New-York tribune., 1874-05-21


by caricaturing his form or features The TWO
processes lie on the same plane OF reasoning
and on level with the large abilities OF these
abused gentlemen. 1t is not so long ago that
they should have forgotten it, since MIR. Sum-
ner's grand magnanimity to those who had
been his enemies was made the subject or a
most cruel and heartless caricature. and his
departure for Europe on account OF his health
in 1872 the subject of another, in which he Is
represented as rushing away, exclaiming. "Oh
"my poor head" That amused these gentle
men, How Mr.. Greeley was followed by the
same libelous pencil. which, among other
things, represented him as clasping hands
with Wilkes Booth over the corpse OF lhncOin,
is well known, and equally we'll known how the
present compIainants were delighted with that
method of campaigning. If the weapons .of
their own choice have been turned against
them they should bear it with philosophy
They should at least hold their temper IN
command sufficiently to resist the temptation
to do such wildly foolish things as they talk OF.
1t should be remembered, and not without
gratitude that the talent of the abuse of which
complaint is made, has been exercised at times
with excellent effect for good and patrlouc
purposes. During the war, and afterward,
during the Reform movement which drove ont
the Tammany thieves, the caricaturists pencil
did effective work in behalf of the Union and
of honest government. True, it was never very
elevated or reiined it was coarse, bold, yigor-
ous; but it suited the popular taste, catching
the eye and producing an impression at once
that the printed page, however clear in reason
ing. sound in argument, and logically con-
vincing, could not equal. In time OF war, as
of heated political controversy. the passions
are more appealed to than the reasoning pow
ers, and to this cause in part may be attributed
the success which attended these illustrations.
There is no weakness in the confession that
the most righteous of causes was largely aided
during the war by the reGnfOrcements OF pas
sion, prejudice, and unrcason. 1t Is one OF
tho train Of evils that attend inevitably
on condition Of war, no matter for what
cause the war be waged. Everything becomes
merged in the vital consideration of success
and to that test all moral and intellectual
standards are levelcd. War is the exercise OF
brute force; the instincts that lead to 1t, the
sprit that carries it forward, the disposition
which it fosters, and the condition to which
it tends are all brutal. 1t dcmorllizes the
community, dcgrades literature, and debases
art.
Out of our prolonged state Of war we brought
more or less of all this train of evil cOnse-
guences Several statesmen" whose careers
have not been savory floated over on tho
wave of military service into civil positions
for which neither their abilities nor characters
fitted them. It Is needless to name them. A
great mass of scum hoated in the same way to
the surface Of politics in the reconstructed
States. They were the necessary and unavOd-
able consequences of the abnormal condition
of the country and the people during five
years of war. The caricaturiSt came over with
the rest. The cOarseness and vulgarity which
were not so offensive in a time when muscle
| was in the ascendant over mind, and Drawn
over brain, have been tolerated thus far in the
period that followed. There are signs of a
change not only in public sentiment but in
tho popular taste. The wit that is limited to
caricaturing the Presidents opponents while it
crowns and glorifes the President without
rhyme or reason, and the humor that exhausts
itself in attaching the ears of an ass to any
body and everybody who happens to be Sc
lected as the victim of caricature, grow tire
some ana uuH alIcr cohstaht IepetluoI. Iho
time for thai sort of distortion to be effective
has gone by. 1t had its uses once and has
had its reward. We commend to the angry
journalists the exercise of patience BY and
by the artist himself, who really has talent
will begin to realize the changed condition,
and perhaps instead of being merely brutal
and venomous, become mellOwed into kindly
and genial humor better adapted to the i'm
proved public taste.