The Portland daily press., 1869-10-20
nr.. Steve, Lord Byrou and The TIN

Mr.. EDIroR.-Geo. w, Curtis, of New
York, the editor of Harpers Monthly Maya
zine in very able and candid article on pages
764-7 of the October number discusses thu
credibility of Mrs. Stoves accusation of Lore
Byron, and arrives at a different conclusion
from that which many of our newspaper ed
| itors have hitherto favored us with.
That distinguished writer regards LPJfon's
guilt as not only credible, but bieAfy probable
and in fact, expresses burn oehef OF the
poets criminal-5'
Such seems also to be the opinion of most
of the English writers, who ought to be at
least as well able to judge correctly as Amer
leans.
Inc case has attr acted SO much attention
in both countries that there is now but little
| doubt that decision will eventually be reach.
ed which will command the assent of the lit.
erary world, and the memory of Lord Byron
must sink beneath the hideous stain of incest
or be left to struggle on as best it can, under
its old load of shame.
If the general verdict convicts Byron of the
offence of which Mrs. Stowe on his wife's au-
thority has accused him, we mink she has
rendered valuable public service in making
this tardy exposure.
While no man, however infamous. should
be accused of a crime of which he is not
guilty, we have no patience with the plea that
has been put in for Byron, by several Ameri-
can editors, that an English Lord and poet is
too sacred a being for the contemplation of
Yankee woman, even though that same Lord
and poet may have practiced the most shame
less and unnatural crimes.
1t is bad sign when people shrink from
the truth, no matter under what pretence.
IN our untutored judgment, it is suspicious
style of morality which covers up the rascaity
OF church-members and undertakes to fi-own
down those who seek to drag to light and to
punishment dishonest deacons or licentious
clergymen.
The cause" of religion and GOOD morals is
not injured by the exposure and punishment
OF such wolves in sleeps clothing, but by the
efforts of decent men to shield them from it.
SoWIth our literary men, living or dead. If
any man or woman has evidence on which
the pure and honored memories of Campbell.
Coleridse, Southey, Cowper or Milton can be
Justly assailed, we submit that of the two
evils it is far better that one even of these
bright particular stars should thenceforth
shine with diminished lustre, than for us TO
try to keep up their reputation with fnturity
by pious fraud.
Ii this is sound doctrine for Milton and |
Coleridge, what have the American apoIoeists |
or professional debauchee like Lord Byron |
% advance in favor of his exemption from the |
general rule?
Is his superiority to Coleridge and Milton
rs poet sufficiently great to outweigh the in
amy OF his life and the undisguised teachings
'i some OF his writings? Away with such
miserable snobbery, such contemnt;ble
! meanness Of spirit peculiar to
iehiocratlc america, for thus far those Eng
ish Journals which are trying to dofand p1'
on have had the manliness TO meet tl,o -,
ion solely on the ground of its improbabitv
We repeat that IL Lady Byron's accusation
urns out to be true, Mrs. Stowe deserves tba
hanks of the moral, religious and literary
,orld for her courage in publis hing it even at
lis late day, for but tor her the secret would
very few years have been forever buried.
Hencefortb, if the story proves true, the
lends of good morals, gooi manners and
ommon decency will have an answer for the
eak young men and silly girls who may be
,b iaiSer OF becoming poisoned with Byronic
rnlcs, ana that is, that the elegant public
rot ,S.ao.; ior adultery was himself in the Sc
FeI practice OF incest.
ons restra otse IN, may yet be the popular no
Isl such writers as Lord Byron WE vnal heIior W
nat Christianity has leayened soo we oeliese :
en1ly 70 brand incest as an nngentIem sgl
n Fnei; vulgar and disgusting crime, even N /
:, "a ransl!ishman, poet and nobleman and Il
Pre- predict that the charge, if true, will st an
he shirt memory ef OF Lord Byron forever, like g
our s 9, MSessas and may possibly suggest
innocence oaa that professional sed1cer G
~ nt Go youth IS capable of any crime of o
JUvENAL. ] a