New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-10
Progress Of Thought in England.

Progress Of Thought in England.
The Intellectual condition of Fog and
lust row offers very fair miniature pic
ture of the grand controversy between let
ter and spirit, or past and future, which IS
convuIsirg modern Christendom. At bot
tom the controversy is one about property.
In its political end most superficial aspect
it is tantamount to the question whether
the masles of mankind may not enjoy
henceforth an equal immunity from want
with that enjoyed heretofore by the privi-
legged classes. 1t is not a question whether
the property of the rich may not be seized
and divided for the use of the poor although
the more INSCRIPTIONS of the self styled
conservative presses are ept so to represent
it. 1t il exclusively a question whether
every living man, woman and child, may
not, by seize tifc combination, be rendered
infinitely richer in all material wealth and
refinement than any, even the most prlvl-
legged, individual is now. In short, the
question is whether every man is not enti-
tied to perfect property in nature, or what
is the same thing, to the satisfaction of all
his natural wants.
In its ethical and religious aspects, the
controversy of course becomes moro radi-
cal. The question here discussed, no mat
ter what mere ecclesiastical shape it re-
ceives, Is whether The of mankind
may not hereafter enjoy the same spiritual
dignity as has been hitherto the priestly
preroeative alone. 1t is not a question
about A change Of priesthOods. There is
no de.ire to sbase one priesthood and e{e-
vate another. The aspiration is to vacAte
or rather fulfil all priesthoods as essential
ly typical and mediatory, by lifting entire
humanity into direct unity with God. The
motive of the controversy is not the de-
struction of the existing Church, but rather
such an expansion or capitalization OF 1t
as may render it congruous with the hu-
msnitIry idea of its founder, and turn it at
last to the blessing of universal man. In
short, the question is, whether every man
woman. and child, may not henceforth
realize, by mean. Of scientific social or
gsnization which shall yacate all envy,
jealousy, and rapacity in the human Boz
som, an infinitely closer fellowship with
Deity than has hitherto befallen any man,
whatever bis conventional sanctity since
the beginning of time. Of course many OF
the friends of progress, like the early dis
ciples of Jesus, hardly. know the spirit Of
which their hopes are begotten. But there
can be no doubt among dispassionate OBJ
servers as to the cxquisitely genial and hu
name temper which informs the movement
generally.
AS might be predicted, the active par
ties to this conflict, whether it be viewed
materially or spiritually, arc the already
endowed classes, as the clergy and men Of
property on the one sid and the unen-
lowed classes, or working laity on the
other. Thus, taking England for an ex-
ample, you find that the retrogressive
party represented by Pusoyism or the Ok
ford tract literature, embraces chiefly tho
clergy and men of leisure, whose social
interests connect them very closely with
the established order Of things. Il has
made no impression upon the Dissen,ers
as t body, much less upon the people
strictly 60 called. As Punck plainly test
fes every week, it is regarded among these
latter as a phase Of rococo-isnl, OF Z sort 0
spiritual dliietantism practicable only 70
polite and idle society. OF course the
established decorum Of Sunday hallows
alike all forms Of devout eccentricirv. but
the one in question never descends into the
week. day world, or puts itself into direct
view Of the people without provoking
shouts of good patured dsrisior.
The literature Of Puseyism, using the
word in the widest sense, is tolerably IA
miliaI TO our scholars, and held in reoute
moreover, for certain rhetorical leserde-
main, by which for a moment it gives
death the hues of life. But it is over
strained sEd artificial TO the last degree.
1t deals with corpses. 1t washes the face
Of antique monks, too often unwashed in
life ard chants the euthsnasy Of ar