Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-21
THE TARTUFE OF TENNESSEE


For the Union and Americana
In one Of Meliere's admirable comedies there i.
presented plausible but Thoroughbred hypo-
critic The character IS well drawn. the guise cum
ningly assumed. the part performed with an art
and impuaence.-an occasional vulgar exposure
and yet repetition and persistence.-tr aston
ishilus.
Moliere gave TO this dramatic person the name
Of " 1aSzafs. -and the word, in all its infections.
Is adopted into the French language
Hence they define, ry.
"Tarsllfe"-a consumInate hypoerite.
"TartlQerie' profound hypocrisy.
''TartaEcr"to act the hypOcrite-to pretend
friendship--to make a show Of piety or other vir-
tue for sinister purposes.
The pretences and devices used BY Tartufe were
sometimes ingenious, at others absurd; now and
then glaringly false; and yet though detected,
posed. confronted. never was he nonplussed.
Abashed. or without quick and new rHse and di-
version.
We do not remember that the Tartufe Of Moliere
ventured so far in prastice as to avow and publish
his hypocrisy his false intent and fraudulent ar
tiices. That consummation of impudence aad
brazen-faced wickedness is. however, presented by
the Tartufe Of Tennessee"
1t was not in the committing of a capital crime
for which a grandjury Of loyal men iof the yicin7
age found against him "a true bill"-stubborn
facts are not hypocritical nor, in this, that his
ruse and role were well played. that the law Is
robbed Of its rightful claim;-but in this rather,
that he caused other men to take his views, pro-
fessions and promises as importing what they
would if used by honest men.
In this, that he himself Ito use his own wordsO
'at the bidding Of an impudent upstart Of a rebel
Provost Marshal" should leave the secure retreat
in his own dwelling. and. without escort and
bristling bayonets, should make his appearance
at the rebel desk and take and subscribe the oath
TO the COnfederacy"
In this, that he should proceed to the capitol of
the so called Confederacy." honestly earnestly,
OF hypoeritically there solicit commission to
raise and equip regiment for the rebel service
In this, that he now avOws be was acting Tar
tufe,-practicing treason-intended to deceive the
men whom no should thus begiile. (Which men?
Which sideg)
In this. that he. who asks the public to believe
that he was speaking and acting falsely in 1861.
must now accept his words az true
That be was a double traitor. professedly and in
fact, in ls6l,-but in 1866. is loyal man" and
a deserving officer:
That in 1861, he was "a veritable Tartufe." the
very chiefest of hypocrits,p but to-day is and
ever has been an unconditional loyal man"
That the merits of Tartufe must be admitted |
upon his own word and deeds.) whether false or
true in 1861 or true or false in ls66Cest "a meme
chose.-false all the time.
Wewould not condemn and expose him for a
few vices, but as he has no virtues, we despise |
him.
Ifhe did mean well in ~. his more recent con-
duct and language may mean much: Then. |
be himselfsays he contemplated treachery, fraud, |
treason, rascality. and forsooth. we must now ac |
nept him as the model Of patriot, and most un- |
corrupted and accomplishments And,
sgad, we do; so we do.
lie is just as meritorious. true and honest, now
Is he was FIVE years ago. ana as veritable Tartufe
then as now.
II is about as easy 10 answer the questions /
egarding Ttrfttfc as it was to solve those made
egarding the rawlings and ravages of a mad dog
IS reported some years ago in one of our papers.
He bit the cows tail, which soon after died"
The queries were. "'ohieh died,-the dog, the tail
" the cow" Tartufe is so skilled in ruse and
rtiiee and so covered with thick Arnell hide"
hat he only bites himself. and yet lives and acts
'artufe,-the dissembler. ALLoSs.