New-York tribune., 1867-05-23

sba,r the rnreut of philosophy IN England io 1bot
,r,lr Tostcrty Las. however, pretty wen ~ ~sctt pd
s fi3e s rest upon MS politics ana pidrtIv 50
on ne whce with perfect nstee c fGI sTvcy II his
ioi Hfc WIN always make il appear hat M e,iS dt
,cics works were TIE test and most n-e4", ~ when
tt,s ,dcsandBg Es scientific iabOfs, even " m ~
Yncst INT were never without cf gOou - tbeya and
ia; own fond sayings not be permitted 70 olh'es'
| them with undue Importance .. ,to,
| wr Hepworth Dixon's New America receives hsn
rraise in an article which considers mainly TIC primer
niles involved IN the singular social phenomena WHICH
are so graphically described IN that work
More than any book that has Lately appeared does ~ ~
Cer ain sides likely TO interest ana htIdC ca
lass Of readers above indicated More tban most BOOKS
viii its meaning and Yaiue DC mlsaI ' ~
alone There forms OF life, of feeling OF sOSi ,
course portrayed in bread outline now IN pei @ pt
fascinating detail which, for The idles ana and M,
contest the supremacy OF the last most entbraDhE anu
peIfumed novel There are, again new moral ear1
new religious and social combinations here desclpeu a
illustrated which must arrest for moinent 1iT iie a.
philosophical sReptic, however seo[ty nc @ may yecIItae
analysis, 10 make them square with ms own - food
universe. There is, lastly, only too much ehsIa,ns & % ~
for the svnpatbete enthusiast will be called upon 10
glide from pole of life and feelng 10 ah9Iho, ~
Then hack again not once but often, and will do wen II,
before he has reached the end OF the two volumes ne s
been carried over into the adjacent region VI en- ~
ism, through practical experience OF he Pas,pm US, m od vi
every possb modification Of error IL need hot re su
that there is mode of studying book Ike that i
very distinct from any one and YET par.ahs a ~ co.,
the modes investigated above. twill be no eha %
rendered TO his eountrymen II Mr Dxon nas az r Ie
taught them how to read. Patient ;d I'D
toleIatOn intellectual breadth OF Judgment gmaed hi %
ilmnued n sympathy knowing no bounds, are nuns
pensable here II is harder matter than many wouu
suppose even for the best and wsest TO listen WIN pe
feet GOODNESS and Temperance TO me stanse o ~
Ders, morals creeds and ways Of life so violently opJu
TO European conceptions, aud yet what is most od
ng) i'm vogue amidst those of our own flesh ana ooou
aud proved to be compatible with the eatestrospeny
The virtue Of perfect OleTatOn OF opinions even on wv
il is not the least precious The virtue Of patient olcra
tiOn of opinions favorable TO moral ana sOcl pe'.es
that always the most enlightened circle, absent ao
gether This is probably due TO the ccnns,anto% % hs
even philosophers intrnsicay more for what ouchs
their daily life than for what merely concerns ,no nv
stract relations of ideas and truths Ihey are NOR ,nt
politics than religion more tolerant on feeloh
than such ultimate principles Of practical morals as
touch private family life
The reviewer holds that religion the situation OF
woman and the relations OF capital and labor are the
three hinges which the fate of all future generations
may he said 10 turn. The popular adhesion TO ancient
radionary forms of thought has been greatly weakened
by the Reformation the French Revolution, The estaD
snnent Of republican government IN America ana the
general advance knowledge and OF improvement IN tbe
arts Of life In the solution of the new problems tbat
have come up the social facts this country, as pre-
| sented by Mr. Dixon afford important elements. SUI
they he regarded in the light Of monstrous gows
that do not enter INTO the general framework Of American
society interfere with its sterling and healthy caf
actensics at is Just American life is, AT the
heart, fun fresh 4 and vigorous, that s bounding
pulses cannot he checked even in its remopst members
by any speculative extravaganza or moral anomaly Ihe
newborn watChwOIds Of brotherhood OF equality oi the
nobility of industry, irresstbly strong and un
uteraby grand that nOught can impede their ImpetuOus
career England stands by, and looks on, half in ad
| miration and half in fear. Whether admired OF
feared loved hated the New World stays not for her
America presses ever onward with indOmable purpose
! bearing in her bosom the mightest people OF
| the earth,-a people destined, II ever people
were destined TO discover for themselves ana
] for all men what is the life nation must live
TO bs truly happy. without failing 10 be truly great
Mr. swinbune's poetry is treated withGyt the illem
peIed extravaganza 10 which il has often given OCCASION
both among admirers and his opponents aud an I'M
partial statement made of his defects wela isclams
TO distinction The writer contends that Mr. swinburne
is fitted exercise that dominion over the popular imag
nation which was once held by Tennyson, but which has
now passed away from him forever. Although his work
has hitherto been promise rather than performance II If
urged that he possesses those qualities which are nece
sary give him that place in mems thoughts and that
lac has faults which inveteIate on destructive Of
his powers The moral defects OF his poetry are serious
he shows entire absence OF faith, not merely IN the
formulas of religion, but in principle underlying life and
action whether il be belief in duty, liberty virtue
He gives sign OF faith like this, winch made Rousseau
great aud Goethe and Shelley, and Carlyle, and Victor
Hugo as it did job and Ezekiel, and Paul ana John OF
| Patmos
would be premature 10 attempt an estimate fthe IN
huence which Mr. swnburne will exercise upon The pop
ular mind and the literature Of his country. Whether
that influence shall be deep wholesome and abiding on
superficial evanescehl ana pernal~ s'ull VIII ,e"u ~
s not to be Oned that he il eninenty gifted
poet with power, hut power may be wasted in application
or nuwoIthy applied Half the great Of lit
erature indeed De said of all modern literature
mark only splendid failures bring TO memories only
I1Ide and Inperfect creations Of minds whom cIrcum-
stances or caprice lad denied the attainment Of or the
effort after perfection.
! "The Papa Drama {" Contemporary Music and Mus
cal Literature" and The Hopes aud Fears OF Reform
er the subjects Of other noteworthy articles and
the number closes with its usual valuable survey OF
temporary literature It's contents in general evnce the
boldness and wide grasp of thought the sympathy with
the vital questions OF the day and the athletic
style OF thought and illustration which have always been