The New York herald., 1872-11-08
Patronage or American Art.


It is Of importance to the healthy develop
ment Of art in America that purchasers shall
not allow their enthusiasm Of foreign works to
divert their attention from the merit which
lies at hand needing encouragement We are
induced to speak out frankly on this point at
reason to know that while the auction room
was patronized to an unwonted extent last
year the studios were comparatively neglected.
In the midst Of all the noise and glitter Of q
really brilliant art season the votaries of the
palette were in too many cases YEARLY waiting
in lonely studios for the advent Of some one who
was willing to help art and artists in quiet,
unostentatious way. We are willing to make
every allowance for the weakness of human
nature, and we recognize that it is much more
gratifying to patronize art in a crowded and
select company, where every one will talk
of the purchases, than to 60 to the studio
and buy of the easel. Yet the latter is
infinitely the better way. It is cheaper
and exerts wholesome influence
by creating pleasurable relations between
artist and patron. It is well for the man Of
business to come in contact sometimes with
those who gild life by the sunny influence of
their genius. If this fact were better appre-
ciated the studios would have more visitors,
and art exercise its educational and elevating
influence more directly. We desire to see art
intelligently patronized, and are fully con-
scious Of the good which has been accom-
plished by the introduction Of foreign works
Of merit. But we are also anxious that our
native artists should receive the attention and
encouragement which they deserve. The
work they ore doing now in the studios is for
the most part marked by conscientious study
and skilful technical work. It is to be
hoped that the public will mark their approval
Of these efforts by extending liberal and
judicious support to our native art.
Few Morals from Tuesdays Elec-
tion-The Unreliability or Political
Hucksters.
The result Of the municipal contest in this
city last Tuesday is singularly significant Of
the fruitlessness Of the intrigues and bargains
upon which professional politicians are apt to
rely for the success of their schemes In no
e.tion for many years past had there been
SO much trading and plotting among the lead
ers as in tat which has just been held, and
vet when the ballots are counted we find q
remarkable steaoiuess in the regular and
known strength of the several contestants
Mr.. Havemeyer gets as ns,arly as possible the
full republican vote, with probably six or
seven thousand added by those democrats who
ore in favor Of honest government sindepend-
ent Of political parties, and who believed that
the contest was between Mr.. HavemeyeE and
James O'Brien, and that the Tammany
candidate would be last in the races
Mr.. Lawrence received the regular demo-
cratic vote of last year, less just the six
or seven thousand given to Mr.. Havemeyer on
the consideration we have stated, while James
OBrien polls the strength of the Apollo Hall
organization as shown in former elections.
These figures, kept steadily up on all sides,
prove that plotting in the dark generally
balances itself and makes no perceptible
difference in the end-that where dickerine
candidate or party makes few votes in one
direction the gain set of by LOGS u ap0tnel