New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-09
WHITE AND BLACK PLAY.
Liberty Theatre.

r,oe- conspicuous theatrical event OF last
- IS rre production. at the Liberty theatre
- 7ov called The Clansman,'' written oy the
= rpornas Dixon jr.. relative 10 the NIll'e anu
So inhabitants of the Southern states MI
y -,st-as a serious view of himself as well as
ssis self-imposed mission. When he discovered
:. 10 saws he did,-that the drama is a more
.are-fll form If expression than the novel he
s5ssred "a stunning shock" Remembering, how
ser that he had Learned 10 calculate the horizon
al paraliax Of the sun" he took courage TO at
,ssspr dramatic authorship, and, after two years
# systematic study OF dramatic technique" rose
70 The tremendous occasion, that of Intellectual
zrestle with The problems involved in The trans
iztion OF the IDEAS Of two volumes Of narrative
INTO single unified swift action on the stage
within the limits Of three hours Sublime achieve
nent. 1t took me three months excIalms the
triumphant author, working steadily sixteen
hours d day. to accomplish this Accomplished it
vas however Is his entire satisfaction, and
he mighty product stands revealed The
Esas'' Under which the reverend gentleman
Staggered this colossal eninence do not
sraear 10 have been s. very pouderous, or so
dzcut TO marshal. The principal one IS that
tie white man and the black MANN Tn South
Ell States OF this repUbhc.-and. perhaps, in all the
Sates-are not harmonious and that something
nEs1 be done. and done quickly, and done by the
Rsr. Nr. Dixon. 10 make them SO. = believe
says this excited divine. that the stage is the
bsi medium for placing this Tremendously vital
question before the whole people" Besides there
might be some .pecuniary profit in it Laborers in
ths vineyard Of human Improvement do OCCASION
Sly keep an eye peeled on the main chance.
Otherwise. Why not hire a hall? Tremendously
vital questions that relate to the social welfare
so at least. It seems to the mind that is nom
e1lesiasticaD should be LETT to statesmen and
VHghts and actors are. in some mysterious way.
chained 10 regulate the morals and adjust the
POLITICAL relations OF mankind. has come to be one
Of the most preposterous, Il certainly is one
o. he most comic, Of prevalent notions. The social
Tela.ua Of the white and tie black races in the
United STATES is. unquestionably. a matter Of the
sraFet import: but il viii not be adjusted by
play acting. There was legislative wisdom in
'Tnde Toms Cabin and neither is there any
suggestive monftion in The Clansrlstn" The Rev
LII Dixon. indeed III a published statement over
lis own signature. proclairns a prodigal fervor of
sanctinohious purpose in making and producing
LIS Play: but. for the fanatcal enthusiast nothing
easier thar self-deception. Z beg you 10 be-
Lsyt' said Oliver Cromwell to the dissenting
aeSeyrens 1 beg you 70 believe that II is possible
icF you TO be mistaken" This is the reverend au-
thor'E document:
The accusation that ! wrote The Clansman'
O course the silliest nonsense. For the negro I
lave only the profoundest pity and the kindiest
s'HpaIT Ny play Is a demonstration Of the
IlSa Of Abraham LncOln's words: There is a
PHYSICAL difference between the white and black
races Which will forever forbid them living to-
tensT on terms Of political and social equality
DTAsFlng this with his whole soul. Lincoln, up TO
'as Gay Of his death, urged Congress TO coonize
re negro This nation must vet return to LINCOLN
F21 o..gaf
l-e most horrible and cruel that ever blackened
~ annals Of the world. l have given twenty years
' patent STUDY 70 this problem, and / can see no
ol-eF possible solution In my play have sought
national Unity through knowledge OF the truth
-Ae pay Is a melodranla- in which, among other
INCIDENTS negro is q criminal and the secret so
ley Known as the Ku-Klux-Klan. is an avenger
'+s might nave beer expected. The Stowe view of
@s negro was conventional on the enc hand and
'-e 1l1on view OF him is conventional on the other
- d political document The ClansInan'' is fruit
unless Though that is very dubious). il may
49, ah incendiary drift and work mischief by
@-ilig me bad passion Of the unreasoning multi
-.s' As a drama il contains effective situations
So foehii'g that should greatly tax the inventive
= - u even IN inexperienced dramatist The Secret
---"uHai mas long been a serviceable property of
[-0I-as al readers know. who remember the
ss fennle. Of WestphaIia. also happily described
- employed in Sir Walter Scott's Anne Of C;eir-
j. - Or The Lords Spiritual as well as Temporal
r Il, jaInes's romance of The Castle Ehren-
- me chief interest Of Mr.. Dixon's piece
- ABOUT the proceedings OF the Ku-KIux-
-, shows itself as quite a Rosicrucian
~ or he rest, IL impresses observation very
% me relic did that is mentioned by Mrs.
.ss--p-cutWardly 'a-painted many sizes larger
sa life, performing beautiful upon the arp, but
= +%ct pygny IN a bottle.