Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-05-08
A FARCE.


FARCE.
ssThe widows of Ashur are loud in their
The idols are broke in the temple Of Baal.'
Thus beautifully has Byron ex-
pressed the anguish and desolation
which succeeded the humiliation of
Sennacherib and all his minions.-
The Assyrians had menaced the Jews
with utter destruction; they had left
their homes with every prospect OF
great spoil to tempt their avarice ;
they had joyously parted with their
wives, but now the "Angel of Death"
had stopped in his flight and the busy
camp had been transformed into a
"eity of the dead". Imagination can
alone depict the dismal howls, the
suppressed sobs, the wild grief and
piercing groaps, which would arise
from each habitation throughout that
broad realm.
Twas pItiful, twas wondrous. pitifnl-"
The tragedy of Sennacherib has
been lately burlesqued. 1t appears
as q political farce and eXcites uniyers-
al comment. From the notices which
this burlesuue has received in the
periodicals, IL must surpass anything
of the kind the country has ever
seen. The conflicting statements of
the eminent critics, who have given
this production their undivided atten-
tion. renders it somewhat difficult to
form the most definite opinion in
reference to the merits Of the princi-
nal actors, However all unite in con-
sidering it a most prodigious farce
In character it may be classified as
the serio-comic. The gravity and
importance OF the leading ''Totes" i'm
mart to il somewhat of their serious
ness. while their glaring absuTdites
and inconsistencies give it tiDge of
the comic which sometimes deepens
into the truly ludierous. The authors
of this farce are making frequent
cancellations and additions, and are
apparently determined that its failure
shall not result from a lack of time
and attention. 1t will be kept con-
tinually on the stage-Or rather stump
until the October elections, but
when they are passed we predict for 1t
a well earned oblivion. Its unexpect-
ed appearance has excited a buzz OF
curiosity, but it will prove as useless
and as transitory, as fourth OF July |
rocket. The rocket attracts all eyes,
shoots through the air, is dissipated |
into a few sparks and shortly all is
darkness. It has gone and has left no |
trail. MAY IL not be so with the farce |
which Messrs. SchurZ, TIumbull d
Co. have enacted in the Senate?
General Grant sustains about the
same relation to this farce, as did |
Hezekiah to- the original tragedy, |
while Schurz & Co. take the part oil
Seunacherib and his, associates. Hez-
ekiah is represented as hnmane ana
moderate primes, who was not fond OF
bOasting OF rant. Sennaehefler on |
the other hand, was arrogant and
domlneering.
Those conversant with Old Testa-
ment history will remember that the |
Assyrians st first attempted to con-
vince the Jews that they would pro- |
mote their interests by surrendering
Internationally as opposition would |
be entirely useless. The Jewish Head |
er quietly refused to comply with |
their demands. He recognized q !
higher power than that of armed |
men or frowniagawalls. The guardi-
an angels who had ever accompanied |
the Jewish people, were lowering |
oyer the doomed city, and in one mo-
ment it was delivered from the terror
of an invading host. Sennacherib |
could not discern these winged mes |
sengers, as they wheeled over the |
heads of the Jewish soldiery; but |
Hezekiah saw and trusted them, and |
found them strong in the hour of
need, u. s. Grant is quiet man, a |
peaceable man and he rests his pros |
poets of reelection on the confidence
which he has inspired as a soldier and
chief executive. 1t is by disregard !
ing this confidence that his opponents
arrive at the conclusion that he will
surely be defeated. But with the
confidence of the masses to sustain |
him, he can successfully weather the |
storms of vituperation and calumny,
which are being hurled on his head,
and finally be triumphantly retained
in his present position.
The first act is introduced by the ap- |
pearaDce OF Gen. Grant in the garb of
a political guillotiner. From the san
guine nature of this introduction. one !
might be led to call it the legitimate
tragedy, but from this moment it as
sumes a less bloody and vindietive
character until it attains that of the
true comedy. The General officially
decapitates Sumner, SchurZ, Trum- |
bull and few other leading lights"
or in other words he quietly informs
them that he will not require their
private and confidential advice on
questions of administrative polity.-
They writhe and squirm like the fish
ing worms which the relentless angler
has sacrificed d to the prospect of a fine
trout. Tneir prospects OF continuing
to be the biggest toad in the admins |
trative puddle, became inconceivably 7
attenuated. Whereupon they turn |
States evidence, defame their former
associates, vent their pent up spleen |
on our political institutions and rush |
"nepotism, nepotism, ,"-just as if it |
made any difference to the American
people who the President appointed
TO Office so long as their requirements
are fulfilled with honesty and efi-
cheney.
The sore-heads Of Congress are loud in their
wall,
Their hopes are all blasted. their plans viii
all fail.
The curtain drops on this rather
amusing scene and rises to reveal
Sumner declaiming in high dudgeon
against the acquisition of st. Domin-
60. He mingles his rhetoric and logic
with some insinuation intended 10
implieate the President in a none
tary scheme for annexing that beau
tiful gem of the Antilles. This act
was suddenly brought to a close by
the President boldly disclaimiDg con-
neetion with any such schemes, and
modestly expressing a desire that the
wishes Of the county should be con-
efroforhf fovxuord