Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-06-14
The shakespeare-Ba Bacon Controversy.

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Ignatius Donelly seems to be max
ing considerable Roadway in proselytiz-
ing converts TO his recently published
theory that Bacon Is the true author OF
the ShakespeaIlan dramas. There are
a great many smart paragraphs cur
rent pooh.poobing the assumption,
but 30 far Mr.. Donelly seems to have
been but little I'M ured by them. 1t Ia
difficult to write down such q man.
In the domain OF literature he stands
without superior on this side of the
Atlantic, and wherever the English
language Is spoken he is respected and
regarded as a man OF distinction and
ability. When such man as
this, after thorough and exhaust
i've investigation, declares his
convictions, 1t does not irjure the
weight and respectability Of those con-
victions to jeer at their author, or OPP.
pugn his deductions with mere senti-
ment or base and unsupported state
ments, based only upon prejudice. To
etlectually contrOvert his conclusions,
the same arguments must be used as
the distinguished author has called to
his in publishing his oplnions-re-
search and learning. Without these,
the task will doubtless be very
amusing to any one who under
takes it, but IL will be quite
futile. That Bacon was the true
Shakespearian writer is question
which has long been mooted. 1t is
no new invention. Many eminent
men of letters have privately
acknowledged disbelief in the
possibility of poor, uncultured
actor creating such masterpieces.
Indeed, 1t has been doubted by many
whether the true Shakespeare had
ever as much as read the common his
tory Of those persons and places that
have been used to figure in the dramas.
People believed in Shakespeare they
ldolized him, and very few men capa.
bic of Judging were willing TO risk the
disaster certain to tall upon anyone |
who dared ,dispel the delusion, if de- |
fusion it was. 1t was the fear of the
great unwashedn that deferred men
Of liberal views and honest and intel
ligent doubts from prosecuting investi.
cations looking to clearing up OF the
matter.
Faith, fanatic faith, tuce welded fast
To some dear ,falsehood, hugs IL to the last" |
Times are changed. We no longer |
burn witches nor exercise devils with |
cabalistic lamentations. The opinions
OF mankind, thanks to the printing |
presses, are less hide-bound than for.
merly, and Investigations can be pur-
sued without the fear of reproach or
ridieule, excepting from certain class
whose blame were grossest hattery"
Flippant and superficial criticisms will
soon subside and give way to care
ful and impartial analysis of the en-
tire question when the truth, pure
and simple, will be brought to the
ohAioSNf bhOAh VI al lE-
norance and hoary superstition. Such
arguments as that, had Bacon been
the author, as jurist he would have
been compelled to give Shylock judg-
ment for his money, in kind, not
withstanding the beautiful rantings
of the fair Portia, must give way to
more conclusive evidence. 1t is
question of no little moment and
whoever solves It win be bsneiactor
to his race, If Shakespeare is the real
author he was certainly a prodigy, for
the writings are marvellous and,
while 1t would be unjust to question
his right to the honor until the matter
was authoritativeIy settled, it must be
admitted that the dramas are well
worthy the pen Of him whom the
poet, Pope, aptly styled:
"rho wisest, greatest, meanest OF man X ind. =" |