The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-07-07


law of North America, excepting the posses
sions of Russia.
The Great Historical Crisis and the
small Politicians.
| When a little, narrow minded critic, with
more impudence than brains, sits down to CON-
microscope and begins to look for flaws. II
he can discover grammatical error, or SEN
tence not constructed according to the rules of
the schools. or word omitted or misplaced,
his exultation knows no bounds, and he imme-
diatey declares that SHAKESPEARE is an ignora-
mus 1t is in vain to talk to such critic of
the surprising genius of the poet He can see
nothing but the few trivial mistakes, and shuts
his eyes persstently to the manifold beauties
which he lacks mind to appreciate. So, when
| stupid bricklaye attempts to pronounce judg-
ment upon some such miracle of architecture
as the Parthenon, he objects to this rough stone
or that cracked brick, or pounces trumphantly
upon piece of mortar which has fallen down,
and no persuasion can induce him to leave these
minute and trHng details and do justice TO the
beauty and grandeur of the entire ediice.
Now, what the brainless critic is to Shakspere,
and what the stupid bricklayeri is to the Parthe-
non, the small politicians of the day are to the
great historical events now occurring upon this
continent.
On the Fourth of July Governor Seymour, of
this State, ex Governor Seymour, of Connec-
ticut, and the Hon. Mr.. Pendleton, Of Ohio, de-
livered speeches at the Academy of Music be-
fore new democratic clab, composed of poll
ticians as small and unappreciative as the
speakers themselves We took the trouble to
publish these addresses in yesterdays HERALD,
and are almost sorry that we wasted 80 much
valuable space upon such trashy productions.
In the midst Of the greatest crisis the world
ever saw-with the news of the greatest victory
of the war just electrifying the country-these
political trimmers spent the precious hours of
our national anniversary in talking about the
arrest of Vallandigham and the suppression of
few tuppenny papers, and the awful despot-
ism which these actions Of the ad-
ministration had imposed upon the coun-
try. We are sick to nausea of such
silly, brainless prattle. 1t is designed merely
for political effect. and 1t has just about
as much influence upon the course OF
events as the lighting of farthing candle has
upon the sun. The more these small fry poll
tcians chatter, the irmer becomes our convic-
ton that If o couple of hundred niggerhead aad
copperhead organs had been suppressed, and
about five thousand niggerhead and copperhead
leaders thrown iuto a common prison, long ago,
the country would have been in far better
position to-day and in the future.
The two Seymours and Mr.. Pendleton, or
Peddlington, did well to select the Academy of
Music for their exhibition. Mozart Hall has
sunk completely out of sight, and Tammany
Hail. covered with ivy and redolent of Jackso-
MAN memories, was celebrating the glorious
victory won by the brave Army Of the Poto-
mac over JEFF Davis best generals and
best soldiers. It is most curious and re-
markable that the Academy of Music ora
tors had nothing to say about this victory.
The burden Of their song was vallandigham,
Vallandigham, vallandigham. They were 80
enchanted with the melody of this name that
they could not find time to mention Mcclellan,
Meade, Hckles, Birney, Reynolds. Hancock,
Sedgwick, or any of our other heroes. The
most momentous battle of the war was of no in
terest to them. Their hearts were engrossed
with the prospect of a triumph in some future
election. While they stood Numbering about
their petty political grievances, the whole coun-
try was rejoicing at the intelligence that the
rebel invasion had been stayed and the fate of
the nation decided We tell these Liliputan
politicians and their friends that they do not
comprehend this great historical crisis All the
civil wars Of Greece, Of Rome, OF France, Of
England, sink into insignidcance when compared
with this. The tremendous issues involved
the immense forces employed, the generalship
developed, the results depending upon this war
are of transcendent interest and Importance not
only TO US, but to the whole world
What, then, can we say Of the pre-
tended statesmen who can ignore q contest
like this for the sake of self or party or the
niggers While Europe watches the conflict
with anxiety, and the people await the final
decision with eager hope, these wirepullers
talk about yallandigham. They labor hard to
stir up their little mud puddles, unconscious Of
/ the great ocean roaring aud surging around
/; them. They are amused, like children, at the
| sound of their puny popguns, squibs and tor
pedoes, and cannot hear the laundering cannon
which announce the regeneration of the nation.
/, They squabble, like monkeys over the posses
sion Of their tiny chestnuts, and take no heed Of
the vital interests Of thirty millions Of people.
Before long they will be swept away with the
other dirt and rubbish of the past. All their
affected reverence for the constitution cannot
save them. This war will place the country
above and beyond the constitution. A man
| cannot wear chld's clothes The constitution
Of 1889 will not At the United States in 1865.
When the ship of State il once clear Of the pre-
sent breakers and fairly started upon her long
| voyaqe over the open sea before her the mean.