The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-22

PROGRESS OF THE FINE ARTs-ORATORY IN A
New PHAsE--WENpELL PHrLLps.-The fine arts
have made rapid progress in this country in
recent years. Painting, drawing, sculpture,
poetry, music and the drama are cultivated
among us with more or less taste. These are
every day calling forth criticisms -good, bad
and mediocre. But there is a new art which
has hitherto escaped the attention of the critics
and connoisseurs, and it has been brought to per-
fiction at single bound by Wendell Phillips.
From the days of Xantippe, the wife Of
Socrates, to the present time, scolding has con-
tinued in a rude state, and till now never de-
served the name of art 1t was reserved for
the genius of New England Xantippe in
breeches to elevate it to such a degree as to
claim for it place among the fine arts. Mr..
Phillips quotes Emerson another genius of the
Puritanical stock-to the effect that New
highlander has more brains in his hands than
any other man in his head. Phillips has got
more brains in the free lips" which he
says his mother gave him than any celebri-
ty known to history. Dancing is described as
the poetry of motion. The oratory of Wendell
Phillips is the poetry Of scolding Thersites
could not hold candle to him. Phillips is
Juvenal, Horace, Junius, Pope and Swift rolled
into one. He has sublimated and etherialized
Billingsgate purifying it from its vulgarity,
and making it almost divine. He finds fault
with all things in heaven and earth, and the
place below; but so classical and elegant is
his satire that the object Of it feels delighted,
even when his throat is cut.
1t is evident that nothing can please him
neither God, nor man, nor woma6, nor govern
ment; but then his censure is couched in such
exquisite poetry that it is pleasure to re-
ceive abuse from his honeyed tongue. He says
'the best and ablest statesmen in the coun-
try"-the man whom the party Of Phillips in
tends to support for the Presidency-has COM
mitted deliberate perjury at least dozen
times in swearing to stand by the constitution;
but then this charge is conveyed in such Ian
guage as to amount to happy compliment"
Washington, Jefferson and Co. are represented
as set of blockheads, or worse; but then they
meant no harm, and were good men and aboli-
tionists Webster made terrible wreck of
himself, but then he had "the heaviest brain on
this continent" The whole clergy of New
England are but appendages to rich mems
kitchens, and their opinions bought like Con-
necticut clocks; but then the clergy have done
good in times gone by, and they have given
birth even to Phillips. The country grows
worse and worse every year. There is no Sc
curity for life or limb, or property or liberty,
and ne free speech. But the best remedy for
such misgovernment is anarchy and chaos
The whole political and social fabric ought
to be pulled down; and as for reconstruct
ing it, that is none of his business, and
is matter of no account. All Phillips cares for,
as he candidly declares, is to tear down. Let
negro slavery be abolished, though twenty six
millions of white men should perish. BE glories
in destruction, and desires to be identified with
it, like the individual who set fire to the great
temple of Diana of the Ephesians that his name
might be immortalized in connection with the
con1agration.
There is nothing too great or too small for
the sweep of his versatile, flexible tongue,
which, like an elephants trunk, can pick up
the finest needle or clutch and crush the human
form. Even the slippery "littls villain" who,
like the "little joker" Of the thimble.riggers,
when you think vow have him under one cup,
mocks your senses and shows himself under
another, is no. too insignificant fo- his notice.