The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-17

land not their own; and, alas IL must also
compete with them in military preparation.
There must be, on the banks of the ST. Law
renee and the borders of Maine, 'double
row of cannon and q double row of custom
houses" There must be, between American
territory on the North and American territory
on the South and West, separate power in
all respects antagonistic to the United States
Looking before and after, at the past history,
present position and future prospects of that
country, can any man feel that such a state of
things is without danger of war 4? The United
States is the home of a whole people which
cherishes the deepest hatred to England. The
Irish element is getting stronger yearly in the
United States, and while England is bound to
protect her colonies, she is never certain of
peace with the United States while a Fenan
organization exists, or while n raid over the
frontiers is possible. Further, the "Monroe
Doctrine" may not be proclaimed daily from
the housetops, but it is still living, active
spirit in American politics. The "Iatin EN-
pire' in Mexico, at the frown of the republi-
can giant, ''toppled over with a shrek the
shrek of a murdered king. The Dominion
of Canada must sooner or later meet
with the same fate. | pray it may
not be a more bloody one. While the Do
minion exists there is ever the cloud of war
on the horizon. To those living in England
it may seem but of little moment, but to us
who live under the shadow of it it is porten-
tous / may be told that it does not become
England, who rejoices in eight hundred years
of battle and conquest to fear any nation.
But l submit that England has defeats and
losses to remember, and has had before her
eyes, lately, proofs of the prowess of the
United States. l can pardon the pride which
remembers with Joy old glories and successes,
but there is no excuse for the blindness which
ignores old defeat and disaster. 1 can pardon
the inexperience which trusts to bright sun
and an almost unclouded sky for a continu-
ance of fine weather, but there is no excuse
for the stupidity which neglects the little
cloud on the horizon, and rests in fancied
security until the full force of the tempest
bursts on unprotected heads.
From "Our Monthly Gossip we take the fol-
lowing opinion of the relations between the
Academy of Fine Arts and the artists of Phi
ladelphia. 1t is not correct in all particulars,
but is mainly just and true:--
Art and artists afford generally matter for
a little gossip, and there seems to be in the
antagonism now existing between the Phila-
delphia artists and the Academy of Fine Arts
a fair field for few honest words, gossip or
otherwise. 1t is claimed by those most inte-
rested in the pecuniary success of the Academy
that there are now on exhibition in its gal
leries dozens of first-class pictures by our
artists. Notoriously, this is not the
case: Philadelphia's best men are hardly
represented at all, and there is scarcely g005
picture now hanging in the Academy halls by
a Philadelphia artist. Most of those exhibited
are not worth the frames in which they are
hung. This may be an unpalatable truth but
truth it is. If the progress of art in this city
be there fully represented, woe betide poor
art The Directors seem desirous to place
the artists in the position of ungrateful chill
dren, who, after having been reared and
trained in the Academy, now desert
her, the ''Alma Mater" of their youth
full days. Such does not seem TO be
(after careful investigation of the
history of our artists) the truth: artist
whose name adds to the lustre of our city, or
whose works are known beyond its limits, has
ever drawn or studied in the Academy. All
have made their studies abroad or in private
studios in this city. The efforts of the artists
hitherto exhibiting, the result of many years
of painful study, have been used by the di-
rectors as a means (given by the artists grt-
tujtOUSl3) to swell the Importance of the an
nual exhibitions and the amount of the an
nual receipts. But they are carefully excluded
from the management of the affairs of the in
stitution and have no sufficient voice in its
councils. Their pictures are accepted and
hung anyhow and where, and the galleries of
the Academy, except during the spring eXhi-
bition, let to statesmen who profit by the mex
perience of our picture-buyers This is a
scandal. Good foreign art is ever welcome,
and most of all to artists, but bad foreign
work should never have place on the walls
of an Academy devoted ''to the advancement
of Art in Pennsylvania. SO far Gossip says.
He has not a wish but to increase the love of
Art among us, and to see an advance in the
appreciation Of good Art by its patrons and
producers.