The New York herald., 1876-02-08
Martla +. Tupper,. "1vashlngton."

Martin r. Tupper's "washingtOn."
Mr.. Martin Farquhar Tupper has kindly
sent us a copy of his play of Washington, Z"
preliminarily printed for publication in
America during the centennial year, accom-
panied by letter relating to the charges of
plagiarism which have been made against
him. This interesting communication is
private, but we are authorized. and, indeed,
requested by Mr.. Tupper to use its sub
stance. He desires us to tell all the Western
World that the assertions that he plagiarized
his drama from zone Sinclair, or any other,
are simply false" 1t is impossible, he argues
very justly, that he could have plagiarized,
as he never even heard of another play of
Washington" and certainly was ignorant
of Mr.. Sinclairs. :. If the point had not
touched honor or honesty he would have
passed it by. but he thinks the misstate-
ment needs to be stopped, as it is we'll known
that nothing runs further or faster than
an unanswered lie. Mr.. Tupper, therefore,
requests us to stop it for him in America,
and we do.
Mr.. Tupper must now be acquitted of
plagiarism His word is enough When
man has devoted his life to literature, has
had his works printed in fifty languages,
and no resemblance to Coleridge, Words
worth, Shelley or any of his cele-
brated contemporaries has ever been
detected in his poems, it is little
rough upon him that he should be accused
of stealing in his old age. 1t does not sur
prise us that Mr.. Tupper is indignant. In
fact we are surprised that he bears the
charge with SO much unproverbial philoso-
ply. Philosophers frequently fail to prac-
tise what they preach, and if Mr. Tupper
had lost his temper entirely we think he
would have had an ample excuse
Yet if Mr.. Tupper were familiar with the
circumstances of the case he would see how
plausible this charge of plagiarism seemed.
Extracts only from his play, with brief
synopsis of the plot, were first published
in our papers two months ago. Ameri-
cans were delighted that so eminent
poet should have complimented this
country with q play about the Revolu-
tion. But it was soon discovered that Mr..
drama with the title of Washington" in
1874 Numerous resemblances were pointed
out The characters were to great extent
the same and the stories were similar. 1t is
not strange that many persons believed that
Mr.. Tupper had done Mr.. Sinclair the SER
vice which Mr.. Boucicault tells us Shake
speare rendered his contemporary dramatists
But Mr.. Tupper must not imagine that Mr..
Sinclair ever accused him of plagiarizing for
that gentleman has never taken the slightest
part in the controversy. As for Mr.. Tupper's
statement that he had never heard of another
play of Washington" we can only regret
that the admission betrays an unexpected
ignorance of American dramatic literature
We have now before us three printed plays
entitled Washington. One is Mr.. Martin
F. Tupper's, in five acts; another is
Mr.. David Sinclair's, in four acts, and an
other, Mr. Ingersoll Lockwood's, in five acts
Each of them is written in blank verse, and
the condolences in all the three are start
ling. Yet we do not now believe that the
three poets ever read each others produc-
tions.
Mr.. Tupper, we are glad to learn, contem-
plates visiting America this spring to give
public readings of his play. He will be
welcome with it or without it, and we
trust he will not neglect to read Mr.. Sin
clair's and Mr. Lockwood's plays in private
He will be then convinced that the charge of
plagiarism was not made in mere caprice,
but with apparently just cause