New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-29

varOus members OF cforssss bshot- speotadss,
ard undsirN,e OF every description. unfsrstInd
that your powers Decesaully quite desPo''s that
you chos-e the piAys that are performed. assisa
The pats and have the prospsrty OF ndiyiduns actors
and attacks very much in yo.r own haniN. car
hardly conceive position OF nor rospohslbaty Ton"
yours one IN which more oil good and erii c"n y
done First, in regard tO the charaeter of the pays
ard entertainments you furnish. you viii hardly RS" AZ
onc~ above the public tsDte, or bs wisI and n-'p,,
than the comm unity that supports yon. Dll you W."
certainly find II far your Interest IN uf long ra' ~
exclude every kind Of play or entertainment ti'.n
your list from which a yrtuOus heart rnls' fne"'. "
~ Which An innOfent cheek must blush IL, suo
YOU cai. nothing by the grossnes- or i'"o ~ -. :.
The Dlays YOU present People "iu go 70 e. s' "a;
talent AID great dramatic Is and ipedents but
tbev ,,nnld 90 a great deal more 70 see genus anu
newer snited with purity and truth iaAo d" nsfro"'
iouc.ush view Of the range OF subjects proper ior inc
-. hut pays which make light OF moral distinctions,
I,e vice reward crime. or ndIcue religion, are es-
ssntsIly rai.chevOus, and cannot be defended any
,b,re II managers wish TO place themselves on the
zane catalogue with pmps they have only TO continue
IN auote the public taste apology Cor producing
immoral and depraying plays. All honor IS due to
those among them who strive 10 produce the legiti-
mate DRAMA and know aud believe that some man
ayers feel lsudabe and artistic loyalty to their pro-
sson and make sacrifices to the exactiOns Of taste,
propriety and purity which the public do not sufi-
GENTLY appreciate. entreat you to consider what
enoruous influence yOR possess fof good or evil and
not 10 refuse to cooperate with ns.ng class o moral
and serious persons who aiming TO redeem and re-
form the stage.
But great as your responsibilities are to the public,
know not that they not greater 30 the persons
you employ. II You are tyranncai IN temper loose In
morals partial ia administration unprnciped 10 pecu-
MARY transactions know no class of men that Goa
be greater OppressOrs greater deIravers than man
ayers Of thtaters Your power Is necessarily great,
your opportunities bOundcss, your example Teslsti-
Bic. You have the living of young women at your
mercy the reputation Of young actors IN your gIft
You can adv your favortes and clog the Objects
of YOUR dislike reward the puble and punish the well
principled. You can establish rules OF srctest de-
ccncy and Justice in your donnin or allow not, holly
and vice to reign there You can act as the aders
and sbetors of wealthy sinners outside making your
thraters hotbcds Of RIGHTEOUSNESS and vice, or you
NAV convert them to schools of artistic taste and moral
culture. Since my interest in this subject has been
known have been made the depOsitary oil complaints
and supplcations which will not repeat, because
am unwilling TO believe. Moreover, have reason TO
hope that decided moral improvement In the internal
cement of theaters il now in progress and one
most honorable to those who encourage it. certainly
make specific charges against your important order
here or elsewhere But knowing your peculiar OppOr
tonities and experenccswith the character OF your
whole profession in your keepng-I feel bound to
warn you Of the absolute necessity Of rising above
every temptation.
And So gentlemen of the American Dramatic Fund
Society, | conclude my address, wishing that had
had time to make it shorter and ess unworthy OF the
occasion. A heavep-supported determination to do an
0ct OF Justice huu puDLC COuiu oiVHo
come my reluctance to encounter either favorable or
unfavorable publicity. The mere rumor OF this ad-
dress has already lot loose the never too charitable
tongue of the religious press in and dispnrage
ment while my course has been intelgenty approved
by tho secular papers trust neither will waste much
time in personal blame praise Of me- but will rather
devote themselves to an honest discussion of the fun.
damental principles involved IN this subject. III 1t
cannot be understood how n minister of Christ can
feel an honest love for arr aud pleasure and the amuse
ments of tho people, much less brotherly sympathy
with actors az a class shall not wonder complain
The questioning of motives and the imputaton OF
wordliness and leviy are expected quite a. matter
of course But firm in the love and confidence Of
well-tred, intelligent and sober constituency, can
surely afford to wait for justice.
In the rapid unfolding of the great Drama of Amer
can Civilizaton--its principal scene this capital city
the part has fallen to me to show the relation OF pub
lie amusements to public morality, and to claim for
the stage new and better position in society
In the very depths Of my conscience. 1 have been
impeed to this effort. 1t has been honestly made, in
the fear Of God and in view Of Judgment to come
That blessing to your profession. the drama our
country, and mankind may follow it, can only be r'y
humble hope and prayer.