New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-10
PAST AND PRESENT
From The Dial

the History of the French Revolution. In It's
first aspect it is political tract, and since Burke
since Milton, we have had nothing TO compare
with it. It grapples honestly with the facts y
mo before all men, groups and disposes them with
a masters mind and with heart full OF manly
tenderness, offers his best counsel to his brothers
Obviously it is the book of powerful ana &C,
complished thinker, who has looked with naked
eyes at the dreadful political signs IN England
ior the last few years, has converscd much on
these topics with such wise men of all ranks and
parties as are drawn TO scholars house, until
such daily and nightly meditation has grown
into great connexion, if not system Of thoughts
and the topic of English politics becomes the
best vehicle for the expression Of his recent think
ing, recommended to him by the desire to give
some timely counsels, and to strip the worst ms,
chiefs of their plausbility. 1t is a brave ana
lust book, and not semblance NO hc"
truth" say the critics on all sides Is 1t so lft'n
is very old but the merit OF seers IS not 70 III
vent but to dispose objects IN their right places
and he is the commander who is always III 'i'c
mount. whose eye not only sees details, but
throws crowds of details into their right arrange
ment and larger and iuster totaty than any
other. The book makes great approaches to true
contemporary history, very rare success, and
firmly holds up to daylight the absurdlies still
tolerated in the English and European system
II is such an appeal to the conscience and honor
of England as cannot be forgotten, or be teigned
10 be forgotten. 1t has the merit which belongs
to eyerv honest book, that it was sell-examnlng
before 1t was eloquent, and so hits all other men,
and, as the country people say OF good preaching,
"comes bounce down into every pew" Every
reader shall carry away something. The scholar
shall read and write, the farmer and mechanic
shall toll with new resolution nor forget the book
when they resume their labor
Though no theocrat, and more than most PHI
losophers believer in political systems, MIR. Car
lyle very fairly finds the calamity of the times
not in bad bills Of Parliament nor the remedy IN
good bills, but the vice in false and superficial
aims of the people, and the remedy IN honesty
and insight Like every work OF genius, lis
great value is in telling such simple truths AS
we recall the topics, we struck with the force
given to the plain truths; the picture OF the Eng
lsh nation all sitting enchanted, the poor en-
chanted SO that they cannot work, the rich en-
chanted so that they cannot enjoy, and are rch
IN vain the exposure of the progress OF fraud
into all arts and social actullies the proposition,
that the aborer ,..,.,. HI his
earnings; that the principle OF perilanence shall
he admitted into all contracts OF mutual service
that the state shall provide AT least schoomasters
education for all the ciuzens; the cXhortation to
the " orllman. that he shall respect the work and
not the wages; to the scholar, that nc shall be
there for light TO the idle, that no man shall sit
idle the picture Of Abbot Samson, the true
governor, who +" is not there 10 expect reason and
nobleness of Others he is there TO g i've them Of
his own reason and nob!cneSs; and the assump-
ZION throughout the hook, that a new chivary
and nobility namely the dynasty of labor IS re-
placing the old nobties. These things strike us
with q force, which reminds us of the morals OF
the Oriental or early Greek masters, and of no
modern book Truly in these things there Is
great reward II is not by sitting still at a grand
distance, and calling the human race ldrn@, that
men IRE to be helped nor by helping the depravcd
after their own foolish fashion. but by dong un
,yeariedly the particular work we were born to do
Let no man think himself uhsolvcd because ht
does q generous action and belucnds the poor
hut let him see whether he so holds his property
that benefit goes from II to all. A mans die
should be what is simplest and readlest 10 be had
because it is so private good his house shoult
be better because that IS for the use OF hundreds
perhaps of thousands and is the property OF th'
traveller. But his speech is q perpetual and pubic
instrument: let that always side with the race
and weld neither lie nor a sneer HIS manners
let them be hospitahle and civilizing, so tina
no Piiidias or Raphael shall have taught any
thing better in canvass or stone; and his act
should be representative of the human race, a
one who makes them rich IN his having and poo
IN his want.
II requires great courage IN man of letters tc
handle the contemporary practical questions; no
because he then has all men for his rivals, bu
because OF the infinite entanglemen,s Of The
problem and the waste of strength in gathering
unripa fruits. The task is Superhuman; and tht
poe: knows well, that a little time will do moro
than the most pu,ssant genius. Time stills tht
loud noise of opinions, SINKS the small raises tbs
great. so that the true energies without effort ant
IN perfect harmony 10 all eyes; but the tru'h o
The present hour, except IN particulars and slngl,
relations. is unattanable. Each man can very
well know his own part of duty, If he viii bu
10 bring out the truth for beauty and as Ete
nature, surmounts the powers of art. The most
elaborate history OF to-day will have the oddest
dislocated look Ill the mex: generation. The his
toran of to-day Is yet three ages oil. The poe;
cannot descend into the turhid present without
injury to his rarest gifts. Hence that necessity
OF isolation which gcniaS has always felt He
must stand on his glass tripod, If he would keep
his electricity.
But when the political aspects are SO caiaml-
tous, that the sympathes of the man overpower
the habits of the poet, higher shan literary IN
spiration may succor him. 1t is costly proof OF
character, that the most renowned scholar OF
England should take his reputation IN his hand,
and should descend into the ring. and he has add
ed TO his love whatever honor his opinions may
forfeit. To atone for this departure from the
vows of the scholar and his eternal duties, TO this
secular charity, we have a; least this gam, that
hc;e is message which those to whom 1t was
addressed cannot choose bat hear Though they
die, they must listen. 1t is PLAN that, whether
by hope or hs fear. or were 1t only by delight in
this panorama of brilliant images, all the great