The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-28

ing article, written by +. I. Dun
NINGToN, now citizen of this place,
and printed in Kentucky newspa-
per, about twenty years ago, contains
just tribute TO the genius of Mr..
PRENTICE, and is not an unfair
estimate of him as public man.
The circumstances under which it
was written were these: In 1S4S- in
telligence reached this country that
Ireland's brilliant and popular poet,
Ton MOORE, was dying, like SWIFT,
sat the top first" with sOftening Of
the brain. Mr.. PRENTICE. then in his
zenith as the popular partisan editor
of the Louisville Journal, wrote a
beautiful criticism upon the charac-
ter and writings of MOORE. These
articles brought forth the subjoined
criticism by Mr.. BENNINGTON of Mr..
PRENTICE himself. The twenty years
which have passed since then, did not
change the pOet-partisan, although
the estimate placed upon him by Mr..
ID. is very much in contrast with the
unqualified praise and idle panegyric
that will be called forth by his death ::
PRENmCE-THE PoET-THE PoLITI-
CIAN.-The unfortunate observation
of the mind of that brilliant genius
and prince of poets, Tom Moore, has
afforded another and a most beautiful
theme for the pen of Geo. ID. Prentice.
His first article has been given in our
pap +, and his second, continuation
of the same, will be found on our
fourth page to-day.
To every lover of English litera-
ture-to every connoisseur of the
''flowers of fancy"-to every wrapt
visionary, who has listened enchant-
ed by the soft melody of song; or
whiled away the la ging hours in
transport of feeling over the poetry
of MOore-the brilliant and touching
eulogy, the just and deeply interest
ing criticism of Prentice, will be
read with Undesirable pleasure.
But while contemplating the SUBJ
ject of these articles, we have been
led to reflect also upon the character,
the genius and misfOrtunes of their
author; and to moralize upon Prem
tice somewhat after the style he has
written upon ''poor Tom Moore"
Notwithstanding his Tyre has not
been often strung, and the illusions
ofhis Muse have never been publish
ed i'm collected form, their brilliant
reflection, as they have been thrown
out at random upon the world, has so
charmed and captivated the hearts OF
the literary circle, as to give him a
rank among the first of American
oets. Were we to say, that in the
entire volume of Mr.. Griswold's ''Po-
cts and Poetry of America" speci-
men of more grandeur of conception,
sublimity of thought, deep and touch
ing pathos, could not be found than
"The Closing Year," or one of more
tenderness of expression, depth and
fervency of feeling, than the early
effusion witten at his "Mc Tiers
Grave" we doubt not but we would
be rejecting the sentiments of large
majority of those familiar with that
work. But the poetry of Prentice is
not found simply in in his verse-his
prose articles upon literary themes
are full of it, and bear the impress OF
a sound and comprehensive mind, an
, acute and penetrating Judgment, q
lofty imagination and fervid fancy
W it'll the ability of ripe scholar and
a correct CT lite.
We would be pleased if we could
3 here close with this merited cOmpli-
mcnt upon the character of Prentice
The poet. But The brilliant planet
that has at times shonc with such
respondent light, has wandered from
its sphere until almost lost to the admi-
ration of the world. As politician
he has deformity more unfortunate
/; and more odious than the mildew OF
Tine. which has obscurcd the facul.
ties of Erin's loved bard--a suicidal
curse inflicted by his own hands upon
his literary gcuius, more to be la.
mcnted than the imbecility of old age
The native channel of his mind was
prematurely turned, and the limpid
waters that might have sang so sweet
~ through the lapse of years, have
become a muddy pool fpOllution-a
corrupt fountain that ministers to the
L. thirst of Il corrupt taste. Like the
curse of the ancient tyrant that bound
''thc living 10 the dead" the eagle.
winged spirit of the Poet has been
chained to the odious, putrefyine
carcass of the corrupt demagogut
and dwelling politician. Miscon-
cciving the bent of his own talent, OF
led astray by the promise of greater
pccuniary reward, he turned from
the flowcry walks of literature, for.
sock the virgin shrine of his early
idolatry, played truant to his first
love. and fell TO the low estate of the
political arena, where he has become
an adept in his machinations-a staI
actor in the vilest characters of the
political arena. The glorious sun Of
his literary genius, which at inter.
walls reflects struggling ray through
the dark cloud that almost obscures
it, and which might have dispensed
such brilliant light upon the world OF
poesy and song, is evidently doomed
to set in night, darkened and otscur-
ed, without having attaincd the de-
sign of its creator, or reached the me-
ridian ofits spiendor.
There is nothing to admire in the
character of Prentice as a politician.
: lie has welded powerful influence
upon his party in this State, but his
pal er only operates with certain
class-though decidedly the largest
class, we confess who, from preju-
dice or incapacity, follow with a
blind adhesion the dictates of their
leaders. He never aspires to influ-
ence the leading men of the nation,
; but plays second to those that control
the course of his party, by issuing
edicts to those subordinate to himself,
and BY devising means and concoct-
ing plans of The lowest character in
political warfare. Abstractly speak
ing. lie is no politician, though a sue
cessful partisan. We have heard it
not unfrequcntly remarked by intelli-
gent and candid Wings, that he never
wrote on article. purely original, dis
tinguished for its ability, its power,
its sound, forciblc and comprehensive
reasoning in political ethics. His
ability consists in his tact, ingenuity
and chicanery. He is an adept allow
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