The sun., 1878-06-13
The Death of william Cullen BRYANT.

The life which closed yesterday morning
i'm the fulncss Of blamclcss years and honor
able work had peculiar import and interest
Tor the American people. 1t had spanned
the larger and richer part Of the nations
history. On the practical side 1t was inter-
woven with the social and political energies
which have determined progress and shaped
events; while it witnessed. and in no light
sort helped, the growth Of our native litera-
ture from the germ TO the considerable leaf
age which gives some promise Of near ma-
turity. As journalist OF nfty years cx-
| pericnco Mr.. BRYANT had watched and fur
thercd the astonishing expansion OF tho
| American press, and as poet he remained,
from the dawn Of manhood to the last days
OF his life, an earnest votary and an accred-
tied exponent OF American letters.
Mr.. BRYANT was thrty-two years old
when in 1926 he made journalism his pro-
fession, although during the previous de-
cade, mainly spent in practice at the bar,
he had made numerous contributions TO re-
| views and magazines. Thus he had already
gained the habit Of close thought and the
faculty OF clear expression which were need
full in hie new vocation. He brought to 1t
also a maturity of Judgment which revealed
llStll Ill lnt ulSlliltlIltEN uHh ItISlSitHtl VI
his political and economical opinions. That
was one element OF success In his editorial
calling, and fortune supplied another, for
he lived to see the Federalst conception Of
the union between the States vanish for more
than generation from the memories OF men,
and the doctrine OF opposition to the extcn-
sion Of slavery in the Territories engender
revolution which swept slavery from the
whole soil. II the principles Of free trade
which lic urged with similar pcrtnacty have
not become the accepted principles of legis-
lation, they have yet secured the sanction
and Support OF considerable party. 1t
would seem that nothing Is more certain
TO confer the weight and prestige which
are the rewards Of journalism than
to be the consistent champion OF the
winning side. Yet, IA matter Of fact,
Mr.. BRYANT will scarcely be remembered as
"a journalist. and at this time outside Of the
city in which his work was done, his name
is seldom associated with the profession.
The truth is that men saw less Of the poet
than OF the philosopher In his newspaper
His convictions were formulated with GER
tain scholarlike, critical sobricty not
pressed with the vehement, electric ardor
which fires the heart aud intcnsiiies writer
with his theme in the popular imagination
lie had not the faculty OF cloqucnce, the
passion, and the humor which made
HORACE GREELEY the type of the effective
journalist, the power Of mastering the
sympathics, rs we'll rs the reason. Of i'm
parting not ideas only. but passionate re-
solves. His was rather the clear, precise
argumentative style of exposition which
addresses the intellect and is satisfied with
a calm, deliberate assent. Therefore il is
that Mr.. DRYANr, notwithstanding m active
and exemplary exercise OF his profession
during half a century. has left no broad and
lasting mark ON the history Of American
journalism.
II is as poet that WILLIAM CULLEN
BRYANT will be rcmembcrcd--as a poet Of
chary. thoughtful, and fastidious, rather
than Of fervid and frequent utterance The
name Of GRAY is not more intimately bound
up with his "Elegy" than is BRYANT's
name with rhanatopsis," which was writ
ten In the year 1913. 1t is equally remark
able that in the technics of poetry, the com
mand Of verse as vehicle Of artistic eX-
preston, a youth Of nineteen should to-ch
so high IA mark. and that in the course OF n
long life he should mak1no sensible advance
beyond IL. But In this respect, as in some
others, the American author presents a
striking parallel to his German coutempo-
rary, UHLAND. whose earliest collection of
songs and ballads, published some forty
years before his death was never rivallad
or even approached In public esteem 10y his
subsequent ventures. III the latter instance
the poet changed his style, and sought
celebrity in lines OF endcavor ill-suitcd to
his talent, while We should perhaps, partly
j account for the stationary aspect OF BKY-
ANTS reputation by change in the popu-
I lar taste. The sweeping nature Of the rcvo-
.. luton is indicated by the fact that at the
time when KIT NORTH was heartily com
mendmR TO English readers the poems Of
the young American, he was handling Ten
NYsON's first volume with brutal contempt
4 BRYANT has often been called the Ameri.
e can WORDSWORTH and although the former
= seems to have wanted the lyrical element
5 while we also miss In his musings the range
o and the insight OF the English laureate, yet
y the comparison is not unapt as regards tn,
u chosen themes Of meditation. Both are stu
Il dents OF outward nature rather than Of hu
q manty, turn with a certain shivcr from the
n ferment Of passions which dramatist con
Il templates, and find n rcstful, grateful inspi
ration in woodland and river the play o.
> light and Leaf, and wave But WORDS
G WORTH walks with nature in the blithe, con
If tented spirit of one unoppressed 10y mis-
d giving Of speedy absorption In its i'm
4 mensity, but serene In the assurance of co
e equal dignity and perpetuity In BRYANr's
r communings, on the other hand, we seem tC
t trace Il wistfulncss, a pensve regret, q
/, haunting sorrow for the contrast bctwecr
}, the spectators fugitive existence and th,
= abiding grandeur of the spectacle, A poet +
IS views upon the primal problems of theol
e ogy and philosophy must needs tlnge tn,
d current Of his song, and we discern on tn,
Il horizon of Thanatopsis" lowering doubt
we would not say as to the souls immortal
/ ity, but as to its unbroken, conscious, re-
o sponsible identity. This is but to say that
: WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT was in deer
y sense poet Of his time, that he shared it,
+ unrest and its misglving, and it may be that
= his pensivc verse will keep a flrmcr hole
= uDOn our SVmDathies and those of the next