New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-21
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE sTowE.PARToN DEFENSE.

To the Fditor or The tribune.
SIR: Mr.. Parsons article in The TRIBUNE of
Tuesday entitled Mss. Stoves Defense OF Lady Byron
processes to be written by one who puts himself in the
place OF Mrs Stowe herself Whether IL was authorized
by her is not stated but may at eas' pe accepted
the strongest defense of her publication which can be
made by who has the honor and appiness OF know
Ing her. propose show, briefly either 'hat his volun
tary advocacy OF her tmed or mat she has
been unfortunate In her choice OF defender
Mr Parton insists that Mrs stowe should De regarded
as an authority on moral questions" lnasnnch as lie
puts himself In her place" presume That he ar
rogates moral authority to his own Vows But In
the course of his article he manfess his utter hcompe
tency to consider any moral question relating 70 Byron
OF whom after alluding to him as I" that contemplate
backouard" he artlessly says: glad 10 Aare
more reIson for detesng him" The spirit reveed by
these expressions which possesste least
moral authority for any healthy and refined mind Con-
tempt and detestatiOn are qualities which, INSTEAD or
steadyng the Of Justice, kick ithe scales out her
hand
Having thus aocertaned Mr.. Psrton's moral sand-
point am not surprised at his remarks concerning the
nasty vices might say. the Byronc Vices, and their
influence young men. many Of chem capable OF eat
and beneficial careers 1t 10 scarcely necessary 10 oint
how much this statement Is overcharged A young man
who Is really capable OF great and beneficial carer Is
likely TO possess enough Of the manly element to prevent
him from weakly initiating Byron. meanly endeivor-
Ing to cloak his vices with the latters Butf as
Mr. Parton boldly asserts, Byron Furnished thea un.
happy young with an example and an excuse,'then
Is Mrs stowe doubly culpable in revealing new and
moro awful crime for their imitation! Then may we
soon look for the sin Of incest own shores,w1h
Byron cited as its example and excuses"
Again: Mr. Parton quitting himself in the pao OF
Mrs Stowe says she has torn of the mask from the
hstrionc OF characters" Were 1t not for tm ex
cess OF his contempt and detestatiOn. he might lave
ohariably applied the "hstrlonic" character to many
OF Byrons alleged ycesl Now, Byron's ahectato, OF
misanhropy and sin and despair has always been hy
recognized by his later readers and critics. In fact he
wore the mask so loosely that his countenance
seen behind It while lived Mrs. stowe hes ADDED
nothing whatever to our knowledge Of Byron. except
the single crime OF which she accuses him. while her
quotations from "Cau and Don Juan calculaed
to msead rather than enlighen tho ignorant reader
Finally Mfr Parton quitting himself in the place OF Hrs
sowe attempts Justify the betrayal OF sacred emf
dence by asserting there could be biographyun
less such things wero done. Mr. Parton lin his own
place. Is biographical writer. He knows how mucl OF
biography suppressed. because tho decent instncof
Civilized Man demand such suppression. Even Gibon
employs what he calls the decent obscury OF leared
language" for statements concerning persons whse
lines died out fifteen centuries ago. Mrs stoves moal
authority" on question OF this kipd ia no higher than
OF the humbest woman IN the land fried
OF mine. living In the country, Informs me that amOg
his healthy chastc. and simplehearted neghbors-mn
and women Of pure natural feengs-there is one unn
imous voice OF condemnation their verdict is" whether
true or not. It should never have been told"
Mr. Parton compares Mrs. stoves authority on tue
subject 20 Prof. Agassiz fish. Prof Pierce IN
mathematics cannot Imagine any chthyolosical Or
mathematical question the solution OF which would DIS
grace two living families; aud would sOlemnly ask W
Parton after he has put himself IN Mrs. stoves pacJ
whether he Is willing 70 crafty his contempt All
deesation at the expense Of woman against whom 10
word OF SANDER has before been breathedagaimt
tho dead Augusta Leigh and her living children Noso
sophstry vail the endless pain aud regret which Mis-
Stoves nLscretion planted in every sensitive heat
no assumption OF morality disguise the unchristn
maeyolenco which rcjoocs IA tho detection OF anohcrs
SIN am willing to believe that Mrs. stowe was lid
into her by oyerzeal for the reputation OF dead
friend for Mr Partons exuliaiicn there "a no eEeue
Az AUTHOR.