The New York herald., 1869-08-29
New England Puriianism-Its I.atrM Mani.
festatiOn.

New England Puritanism-ts Lp,c.r Mani-
fesiatiOn.
We cannot say that this latest Byron scan-
dal, which has woman, and that woman a
Beecher, for its author, has absolutely startled
the world, but we can and do say that Mrs.
Beecher Stowe meant to give the world q SEN
sation and that she has not been 80 successful
as she intended and believed she should be.
No matter. The attempt has been made. II
the raking up of the ashes of the dead and
the vilifying Of great names have brought
money into the Golfers of Fields & Osgood and
into the pocket Of Mrs. Beecber Stowe we
have every reason to believe that they will be
satisfied. Like the Pharisees of old they
have done their work and they have had their
reward.
We have no desire at present TO go into this
dirty business. We cannot say there is blood
on the hands of either Mrs. Stowe or the pro-
prietors of the AAanhc Monthly; but il there
is anything worse than murder it is, according
to the common Judgment of mankind in all
ages, to disturb the dead or TO vilify their
and the proprietors of the atlantic MoaMiy
Rave been guilty. Byron may have been as
bad as Mrs. Stowe makes him, but she has
| failed to prove it. This, however, is not the
main point. She has numerically, and without
good reason, unless money be good reason,
done piece of work which is as filthy as any
work can be. If it pays, Mrs. Beecher Stowe
| and her publishers will, we suppose be salts
| fed.
To us this whole affair is interesting from
another point Of view. II is New England
piece OF business. Fields d Co. is a New
England house; the Beechers are New
England family, and Mrs. Stowe is one of the
most illustrious Of the Beechers. New Eng
land has long claimed for itself the right to be
regarded as the moral representative of
the United States. Why not n Was it
not founded by the Pilgrim Fathers? Was 1t
not the original home Of the Puritans on this
Continent? Was it not there where the perse-
cuted nom n-comformists of England founded an
orthodoxy which was more rigid and more
intolerant than any system which the worlt
had vet known? Severe and uncompromis
ing as Old England had been under the regina,
of Cromwell, it never approached in uncom
promising severity the New England whicl
sprang from those men who, better meanin,
than wise, first landed at Plymouth Rock
Old England, under the Puritans, had IL
martyrs, but 1t did not burn either Quakers o
Indians or witches. We cannot deny that thu
principles which guided the New England
settlers developed hardy, thrifty, industriou
race whose power Is felt 10 this day over th
length and breadth of the American Continent
As in the case of the Jews Of old, severity ha
bred force, and that force has impresse
itself in many ways during the last hundre
years, and many times for good. Tn
! impress Of New England is upon th
nation, and in the character which New Eng
. land has given us we are largely known to tn
outside world. We are gradually and surel
emancipating ourselves from the thraldom
this ancient tyranny; we are compelling th
world to look at us In different and NOR
agreeable light; but the Yankee character
Q still the character which Is attributed by ou
, side nations to the American people. Thi
: general truth Is proof of force. But who ca
i say that New England has any longer a clai