The New York herald., 1877-02-12
SHAKESPEARE IN AMERICA.
LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CENTENNIAL
REVIEW by JOSEPH wATsoN-THE STATE,
CHURCH AND THEArRE-EFFECTs or AMERI-
CAN EsrHErIC TASTES UPON FOREIGN

CAN EsTHETIC TASTES UPON FOREIGN
THOUGHT AND CULTURE
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With tho close Of the year 1876 exactly hundred
years passed away since one Morgan OF England, re-
scnted literary outrage which voltare, OF France,
had pcrpctrated. yoltare tho first French writer
to notice genius OF Shakespeare and with the hope
OF agsrandizng himself sought to dcpreciato II, and
pronounced it TO be OF barbarian order. In his
sentiment Morgan gave expression to tho following
enthusiastic but prophetic words -"Whcn the hand
OF Time shall have brushed off Shakespcare's present
editors and commentators and when the very namo
OF votaire, and tho memory of the language In
which he has written shall be no moro, the Apa-
lnchian mountains, tho banks OF the Ohio and
tho plains OF Sciola shall rcsound with the accents
of this barbarian In his native tongue he shall roll
tho genuine passions Of nature; shall the grics
Of Lear be acviated, the charms and wit OF Rosa
lind be abated by time" In less than twenty years
from the time OF this prediction tho hrs Transatlantic
edition Of Shakespeare appeared In Philadelphia 1t
was announced in these words:-"Tho plays and
poems OF William Shakespeare, corrected from the
latest and best London edition. with notes. by Samuel
johnson, IL. d. To which are added glossary,
and life OF the author, imbcshed with striking like
ness from the collection OF His Grace the Duke Of
Chandos First American edition. Philadelphia,
printed and sold by Boren Il Madden 1885," In 1917
DR.. Nathan Drake, OF London, observing tho growing
popularity OF Shakespeare In the United Statcs referred
to tho prophecy OF Morgan and said:-"It is not
now too much to believe that, Gro another century
eapsc the plains OF Northern America. and oven tho
unexpored wds of Australasia, shall be as familiar with
the nctions Of our poet tho valleys of his
native Avon or the statelier banks OF the Thames.n
Indeed SO impressed he with the progress which
literature then making In America, that he re-
garded 1t as delightful consideration for lovers of
English literature, and which should excite among
the authors Of England enlarged spirit OF emulation,
that the language In which they wrote destined
be also that of SO large portion OF the New World
The United States he looked upon ''ncld OF
glory to which tho genius OF Shakespeare would
givo an imperishablo permancncy." Only ten
years later and tho predictions of Morgan
and Drake had become far verified IN their
purports attract tho attention of NJ vieman, of
Franco. This eminent scholar observed that Shake
speare at that timo perhaps the only poet whose
verses blended themselves with tho "simpe eoquence
and grave discourses OF the American Senate" Ho
conceived that It through Shakespeare than
any other that tho people OF the United States had
become acquainted with tho elevating pleasure OF
letters which they had hitherto neglected Az this
period such impression the advance OF learning
in country making upon tho thought and culture
of Europe, that vilcman added French prophecy 10
those England to the effect that at very distant
day the ''au,hory Of Shakespeare and the enthusiasm
of his example" would rule the United States,
which he characterized as rising republic of litera
ture
VICTOR HUGO AND TIN BAcoyIAN THEORY.
II is to the credit Of France that SO many of her
authors have rcbukcd yoltaire by producing
mcntarics the genius OF Shakespeare which partake
In eminent degrees, Of conscientious and cxtoing
character Through these illusions she adds glory to
the rcnown Of her literature Tho dscernment shown
by that whrIwind Of French genius Hugo, cassi-
flying great minds, is altogether remarkable. lie rates
yotalre u good judge in everything except litcra-
turo he denied Shakespeare ana Is punished through
what no snccred at Those who, liko Dante aud
Shakespeare, he adds have produced tho beautiful.
surpass Votairc who OF those luminarics which
make tho thinker yes and Tho Baconian theory
recently condemned by the HERALD would seem TO
find champion in Hugo. who, probably had
thought OF that theory when he in act, argued SO
strongly against IT. Shakespeare he represents tho
great glory OF England, which has in politics Cron
WE'LL philosophy Bacon, and in science Newton.
But Cromwell, ho states, Is tinged with cruelty and
Bacon with mcanncss while Newton's edifce shaking
It's base Shakespeare, he continues is pure, which
Cromwell ana Bacon not, and immovable, which
Newton is not; he is also higher genius. Above
Newton he declares there CoperDiCus and Galileo
above Bacon .ncrc Dcscartes ana KANT above Crom
we'll there is Danton and Bonapartc but above Shake
spcare therc is no one. Tho French public had
held Shakespeare little or no favor, regarding his
plays crude. Through an uapardonabIe ignorance,
however, 1t was sincere 10 It's estimate, while
Voltarcs was genius and observation towering
above the mass that comprehendcd their grandeur.
He took advantage Of tue situation and by false use
his intellectual power aided by the French opinion,
vany sought to debasc tho marvellous talent that had
created them. II was compliment, then, destined to
international Importance that an Englishman.
century ago. in order " rebuke France should have
torctoId The universal ayor which shakespeare has
met in the United States The literary significance OF
the prediction assumes magnitude when con TEN.
plate the cheeruness with which the French, well
as other peoples, recognize its fulhiment and
readily condemn the rashncss OF voltairc
THE HERALD BAcoHrAys.
During tho early preparations for the Philadelphia
Centennial great statesman and Shakcspcarian
scholar OF France died. 1t WAS NJ. Guizo. He
aiiiies arc reproduced by Shakespeare in tragedy,
and lhat in the eyes OF Shakespeare, trngedy the
universal theatre OF iie and truth" No one he
sidcred venturcd any longer 10 deny the glory OF that
genius which his misguided countrymcn had
demned 10 admit this as a fact when tho Baconlan
theory finds adhercnts would seem paradox. That
theory, however, acknowledges the splrndor of
the genius which imbues the productions
but denies the name; while Voltaire admitted the
name but not tho genius. That the Baconian theory
should have found Its origin In the United States may
secm detrimental our critical ucumcu; but on tho
contrary is theory worthy OF respectful
ton, and as study has proved Interesting TO profound
scholars. 1t Is natural though short lived offspring
O that eager desire on the part OF Americans TO learn
OF the individuality oi Shakespcare--an Incl
dental result OF aborlous research IL the greatest
literary curiosity that the century has Its
vitality has been ost not through the strokes OF
the critics pcn but through the channels OF American
journalism where hc people, have given expression
10 their views upon tho subject. Through this
source 1t has been very justly condemned.
Though Germany may have produced the
most profound class OF Shakespearian comment tators
the people OF the uned states, whole, above ali
others, best appreciate and the most ardent nd
OF the poets works. The influence which tins
national appreciation exerts has become purifying
and controlling power throughout the literary world
1t rs capable OF passing uncrrng judgment upon
any question OF literature that critics oil present
day hardly to their calling ator the school
OF Voaire. II has done much toward giving TO Vol
taire his true place in history.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS AND THE THEATRE
1t is worthy OF note that John Quincy Adams was
perhaps, the most cultured President OF which the
United States boast Like Guizot, he was u stu
dent OF Shakespeare, and belonged to that class Of