New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-14
CLASSICAL INVESTIGATIONS.

Denostbeues; ard whether, if Ike Demotthenes,
i. was ere iitatle to hin to be like Demosthenes;
or whether it would 70. have been better for bis
historical reputation to have been unlike Demos
themes j. e. whether DemostheDes wss patriot or
trimmer; whether Ctesiphon, TIE son OF Leor-
themes, when be proposed golden crown to De
mostbebes, was patriotic or parasiticai; whether
E.chiries vas night in rib roasting Csesi2hon;
whether it VAS fair to vicsrously fog Demossheaes
in the person Of Ctesiphon whether the AfaeniAns
we're tight 10 sending Ctesphon to Rhodes where
be bad to open a echo oil for living Mr. Wendell
Phillips, in lecture which be recently delivered,
declared that Mr Daniel Webster was ike Dsmos
themes and that the resemblance did him 70 credit
The Boston Erenng Courier which, We believe,
boasts a Greek Professor among its conductors,
immediately retor,s that Mr. Webster was, to be
sure, very much like Demosthenes, and proceeds,
through two columns aud half, the most classical
which We remember Il, have seen in daily news
psper intended for tea table reading to viadicste
Demostbenss, and to blacten the memory Of
EschiIes, the con Of A!rometus who will upques-
tionably, if permitted to do so, leave his sphere,
come down to Samos, take ship for Boston, aud
drum q midnight tattoo upon the hesd-board of
Profe ssoi FELTON, This combat has become very deep
and desperate, ard promises to distract the polished
people Of Boston very much as it distracted the
fierce Democracy Of Athens two thousand years
ago. Indeed, in Erglish literature, there has been
nothing like it since the great war on the Epsties
Of Phaldn's between DR.. Bentley aud the Hon. Mr.
Boyle. In Importance it seems to be very near THAI
ds.ractipg dispute For our own part, we wish
it to be distinctly understood that, so far from en-
terirg into contest which would require which
side soever we might spouse ,uch fearful auoaut
Ct eIuditiop, We shall content Ourselves with i'm
partially ststrg the arguments Of the conb,tants
We intend entering upon a most lsborious invest-
CATION, which will probably consume the next five
years We intend to resd up in Becker, Bremids
Raumer Milford, Zosimus, Taylor, Clinton. aud
Prof FELTON,. At tie conclusion Of our bookish in
vestigatiop, We meap to ponder for ten years
longer. We shall then devote FIVE years more to
the competition of our opinion, which will be 90
fearfully erudte that, upon the instant of its publ
cation, it will require commentary the most extern
siye and profound. In The course OF half century,
the people of Boston will fnd out whether Mr.
Webster was or was lot like DemOsthenes; and
we feel encouraged to enter upon the SO laborous
duties, by the fact thai whatever may be the con-
clusioD it will not be Of the slightest importance to
any body-tha being the msin point always to be
aimed at in these classical discussions.
Mr. Phillips is of the opinion that Demosthenes
was not entitled to the golden crown The Boston
Courier is of opinion that he was. Issue is joined
upon Ii is point ard the argument proceeds with as
much vehemence, at least upon the part Of the editor
as if the crown aforesaid were the subject matter of
the dispute, instead Of being in this sse of silver
pitchers, an article of honor entirely out of use
Mr.. Phillips declares that Demosthenes " fed from
L" battle" and that he gave counsels that brought
" the city to ruin" On the other hand, The
Courier asserts that Demosthenes " did not run
away" that the charge was copied from the
" uncritcal Plutsrch," who, by the way, is q most
unfortunate writer, as nobody credits bin if they
have the least motive for dscredting him. that
be fought in the ranks" while Eschines stayed
at home, and did not 6gbt at all th,s he devoted
himself heart and soul to the welfare aud glory of
" his country" Unfortunately for the completeness
Of tie parallel it does not appear that Mr. Webster
ever fought in the ranks" The question is not
whether be fought and ran away which is pity
inasmuch as he would unquestiOnably have fed 10
the most classical STYLE and would have been, if
not Demosthenes, at least like Horace. He did
not run away, because he did not $50 in" This
opens a very interesting subject Of inquiry. IfMr
Webster had entered tho army, We will say Is q
Major, would he have proved himself classical
character by running awayl This i, point
which, alas can never be settled, which is very
Encouraging to the biographical mind. But let US
no longer weary our readers BY discussions so eX-
ceediDglJ incapable of conclusion. We intended to
cover our ignobs retreat by blazing Greek quota
ton, but We abstain, partly because We cannot
remember one and partly because We have no
Greek types-nOt even an iota The Courier has
here the advantage Of u.s. and its pages bristle like
one Of DR.. Paris
Mr.. PHILIPPE, who is not an ardent adnirer of the
late Mr. Webster, proposes that somebody should
behead bis image" just as in France, long ago.
they were won't when the real culprit had escaped,
to decapitate his efiey in straw. This suggestion
The Courir pronounces " base and cowardy,"
and, because it was applauded it calls the audience
brutal" But if We consider the question as one
of art only, can Mr.. Philips be severely blamed
Who have more savagely criticised this unfortunate
image than Mr.. Webster's most devoted admirers
the very humble servants of bis illustrious shade
1t was all wrong, from shirt-collar to shoe-the
buttons were wrong-tbe coattails lacked the
genuine fall-the pantaloons were gross forgsries,
and the boots disgusting to the weeping eye Of