.. Parker contain
nothing offensive TO the most devout Christian His
reputation s founded not much up,n his hsresies
a. upon his genius and philanthropy. II is the fact
that he il fearless and powerful defender Of the
vropged, which gives him place in the he arts Of
millions who have no sympathy with bis religious
vitws.
Another strong man is bit off in Z few eIpres-
sive words:
HENRY WARD BEECHER.
Henry Ward Beecbsr Is one OF the most populsr
men in America, apc at the same tine he is one OF
our most radical reformer. He is the pulpit re-
formet--fhe man who thunders forth the most In
popular truths every Sunday, from his pulpit, to an
snsi.r "a cor sistinp not of independent country