National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-02-28

c'liIS, as many Americans know. in
getting access TO her or her court.
She, however, insists on one requis-
Ite--a spoiless moral character. Ii
Is because of his unfortunate domcs
tic relations, and the scandal result
ing therefrOm that Queen Victoria
refuses 10 receive a man who has
cast off is wife and is at war with
his own family. Will the queens of
American society be any less exact
ing IN their treatment OF Mr.. Charles
Dickenss
We regret Mr.. Dickens presence
III this country, bee ause he has viii.
j red our countrymen and our flag.
our press and our institutions; he
cause he repaid munihcent hospital.
ity by unme.ited abuse. We regret
Mr.. Dickens presence in this coun
try because, during the progress of
a war in which the dearest hopes of
the American people were at hazard,
he, in season and out Of season. at
the social table, in his personal rela.
! tons with Americans, in his letters
to friends in this country, bore tes
tomOny against the war and de-
llounCeG the cause of the United
States Government. So annoyed
were Americans who had access to
him at the offensive expression OF
his opinions that they were compeli.
Ell to quit his presence in order to
avoid the unpleasant scene which
must result from an honest indigna-
ton. We regret his presence here
most OF all, because our people, in
their enthusiasm over story teller
who has given them hours of pleas.
IRE are willing to forgive the insults
he has put upon them, and to forget
! the truth, which it is painful to us
to record, that Mr.. Dickens is par
excellence the one thing which should
be most disgusting to n nation of
democrats-a vulgar snob. We re.
alize that this is a severe title. but
it is a just one, and to it we look for
the only hope that the American
people will be self-rospectful in their
treatment of him. An aristocrat
may possibly be honored by a dem
ocrat with perfect right: a snob,
never. Mr.. Dickens vulgar love Of
display, and lis Willingness to play
the Uriah Hecp to those no better
than himself except i'll empty title,
show him to DO without that manly
instinct which the American people
delight above all things to honor.
The recognition heretofore extended
to him III this country has been out
OF all proportion to his true status
as a novelist. 1t is net Just to othei
eminent writer's, both native and for.
cign, that Mr. Dickens should be
chosen from among them to be The
recipient ofspecial hOnors. Nathan.
iel Hawthorne was infinitely his Sill
peiior; but the American people
never paid him special court. Mrs.
Stowe has received no such recog.
nitior. Neither Irving, Prescott.
Bancroft, Motley, nor amy of those
who have rendered the American
world Of letter famous, and given it
it's position in the general literature
OF the race, ever received such rec
Ognition as is accorded TO this deiin.
cator of the living monstrosilies OF
London. Wcdcplofc this especially
in the case of Mr.. Charles Dickens
on account of his social relations.
Alter having brought up very
large family by II wife respected by
al, who knew her, he, in hci old age
casts her of and lives apart from
her, to cOnSort, If the London press
is to Ice believed, with younger and
handsomcr mates. His name has
been associated unpleasantly with
that OF his own sistcr.inlaw, Miss
Hogarth, and with that OF Miss Amy
Scdgwick, the noted actress. With
this stigma upou his name, however
much We may admire his talents, he
is no peiSon to receive the honorS OF
" people who honor virtue in men
or to br introduced 10 our wives ant
, daughters. We urge these consid
. erations in reference to Mr.. Charlie:
; Dickens in no spirit Of unl>indnes,
/ to English literary men. We Ow,
{ Il great ana lasting deDt 10 the an
Z thors oi Great Britain. We did owe
= something to Mr. Dickens. But that
J was long ago Cancelled. After heap
/ ing upon HIM such honors as hay.
G never been vouchsafel any other an
+ thor in this country in acknowledge
!. mcnt Of the Indebtedness, his tota
Il lack of courteous appreciation a
gcntlcmanly treatment, and bis In
4 mediate return Of scurli!ous. abuse
5 have proved him unworthy to r.
/. c,ivc, save contempt, anything fin
d tiier from the American people
# either honors, adulation, or--wha
q he most wants--tOllars.
- - -
u a writer in the Cincinnati GaseH
|. saws u wrong impression of Sjnakc