New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-29
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
MR. MACKAYE JOINS MR.. JEFFERSON.
AND PROTESTS AGAINST THE SHUTTING OUT OF
FOREIGN ACTORS.

AND PROTESTS AGAINST TIE SHUTTING OUT OF
FOREIGN ACTORS.
To The Edftor of The Trt6Wme
Sir: WIN you kindly grant me space In The Iriouhe
to add my protest, a member of the dramatic pro
fesson to that Of Mr. Jefferson against movement
which brings ridcule and contempt upon the Aheti-
can stage and those connected with II.
Efforts are about TO be made to induce our Govern
ment to extend the protecting force OF tarih 70
American actors ! first heard rumor OK TINS
patriotic (?l endeavOr IN Boston, some weeks ago.
supposed 1t was a merely hoax. 1t never occurred
to me that such an action would be seriously under
taken by any one assuming TO be I'm any manner rep
resentative of American artists. On return from
a two weeks soiourn in the country IND TO my
amazement that an order known as an Actors Ordtr
OF Friendship has sobery determined to use It's utmost
influence place upon the importation OF Eng
fish dramatic artists to this country. Among those
associated with this attempt see the names OF gentle
men of such high standing IN the profession that am
obi ged believe that this grO;esque movement IS not
the farccal affair al first supposed to be- There
fore / feel bound, by my respect for my profession,
to consider this question seriously, and make such
endeavor as | can TO present the absurdlty ana I'M
worthneSs OF this slur upon the spirit that should,
and l believe does, pervade the more thoughtful
portion Of the professional world of my native land
l select your journal for the discussion Of this
question because IT to that organ holding
dear the principle Of protection, which IS really
precious TO the industrial world should welcome any
light which may tend TO relieve that principle rom
the contempt 1t justly deserves when applied In the
realm Of Art Science, art. and philosophy are The
high priests of the intellectual progress of mankind
Their functions transcend those that minister to the
material necessities of life and never be faith
fully nic'ently performed In the spirit that be-
longs to, and must necessarily govern, the world OF
trade The Industry of the hand is absolutely distinct
in its character from the industry OF the head The
first deals directly with dollars-lhe last with ideas
There is this essential difference between the two.
Dollars cannot be given and kept at the same time.
a man may give his ideas to a million, and yet retain
them himself This fundamental distinction measures
the difference that inherently exists between the two
fields of work. and determines the eternal separation
Of spirit that should dominate them. In the realm
OF mechanics, protection Is necessary TO assist the
struggling organizations of manual labor to maintain
their existence Art, the contrary, depending for
its advancement first, and fundamentally, upon mental
instead Of material factors, achieve progress only
in atmosphere of absolute free-rade
Fancy any scientist in this country hamperng and
lettering his mind with petty geographical limita-
ton. Imagine Draper o5icctng to the importation OF
a Spencer this country simply because this fellow
truh-see happened to be born upon British soil
Some profound professors Of theatres will excaim
that science and art are quite distinct In tho func
ton each has 10 perform, this Is true, IN the spirit
In which each should convey tS message lhs i lO
true. Both belong 10 and are the servants OF mo
IDEAL world The true purpose Of each Is 10 add
something to the Intellectual and moral progress OF
mdrkind. Neither is worthy OF respect except ln 50
far a. this IS the manifest aim OF each OF tnr'r
efforts. u claim protection for the American actor
IS drag him OF the Infinite spaces OF Intellectual
liberty and Inspiration. down to the sOdden earth,
whore slavery the a al fetlers Of material existence
is the price that must be paid for more monetary sue
Let lis fender unto Caesar what IS Caesars. and
unto God what Is Gods Let US pay tribute to
Caesar in the material spherc-and then be sure ne
will pay tribute 10 God in Ills own Dollars should
be slaves, the despOts Of ideasand so they are
every time artist IS faithful the leading, and
the spirit, that gifts with ideas
Practically, tho movement 10 protect the American
actor By political action would prove an abject
fasco. The public pay to good acting, not
American English, French German acting If
the English actor is better than the American actor
managers mere will be forced, for the purposes Of
self preservation To employ them I'm order to secure
success. II the American actor Is better than his
English brother the American manager VIII be
obliged to seek his services The only dignihed. rs
well a. the only effectual, protection that can be
obtained by the American actor can be secured by
nothing else but his merit and skill as an
artist Politics may be endured In dealing with the
lower activities of human fe-but In the name OF ALI
that Is sacred and precious to the nObcr side OF our
existence, let Keep politics apart from science,
philosophy and art. Very truly yours.
STEELE MACKAYE.
New.York, Dec 2s, 1883.