The Irish standard., 1897-10-16
THE POET OF ALL CIRCLES"


ted from the roll of poets emblazoned
on the walls of the congressional libra
ry at Washington. When the library
officials were Intercepted as to the
cause, Assistant Librarian Spofford an
swered as follows:
1.-The poets corridor in the new IL
brary contains the names OF twelve
poets of renown, six of American, three
Of English, two of French and one of
German. Moore's name was submitted
as one of the English bards to be hon
ored, but it was decided by the commit
tee of award that Moore's merits as
poet were not so great as to entitle him
to this marked distinction. He held
high rank as melodist, but did not
possess the poetic fire to such lofty de-
gree as did Byron, or Shelley or Brown
ing, who represent Englands poetic
fame on the library memorial tablets.
Cowper and others equally distin-
guished were rejected with Moore, and
no consideration weighed with the
justice to the fame of the poets.'
When this explanation was published
the members OF the Ancient Order of
Hibernians in Washington were indig-
nant and Immediately appealed to their
half million brothers throughout the
country to bring pressure upon con-
gress to rectify The wrong They con-
sdered that ,Mrt spofford was not a
competent authority as to Moore's mer-
it's as a poet, AMI that it was not as
zone Of the English bards' but as the
national poet oil Ireland, he was en-
titled to a nacef in the national gal
lery. On learning the dissatisfaction
of the Hiberhiant with the cause as
signed for tie d mission of Moores
name, the libfaryt officials took another
tack and said TON Moore deserved no
honor from be United States, for the
reason that Ehi1 on visit to this
country duri4g ,Jefferson's administra-
ton, he wroa s3ne poems containing.
some scandafously personal attacks on
ton Of Independence.
1t is true that when Moore was in
this country he did not admire the
father of Democracy, and said so in
his writings. He fell into the hands
of the Federalists who misrepresented
Jefferson and he formed wrong i'm
preston of that great man, who has
been the idol of his own countrymen
who sought refuge from British op-
preston on these shores, and who were
received with open arms by the Sage
OF Monticello, when president of the
United States. Thomas Jefferson was
man whose character Thomas Moore
could not understand. The poet had
lived all his life in the glare Of aris-
tccratic society, and tould not COM
prehend the plain habits and demo-
cratic simplicity of Thomas Jefferson.
In the words of Byron he dearly loved
Il lord"
Moore's fame and his rank as
poet cannot be affected by the decis-
ion of the library officials. An Eng
fish critic says that in the quality of
a lyrist he stands absolutely alone and
unapproachable; while a Scotchman
declares that of all the song writer's that
ever Warbled or chanted or sung. the
best is verify none other than Thomas
Moore He is recognized by the world
az "a hnrf II Of L,,;,,
Burns is Of Scotland; and for that rea-
son he should not be excluded from
place among the poets of other ma
tions in the American lib ny at Wash.
ington.
If Moore is to be takooed on account
of his severe remarks about jefferson,
there is another Irish poet against
whom no objection can be raised. That
is Oliver Goldsmith, the immortal au-
thor of "The Deserted Village" He
was never fascinated by princes and
lords" like Tom Moore, and he was
the friend of America when struggling
for liberty. No pecuniary offers from
the government OF Lord North would
induce Oliver Goldsmith to write a
word against the colonists. He left
that congenial task to DR.. johnson,
who was a Tory. If Moore's name is
rejected let that Of the poet of Sweet
Auburn" be substituted. He was an
Irish patriot as We'll as charming
poet. and was Enthusiastically grea.
man. He has dshed lustre upon the
land OF his nativity. and is loved by
his countrymeh. lie was just the man
who could appreciate the noble char
acter of Thomas Jefferson and admire
his principles. .
IN after years. as the subjoined let
ter will show. Thomas Moore expressed
his regret for having written about
Jefferson and the United States as he
did. The original of the following
communication. which was addressed
to the editor of the Philadelphia Port
folio in 1916, Is in the possession of
Senator George F. Hoar who has given
it to tho Worcester Gazette for publ
cation:
This life is just long enough to
commit errors in, but too short to al
low us time to repair them. and there