The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-03-12

finishing the business 80 rapidly that II . change
for the better does not soon take place there
will be nothing left Of the party but little,
abolition clique and the federal o1acs holders
In the fall elections Of tho present year.
The spring Osnpsigas ee Lincoln sad
Maretxsk. H
Before Ruohanan's administration resigned
the reins Of power It arranged few happy
combinations to embarrsss President Lincoln.
Our ships-of-war were dispersed oil over the
world. Our little army was distributed along
distant frontiers. Our arsenals we're emptied
of cannon and muskets. Buchanan's Cabinet
was resolved that II Buchanan could not save
the Union nobody else should. Upon the Same
dog-in-the-manger principle Manager Grau
made up his mind that nobody else should
give Opera In New York. Pressing engage
ments called him TO Boston and other country
towns, a. the charms Of nature called Buchanan
to Wheatland; but he was determined to have
no successor in New York Maretzek announced
himself ready to take Grsu's place here, just a.
Lincoln was prepared to step into Buchanan's
shoes; but Grau, like Buchanan, was in no
mood to allow such rotation in office n he
could prevent it. Consequently hs hit upon .
brilliant strategic iaea. He bought up all the
chorus singers and divided them between Bos-
ton and Philadelphia, as Buchanan scattered
our ships, our armies and our munitions OF war.
An opera without q chorus was an impossibiiity.
Grau felicitated himself upon having check
mated Maretzek so cieverly.
But Maretzek, like Lincoln, Is man not
only of rare good nature, but also of extraordi.
nary powers. If we were to have an operate
dictator he would be the very person for the
situation. He arrived here as quietly as Presi-
dent Lincoln entered Washington, but not in
Scotch cap and long military cloak. He
brought his generals with him, as Lincoln did;
but he found himself without chorus, as Lin
coin was without an army and navy. Investi-
cations soon disclosed the astounding fact that
the chorus, like Lincoln's army, was distributed
far and wide over the country, and that many
Of the singers had gone over to the rebels,
under Grau, who is now the operate jeff.
Davis. But Maretzek like Lincoln, was undis-
mayed; and, without waiting for the return Of
the old army, he proceeded to raise new one.
Seventy-fve thousand volunteers were de-
handed. They came like the rush Of the tenn
pestuous sea. They besieged the box Office of
the Academy, and stopped up the passages at
the stage door, Maretzek soon had o chorus as
much larger than the old one as Lincoln's
volunteer army was larger than the regular
force. Then came the preparatory drills and
rebearsals and dress parades. Who were the
Scott and the Mcclellan Of Maretzek's troupe
we are not informed. Able and experienced
discipiinarians they must have been, for the
chorus was remarkably efficient The ladies. in
their window curtain dresses, sang loudly and
swceuy. The men, in their impossible pants
aud improbable jackets, growled steadily and
deeply. Maretzek met no Manassas. He led
bis own troops, as Lincoln should have done.
and took New York captive as easily as Lincoln
will soon capture Richmond.
Both in the field and at the Academy the pros
poets are excellent for q splendid spring cam
paign. President Lincoln has large, we'll
drilled and finely equipped army, and Maretzek
has an equally splendid troupe. The people
are as anxious for the success of the war as for
the success Of the Opera They will support
the one as heartily and cordially a. they sup
port the other. The few copperheads in our
midst are Of no moro account to Lincoln than
the desdheads to Maretzek. The peoples purse
Is at the service Of both popular favorites.
While Lincoln has the best army ever mar
shailed on this continent, Aiaretzek has the best
company that has appeared here since the time
Of Malibran. Medori is to Maretzek what the
Goddess of Liberty is to President Lincoln.
Mazzolini Is as full Of fire and dash as Rose
Grams himself, and, like that celebrated pupil of
Mcclellan he is always acting. always on the
qui uire and always successful. Almost equal
praise may be bestowed upon the other artists
Maretzek has no Fremont in his band. He
gives idlers and incompetents the cold shoulder,
and the President will do we'll to adopt the
same policy. Maretzek has = much better cab-
net than President Lincoln, however. His
Secretary Of the Treasury is backed by the
Marti gold mine, full Of Spanish doubloons,
and the artists are paid in gold, as our soldiers
and sailors ought to be. We wish Maretzek's
treasurer would have . talk with Secretary
Chase and convince him Of the feasibility OF
specie payments. Chase has . Marti mine in
Colorado and Idaho, II he only knew It. As for
Stanton, Halleck and Welles, we can find no
parallels for these three werthies In Maretzek's
troupe. Indeed, we doubt If their equals are
to be encountered in this wicked world. Nature