St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-08-26
G6e gntelligenter,
INTELLECTUAL CHARACTER.

rise to some discussion amongst few
OF your readers, and on which | would
make a few observations, with youl
kind permission. The paper in qucs
ton takes high literary ground, argu
ing that intellectual character, unac
companied by moral character, is OF
inferior worth, and unworthy of our
respect or admiration. Against this
| have heard seemingly strong ar.
gument urged but l maintain that
the principle Of the essayist is true
one, and that it will yet be generally
recognized as such.
We are too much in the habit of
worshiping and honoring mere intel
lect and genius, so-callcd, forgetful of
what should be the end and aim of all
great and distinguished minds and
would fearlessly meet the arguments
have heard 'riumphanHy urged, and
say it is an unfortunate thing for the
literature of our language that so
many OF its great names are those of
men who have offered the worst or
the weakest examples of life for the
contemplation of their fellow-men. l
find those we admire and quote as the
greatest geniuses, to be almost gen.
orally men of reprehensible lives.
There was Shakespeare, whose irregu-
laritics aroused the uneasy remorse
OF his own latter years. Goldsmith
was poor, fluctuating creature, dis
respected, and justly, by all who knew
him. Swift was sneering man-hater.
Burns was q licentious man who per-
ishcd from the indulgence of his pas
sions and strong drink ; and the same
may be said Of Lord Byron. Shelley
was hooted out of society, and Cole
ridge sacrificed the better emotions
and hopes Of a Christian to the basest
sort of physical intoxication. Moore
lived the life of a butterfly, and Camp
bell, and Charles Lamb, and Keats
loved the low sensual enioyments.
while to these, | think, may be added
the name Of Tcnnyson. Other distin-
guished instances may be found, show
ing the great moral principle and aim
were wanting to those whom the
world is most prone to honor, and who
may be considered us more or less, be-
to the class called Bohemian
And here | would say that the litcra-
ry retrospect gives us great cause of
in the character of our ma
tive American literature. Our wri-
tiers, and our poets especially. show
themselves remarkably free from the
reprehensible inspirations of their for
eign brethren. They are far more
pure in purpose, more moral in tone,
and | maintain with the writer of the
essay, more elevated and effective as
the poets of humanity. Almost all
our poets write to impress moral les
sons of mans life and his highest in
terests !; and in this, contend. is the
guarantee of their future superiority
over all others. This exhibits the
pure, true dignity of the intellect {;
and the time will come when Shakes.
pcare, Burns, Byron, and the rest will
find the lower level of their scnsuous
and earth-staincd verse, and the moral
singers of our native land obtain the
general appreciation due to the purity
and exalted purposes of their litera-
ture. We have too long been doing
homage to the wildness and eccen.
tricitics of the human mind. A better
civilization, in which our own writers
will lead the way, will yet show how
genius may be united with steady
moral aims, calm thoughts, and the
strict observance of all the virtues
and amenities Of regulated existence
in society.