Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-01

The College Courant, of New Haven, (which,
by the way, is not college boys paper, but a
firstclass weekly conducted by very able writ
ers), quotes a criticism of the political tone and
spirit of the New York Nation, and then dis.
-cusses the Nation, as follows:
at is not so much in its criticism of politics,
as in its literary and social criticisms, that we
have regretted the comparative failure OF the
Nation. We do not indeed concur in the policy
of what is called independent journalism, be-
cause We believe that the political journalist has
no right to avoid hearty advocacy of the good
cause and the good candidate. And we can see
no sufficient reasons for the Nations scornlul
withdrawal from national politics. Thinking
as it docs of Greeley and Brown, it seems to us
to have no good reason for not lending cordial,
however qualified, support to Grant and viii
SON 1t is kind of moral insolence which for
bids a citizen to take either side; and this ithas
all along seemed to US, was largely concerned
in the Nations opposition to the denomination
Of Gen. Grant We do not call in question that
opposition; our purpose here is not political :;
we only crticiSe, and condemn, the way IN
which the Nation has become too YlrtuouS 10
associate, in the matter of politics, with any
body in this country. 1t is journal which
ought TO have an island to itself somewhere, IN
der government which permitted no other po-
ltical philosopher within its bounds.
But it is in its relation to society and letters
that the Nations pervcrse Consciousness is
most to be deplOred. In its place the criticism
of cepsure is necessary and useful, and it is not
always offensive to put our own knowledge
prominently forward in introducing to the pub
lie that of Others. But with the Nation it is a
habit to make a new book the occasion, not Of
a courteous introduction, but of telling what it
knows, and happyi the guest of this omniscient
journal who does NOT get publicly cutfed for
any apprecable deficiency, inst 'ad OF commend
ed for merits worthy of hearty appreciation.
The case is even worse whenever there is call
for those tender courteSieS of sentiment which
belong so naturally within the range of wom-
ans influence. The Nation is nothing if it is
not masculine. 1t has hulking boys disgust
for girls and women, quite as if bOoriSh con-
tempt for the SoltneSs in which nature cradles
our infancy were highly necessary 10 manly
dignity. 1t can no more hold a baby than il
can bear one, and evidently it glorieS in its inca
pacity for tenderness. Ii seems to know no
more than savage of the conversion of domeS-
tic incident into sacrament, and the elevation OF
things common or unComely by reverence and
love. One whole side, and that the richest, of
human life, lies under its contempt, when it
should command its most generous consldera-
ton
"The last issue of the Nation contains, in a
criticism Of George Macdonald's last novel,
The Wears Daughter,' a fair illustration,
though slight one, of the dscourtesy towards
books, and the disgust towards women, which
characterize the publication. Mr.. MacdOnald'S
literary work, at its poorest, has clear positive
merits, which deserve recognition. A critic is
perfectly at liberty 10 define the limits of that
work, and TO justly mark the special defects Of
any specimen of it. But contemptuous dis
missal of such an author in any case, is I'M
truthful and ill-mannered 1t is no better in a
journal than il would be in parlor In the
case before us, the critics contempt is based on
grounds totally unworthy Of respectable criti-
cism We do not choose to paw to the Nation $
vulgar wit, if it is meant for wit the respect OF
quotation, in what it says Of Mr.. Macdonad'S
portraiture Of maternity with its'discomtOrtS end
terrors, and its extreme joys. We see no occa-
sion for sneeriug at an author who SIS at home
in the nursery" and who "ShOws proficiency
in the care of young children, that must make
mothers, tormented by careless aud ignorant
nurses, sigh with envy" On the contrary, We
believe that NJ masculine genius is SO likely to
be of eminent and sacred service to mankind as
that which wisely comprehendS the dependence
of civilization upon the position of the mother
and child, and teaches men how to make manli.
ness meet womanliness, and the masculine offices
Join with the feminine, on a basis of generous
and tender reverence for woman in all her eX-
perience. We hold no critic in respect who bah
bles of the intricacies Of the feminine mind
and its cheap and familiar philosophy Of
profound contempt for the stupidity Of men.
There is neither Sagacity nor yeracty in such
criticism. Nor is it in the least true that DIR.
Macdonald contents himself with the more ig-
noble side Of women not even if he does make
very much of babies and of housekeeping"