New-York tribune., 1877-05-31

II is TO be regretted that the letter begin
ming with "My Dear Pitkin," which Mr.. Ben
iamin +. Butler recently contributed to the
newspaper press, and "A copy OF which he no
doubt sent 10 :" Ny Dear Pitkin" at New-Or-
leans by mail, should have its vigOr and
force impaired and its effect in great de-
gree destroyed by MIR. Wayne MacNeaGh,
who in the most inconsidcrate man
ner - indeed, with almost c0ld-bl00ded
brutality eliminates Mr.. Buffers premises by
the statement that they are not true These
premises were prefaced with the words, " 1t Is
:" an open secret here, a. | am mfOrmed,' ana
consisted of details of a bargain entered into
between Mr. MacVeagh as member OF the
Louisiana Commission, representing the Presl-
dent, and Col. Wharton" My Dear PIikln'5
competitor-by the terms of which the removal
of "My Dear Ptkinn was promised. In
vein of pungcnt satire, in which he shows
almost as much readiness as le has heretofore
exhibited, so much to the delight of Mr.. 5. ).
Cox, with the oral" he urges upon :" My Dear
"Pitkin,r in memory of his "many sacritices,"
"not to throw any impediment in the way Of
the Presidents fulfilling all the bargains
(which his subOrdinates made" il seems II
pity, we repeat, that Mr. Wayne MacVeagh
should have so unceremoniOusy stepped in
and disemboweled this beautiful piece of
satire by stating that the "open secret
in the belly of the letter was entirely
without foundation in fact. But there seems
TO be no escape from it. Mr.. MacVeagh is the
person alleged in the "open secret" to have
made the bargain, and it must be admitted,
speaks 10y authority. Another unfortunate cir
cumstance is that Mr.. MacYeagI is gentle
man who has the confidence Of the public, and
whose statement will be believed. 1t Is too
bad that 80 elegant literary composition and
SO fine a specimen of political satire should
lose any of its force by the discovery that it
lacks the basis of truth.
one feature of it, however, remains for our
cdifcatlon and delight which no historical in
accuracy can affect nor any contradictory tcs-
tinony IMPAIR nor even the rIyagcs Of time
destroy. We refer to the noble aUcgOry
dashed off with few strokes OF Che hand of
MASTER which may well be entitled . The
Sacrifice of Pitkin." The parallel between
the fall of "My Dear PltI,in' and the pa
thetic incident described in the Boot, Of Cen
esis as the trial of Abraham's faith is - con-
ccption of genius. 1t is not possible that
My Dear PItkn" could have read IL even
| in print without visible manifestations of emo
tion. II he ever saw it in manuscript it must
! have affected him to tears. There was such
wonderful ant in the picture of Isaac lying
under the knife of his father Abraham making
no unreasonable complaints or outcrios;' =
such tender grace and wilhal such strength and
power in the management Of the accessories
and details; and thcn such caincstneSS in the
"more than Isaac did, that MY Dear
"Pillin" must have been adamant to resist
| it. The picture will rise up of Itself
from the description, in every wcll-Ordcred
mind. We should be false to our duty to the
countrY-n0t only that, but to our duty to
Literature and Art as wcl-did we not hasten
10 suggest what we are confident has already
occurred to the mind Of every thoughtful
! reader-tO wit, the elaboration of this beautiful
conception on canvas for Il panel in the
National Capitol. Mr.. Butler has skrtchcd it
for Us boldly and in a large and hearty way, but
with all its merits it must be- confessed that
! it is only sketch, vast and powerful more by
| its suggestiyoncSs than 10y what is actually
| embodied. It should be called "Thc MARTYR
"dom of Pitk!n," and should be either as
nearly as possible counterpart Of the familiar
wood-cut known as ,..Ihe Sacrifice of Isaac"
or should more fully cmbody the details of
that transaction so far as they furnish Il
parallel for the striking event to be COM
inemoratcd with regard to Pitkin.
In the simplicity of the Scriptural narrative
it is related that "Abraham rose mp early in
:" the morning and saddled his ass' Should 1t
he thought proper TO make the representation
panoramic, il well might be- this part Of
the picture need contain only Abraham and
the ass. Due regard for economy should be
had, and If Abraham and the ass were both
in the picture 1t would Ice useless expense
to paint Ptkin in. The progrcs, of the mar
Ialiye might then be followed a3. for in
stance, some alleSorcal representation of the
announcement to the people Of Ncw-Oreans
Of PiilAin's probable roappointment would
suggest at once the words, "And Abraham
said unto his young men, Abide yc here
"'With the ass" And So on up to the mo-
mcnt of LAYING Isaac or "My Dear Pitlunr on
the altar without kicking or squinning. Ii
might add to fhe historical interest OF the
! picture if by some means "My Dear Pitkin -
could be represented as lifting his chin up to
bis father Abraham just once at this juncture,
| and saying, "AIo:e Troops ~ We would not