Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-09-03
ALEXANDRIA.
TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 3.
THOMAS CARLYLEs last aud most character

THOMAS CARLYLE's last aud most character
istic production is an essay on what may be
termed the impending crisis in Great Britain,
which has attracted considerable attention in
England, and been generally noticed in this
country. 1t is called shooting Niagara-and
After Pa quaint and affected tile for a po-
itical disquisition but like Carlyle. The
design is to show the arts! ocracy and the up
per classes" as they are designated, that late
events, eliminating in the Reform bill, have
carried them near to the abyss Of socialism,
and that the consequences will be the sure tri-
umph of dwelling and destructive principles.
There is nothing in the moral or social ideas,
or the literary style Of Mr.. Carlyle that We can
admire-and since his Life of Frederick the
Great we have given him over incorrigible
His affected Germauism is carried to a rldlcu-
lous excess, and his enunciation of propositions
relating to the virtues. and the vices, of those
whom he makes his heroes, is utterly abhor-
rent to every right thinking man. All his Ia
ter writings have been deteriorations. His
earlier works displayed mind, genius and
thought isfgured By his adop ed style, strik-
ing in some respects when occasionally used, but
repulsive when con 'inued and carried to the
extent which is displayed in all his books and
pamphlets. However, our object is not to To-
dulge in criticism OF Mr. Caryle's writings.
but merely to refer to the work We have men
toned, and to make an extract. He pronouu
ces that the following three things are certain
to happen in England, and his prophecies must
be taken for what they are worth: -
Il. Democracy to complete itself; to 60 the
full length of its course, toward the Eottomless
or into it, no power now extant TO prevent 1t or
even considerably retard It'll We have seen
where it will lead US to, and whether there will
be then any return possible, or none. Com
plete liberty to all persons count Of heads
to be the divine court of appeal On every cues
ton OF interest Of mankind; count OF heads to
choo e a parliament according to It's own heart
at last, and cit with penny newspapers Zeal
ou>ly watching the same, said parliament, 80
chosen, and watched to do what rltle of legls
latins and administering may st be needed in
such an England, with its hundred and fifty
millions tree more and more TO follow each
his own nose, by way of guide post in this in
trieae world
That, IN limited time, say nifty years
hence, the church, all churches and socalled
religions, the Christian religion itself, shall
have deliquesced- liberty of conscience,
progress Of opinion, progress of intellect phi
lanthropic movement, and other aqueous resi-
dues, of vapid, badly scented character and
shall, like water split upon the ground, trouble
nobody considerably Ihenceforth, but evaporate
at its leisure.
y 49, That, in lieu thereof there shall be free
trade, in all senses, and to all lengths; unlim-
tied free trade-which some take to mean, free
racing, ere long, with unlimited speed in the
career of Cheap & Nasty-this beautiful career,
not in shop-goods only, but in all things tenn
poral, spiritual and eternal, to be flung gener-
ously open, wide as the portals of the universe
so that everybody shall start free, and every
where, under enlightened popular suffrage,
the race shall be to the swift, and the high
offices shall fall to him who is ablest, if not to
do it, at least to get elected for doing it.
This combination of results Mr.. Carlyle calls
the Niagara leap Of completed Democracy,
and proceedsto point out the relations Of the
cause and effect, and to speculate upon the
final and ultimate results Of the ''Shooting
Niagara ~