The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-27

l
non Charles Swinburne, poet. of ion
don. has just been letting some verv
savage nouns and adjectives loose against
AIRS. Harriet Beecher Stowe, sometimes
known as the authoress of "Uncle Tom r.
Cabin, and late of Hartford, Conn.
but now, we believe, winning horticul.
tural distinction by the profitable cul-
ture OF oranges in the State of Florida.
lncensed by the freedom of Mrs. Stoves
too adventurous attuck on the memory
OF Lord Byron. the classical poet of .the
neshIy school" in England does not
scrupie TO launch at her head the most
cacopnonous maledictions, and leaves us
TO in1er that even worse allegations
mlgnt DO fetched against her, if Tooke's
t"ntneon were diligently consulted. AS
1t ls, IN apparent Ignorance of her pre-
sent geographical habitat and of her
mild addiction to the pacific Worship of
fomona, MIR. Swinburne actually calls
her "a blatant Bassarid of Boston," and
"s II this contumelious aud popularlv
appreciated opithet would not suffice, the
insatlate archer spends another of his
poisoned arrows and entities her ga RAM
pant M1nad Of Massachusetts.
IL must be- confessed that Mr.. Swim.
burne throws his classical similitudes Mt
the head of Mrs. Stowe with great point
ana dlrectness, while the felicity of his
illusions in thus comparing Puritan
olue-stocking to priestess of Bacchus.
must 6e apparent to the most ordinary
MINDS. But as master of the profound
and solid style of objurgation, Mr.. Swim
ourne Is nothing compared with q
Learned Theban" whom we happen to
nave among us in The city of New York.
we refer to DR.. Liebcr, who, we believe.
was once an lnstructoriu what the euphu-
lstic Nlr. Swinburne would call "the art
OF natation, but who having now aban.
ooneo MS swimming school, processes to
ueHVer lectures on constitutional history
anu public law in Colum bia College. We
90 not know the purport of the Profes.
sor exercltatlons when he speaks from
MS stool to the ingenious youth who sit
n1 the ieet OF their political Gamaliel:
nut II MS academic projections are any,
thing like as muddy and incoherent as
us published political letters, the trus.
tees OF that excellent institution cannot
too speedily tnke efficient measures for
the protection of their pupils from the
weak aud washy food of such political
Vltnperator, the tempests of whose tea
pot initiate the vivacity of q small mud
volcano.
1t seems that the nomination of Mr..
Greeley has proved too much for the
DOCTORS eqnanimity, Notwithstanding
tne serene atmosphere Of constitutional
history and public law in which he is
presumed to dwell. Accordingly he has
rusneo into print with a very irate letter
against MIR. Greeley, and as the result of
1hat gentleman's election, he predicts o
wnoie lllad ot woes and an Odyssey of
renewed civil bloodshed staring Us in
inc 1ace! 1t will be seen that, as the
metaphors OF Mr.. Swinburne are nothing
II not classical, 80 those of DR.. Lieber
are noth!ng II not decidedly mixed. We
iully realize how imprudent it is on our
part TO anright our readers with the
"gorgons. hydras and chimeras dire"
which the Professor knows SO we'll how
10 evoke from the vasty deep of "consti-
tutionai history and public law" nor are
we withont some mlsglvings as to the
enect which such dreadful out-giyines
may may nave on the now promising politi-
Cal prospects OF Mr.. Greeley. But as
faithful journalists, holding the mirror
up to nature, so as to show 'scorn her
own image" as we'll as virtue her own
feature, We could not withhold from
our readers this unique specimen of 90.
litioai discussion, which, alike by its
style and it's contents, presents the cha
raeter of tho writer in O most allurinp
light as political philosopher, who, as
might be expected, has learned from his
protracted vigils to speak with becom-
ing serenity of judgment and modera-
ton of phrase on all that pertains to po-
litics-the subject OF his academic chair
and the theme of his published writings.
In order to do justice to the philosopher,
we cite the most distinctive part OF his
letter, as follows:
Even the nomination of Mr.. Greeley.
and especially the peculiar method OF
the nomination at Cincinnati, seems to
me deplorable fact in the annals of our
country; and the Baltimore ratification
is like concubinage between Republican.
ism and Democracy, taking these words,
OF course, in their party m meanings. Mark
this. The Democrats do not surrender
to the Republicans; on the contrary. Mr..
Greeley and his followers surrender to
the Dem ocraoy. Elections, like battles.
can rarely bo spoken of with certainty
before they are fought; but this know:
Should Mr.. Greeley be elected Presi-
dent of the United States, we shall have
in him fur. far worse President than
we had in Mr. RnoLopoc r, :. -.